Sharyland ISD plans to expand SA3 early-college program and pursue P-TECH health pathway
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Summary
SA3 leaders presented a plan to scale their early-college and P-TECH programs across both comprehensive high schools, aiming to increase enrollment, offer stackable health-care certificates and sustain college partnerships; board members praised outcomes and authorized planning activities.
SA3 (the district's early-college model) leaders presented a plan to expand into SA3 North and SA3 South at the district's two comprehensive high schools and to pursue a P-TECH health-science planning year at Sharyland High School.
Diana Rojas, SA3 principal, told the board SA3 has operated since 2014 and reported program outcomes: "On average, 70-plus of our graduating seniors graduate with an associate degree," she said, and said SA3 graduates leave with more than 50 college credit hours on average. Rojas described the expansion as a school-within-a-school model that would scale student access to dual-credit courses, work-based learning, internships and industry-aligned certificates (CNA, phlebotomy, EKG).
Administrators said the district will begin recruiting in the spring semester and that Pioneer High School will enter a planning year for a P-TECH pathway. Presenters emphasized partnerships with local colleges (STC, UTRGV) and local industry to provide internships and certifications that can lead students directly into the workforce or toward an associate degree.
Board members praised SA3's outcomes and encouraged further planning. No formal vote was required for the presentation; staff and school leaders will proceed with recruiting and committee work to implement the planning-year steps discussed.