Sharyland ISD outlines SA3 expansion and P‑TECH health‑science planning

Sharyland Advanced Academic Academy (SA3) leaders presented a plan to expand the small‑learning‑community model to both district high schools and to launch a P‑TECH health sciences pathway.

Diana Rojas, principal of SA3, told the board the school's mission is "to make a college degree within reach of every student" and described a plan to create SA3 South and SA3 North so the model can serve roughly 800 students by 2030. Rojas said SA3 currently serves 450–500 students and that scaling the program will increase access to dual credit, internships and industry partnerships.

Rojas also described a planning year for a P‑TECH health science pathway at Sharyland High School designed to allow students to earn stackable credentials (CNA, phlebotomy, EKG) and align with local workforce needs. She said the district aims for graduates in these pathways to leave with both career‑ready certificates and college credit toward an associate degree.

"Our goal is that every student will have a college degree within reach," Rojas said, summarizing the program’s objectives and the supports SA3 provides to track student progress in both academics and career preparation.

Board members praised SA3’s graduation and dual‑credit outcomes and discussed next steps for recruitment and staffing to expand capacity. Administration said planning for recruitment, committee formation and data collection will begin in the spring, with notification of selected students anticipated in March–April of the next year for initial cohorts.

The presentation positioned the SA3 expansion and P‑TECH planning as part of the district’s broader facility and program investments discussed at the same meeting.