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CREEED CELEBRATES SECOND YEAR OF SUCCESS WITH AIM HIGH INITIATIVE, RECOGNIZING HIGH-PERFORMING MIDDLE SCHOOLS IN ALGEBRA

Socorro ISD continues to have the region’s highest performing middle schools in 8th Grade Algebra I on state exams

AIM High initiative honors and rewards faculty, teachers and staff who contribute to student success

El Paso, TX – CREEED hosted its second annual Algebra In Middle School (AIM High) event on Monday, October 14th. The initiative is designed to increase the number of El Paso County students who take and pass Algebra I in middle school by recognizing and rewarding all of the faculty and staff at the top performing schools in the region. This year, CREEED, again, recognized Socorro Independent School District (SISD) for having all five of our region’s top-performing middle schools passing the 2023-2024 STAAR Algebra I exam at the MEETS level, and having over 90% of their 8th grade students taking Algebra I.

“Students who pass Algebra in middle school get a head start on advanced math in high school and are more likely to enroll in college,” said Richard A. Castro, CREEED Board Chair. “As part of CREEED’s mission of increasing educational attainment in El Paso, we want to encourage more middle schools to put their students on the path to college by teaching them Algebra I in eighth grade and helping them succeed in this course.”

The AIM High initiative builds on CREEED’s effort of increasing the number of students taking dual credit and early college courses so they can experience college-level courses while in high school. To date, CREEED has provided over $790,000 to support Algebra I in Middle School programs in more school districts across El Paso. Algebra is referred to as a college gateway course, as data shows that students who perform well in Algebra are more likely to enroll in and take advanced math coursework essential to college preparation and success. Additionally, students who perform at the MEETS level on the Algebra 1 exam become eligible to take more dual credit courses while in high school, increasing the likelihood that they will complete a college degree in four years.

The five schools recognized with AIM High awards for academic achievement and student enrollment in Algebra I are all located in SISD and include Spec. Rafael Hernando III Middle, which had 83% of eighth grade students at MEETS level in Algebra I, Montwood Middle with 79% at MEETS, Col. John Ensor Middle with 77% at MEETS, Hurshel Antwine Middle with 68% at Meets, and SSG. Manuel R. Puentes with 67% at MEETS.

“Socorro ISD is proud to be all in to provide students with an exceptional education to ensure they have the best opportunities for higher education and future employment,” said SISD Interim Superintendent James P. Vasquez. “Our partnership has created more opportunities for our students to succeed, and I’d like to thank CREEED for continuing to recognize our outstanding faculty, teachers, and staff for their dedication to empowering our students with the tools for academic success.”

“CREEED is committed to increasing the number of high-quality programs and high-performing schools in our region,” said Eddie Rodriguez, CREEED Executive Director. “The AIM High initiative is just one of our efforts to improve student achievement and attract and retain high-quality educators.”

“SISD’s success in teaching algebra to middle school students establishes a strong foundation for high school, motivating them to pursue advanced courses in high school and college, particularly in STEM fields,” said Enrique Herrera, SISD assistant superintendent. “We are committed to working together to guide our students toward successful futures.”

The award ceremony took place at Pebble Hills High School and faculty and staff at each school will receive a cash gift card. A total of $58,250 will be awarded.

To learn more about CREEED and get involved in its efforts to increase student performance, improve teacher preparation, and help parents advocate for their child’s education, visit www.creeed.org.

CONTACT: For media inquiries, please contact Daniel Escobar, SISD Chief Communications Officer (915) 309-0053 and descob02@sisd.net or Kayla Suarez at 915-253-2200 or ksuarez@rabengroup.com.

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About SISD

The Socorro Independent School District serves more than 48,000 students with innovative instruction in 51 campuses districtwide. SISD is an outstanding educational institution, having been recognized at the local, state, and national level with many achievements. SISD is dedicated to offering endless opportunities in all schools focusing on college and career readiness for all students. SISD educators are highly qualified, effective professionals and are dedicated to their students, schools, and communities.

About CREEED

CREEED is a non-profit organization focused on increasing college readiness and completion rates. We invest in high-performing schools and high-quality initiatives that have shown success in closing the achievement gap for all El Paso County students. CREEED supports organizations, initiatives, and policies across four focus areas: Students & Schools; Educators; College & Career; and Parent & Community Engagement.

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