Texas Magnet School Affiliates

In 1990, Baylor began a partnership with the Corpus Christi Independent School District to assist in developing a program designed to provide opportunities similar to those offered by the Houston and South Texas Magnet programs, which became the Health Science Academy at Foy H. Moody High School in Corpus Christi.

The school has a current enrollment of 1,614 students, of whom 90 percent are economically disadvantaged and 97 percent are minority. Students are selected based on grades, attendance, recommendations and commitment to health careers. Baylor provides summer enrichment activities for these students in the Texas Medical Center, while Baylor faculty provide instruction and clinical experiences, support curricular development and make presentations at the College. The program’s curriculum was revised in 2000 to focus more on college preparation.

The Texas Education Agency’s 2017–2018 School Report Card for Moody High School rated the campus as having met the accountability standard with five distinctions: English/Language Arts and Reading, Mathematics, Science, Top 25 percent Student Progress, and Top 25 percent Closing Performance Gaps.

This program, established in 1994 at J.B. Alexander High School in Laredo, is a partnership between Baylor and the United Independent School District. This “school within a school” is a four-year college preparatory program for students interested in careers in medicine, science and the health professions. AHS students engage in a mathematics- and science-based curriculum, and participate in summer activities that provide preparation for and exposure to careers in health-related professions. The school currently has 2,790 students enrolled, of whom 99 percent are minority and 57 percent are economically disadvantaged.

Baylor provides summer enrichment activities for these students in the Texas Medical Center. Baylor faculty provide instruction and clinical experiences, support curricular development and make presentations on the College’s campus.

The Texas Education Agency’s 2017–2018 School Report Card for AHS rated the campus as having met the accountability standard with five distinctions: English Language Arts/Reading, Mathematics, Science, Top 25 percent Closing Performance Gaps, and Post-secondary Readiness.

Opened in 2003, the South Texas Academy for Medical Professions (Medical Academy) is located in San Benito in the Rio Grande Valley. The Medical Academy currently enrolls 848 students in the college preparatory program that combines solid academics with real world experiences in local healthcare settings. Of the campus population, 97 percent of its students are minority, with 67 percent economically disadvantaged.

The Texas Education Agency’s 2017–2018 School Report Card for the Medical Academy rated the campus as having met the accountability standard with seven distinctions: English Language Arts/Reading, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Top 25 percent Student Progress, Top 25 percent Closing Performance Gaps, and Post-secondary Readiness.

• "U.S. News & World Report" placed the Medical Academy in Gold status, and ranked it #42 in the State of Texas, #220 in the Nation, and at #52 for Magnet high schools.

Originally opened in 1993 to address the shortage of Hispanic school teachers (especially in science and mathematics) and to increase professional development opportunities for teachers in South Texas, the previously named Teacher Academy was the nation’s first pre-college school designed specifically for students who wished to pursue careers in teaching. In 2003, the school’s mission was expanded and its name changed to include the fields of business and technology. The South Texas Business, Education and Technology Academy in Edinburg currently enrolls 623 students, of whom 97 percent are minority and 50 percent economically disadvantaged.

The Texas Education Agency’s 2017–2018 School Report Card for the BETA rated the campus as having met the accountability standard with six distinctions: Reading/English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Top 25 percent Closing Performance Gaps, and Post-secondary Readiness.

• "U.S. News & World Report" placed the high school in Gold status, and ranked it #44 in the State of Texas, and #227 in the Nation..

Since 1983, Baylor has worked with the South Texas Independent School District to plan and implement a high school program modeled after the DeBakey High School in Houston. In 2010, Med High was named a “National Blue Ribbon School” by the U.S. Department of Education. The South Texas High School for Health Professions (Med High), is located in a modern facility in Mercedes, currently enrolls 861 students, of whom 96 percent are minority and 56 percent are economically disadvantaged.

The Texas Education Agency’s 2017–2018 School Report Card for Med High rated the South Texas High School for Health Professions as having met the accountability standard with six distinctions: English Language Arts/Reading, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Top 25 percent Closing Performance Gaps, and Post-secondary Readiness.

• "U.S. News & World Report" placed the high school in Gold status, and ranked it #35 in the State of Texas, and #176 in the Nation.

Building upon its successful partnership with the STISD, Baylor assisted in establishing The Science Academy of South Texas (Science Academy). Opened in 1989 in Mercedes, the Science Academy was designed to increase science and mathematics preparation of students in the Rio Grande Valley. It is one of the top-scoring schools on the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills.

The program was strengthened by the addition and support of Rice University in 1991. In 1992, a new facility was opened to provide learning experiences students in grades 9 through 12. In 2005, the Science Academy was named a “National Blue Ribbon School” by the U.S. Department of Education. The Science Academy currently enrolls 801 students, of whom 91 percent are minority, and 40 percent are economically disadvantaged.

The Texas Education Agency’s 2017–2018 School Report Card for the Science Academy rated the campus as having met the accountability standard with six distinctions: English Language Arts/Reading, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Top 25 percent Closing Performance Gaps, and Post-secondary Readiness.

• Children at Risk ranked the school with a letter grade of A, ranking it #7 in the Rio Grande Valley region, and at #61 in the Nation.
• "U.S. News & World Report" placed the high school in Gold status, and ranked it #24 in the State of Texas, and #130 in the Nation.

In August 2015, South Texas ISD opened its newest middle school, Rising Scholars Academy of South Texas, in San Benito, Texas. The vision is to cultivate a powerful learning environment that will inspire its seventh-grade students to impact their communities through stewardship and leadership by providing them with a rigorous and innovative curriculum enhanced by a nurturing system of support, community and opportunity for all. Rising Scholars Academy currently enrolls 497 students, of whom 92 percent are minority and 42 percent are economically disadvantaged.

The Texas Education Agency’s 2017–2018 School Report Card for Rising Scholars rated the school as having met the accountability standard with six distinctions: English Language Arts/Reading, Mathematics, Social Studies, Top 25 percent Student Progress, Top 25 percent Closing Performance Gaps, and Post-secondary Readiness.

Originally part of BETA, the South Texas Preparatory Academy, located in Edinburg, was established in 2008 to prepare junior high school students (grades 7–8) for the academic rigors of high school. After leaving the magnet junior high school, students choose to go to one of four high schools in South Texas ISD: BETA, Med High, Medical Academy or the Science Academy. STPA currently enrolls 615 students, of whom 94 percent are minority and 40 percent are economically disadvantaged.

The Texas Education Agency’s 2017–2018 School Report Card for STPA rated the school as having met the accountability standard with six distinctions: English Language Arts/Reading, Mathematics, Social Studies, Top 25 percent Student Progress, Top 25 percent Closing Performance Gaps, and Post-secondary Readiness.

• Children at Risk gave the school a letter grade of A+ in 2017, and ranked the school at #8 in the State of Texas, and #1 in the Rio Grande Valley region.