History                                      

On October 30th of 2015, the Brownsville Independent School District created the Brownsville Learning Academy, grades 7 – 12, in the belief that many young people merit another chance to complete their education and receive a high school diploma. The concept of an alternative school with dedicated teachers, small classes and   innovative curriculum combine to form a welcoming environment for these young people.
 
This endeavor would not be possible without the support and vision of our school board members who believe in our students and in our community. Combining with CTE classes to provide work-ready experiences for our students, the number of students continues to grow.
 
Working in partnership with the CTE Department, all the secondary principals and TEA, we have been able to unite a high school with certifications which will open doors for our students into both the working world and the world of higher education.


Academy Philosophy                                      

The Brownsville Learning Academy is an alternative education program that provides individualized instruction and counseling to support students in completing their secondary education. The Academy features a competency-based learning system in a school of choice for those students experiencing difficulties in a traditional secondary setting


Academy Overview                                             

The Brownsville Learning Academy is designed to serve those individuals in grades 6 through 8 who are self-disciplined, strongly motivated, and committed to furthering their education in a self-paced environment.

Academy students will progress at their own rate under the guidance of highly-qualified teachers, a social worker, counselors, and support staff. 

Academy students are expected to meet BISD graduation requirements. Students meeting graduation requirements will participate in the graduation ceremony of their home campus. 


Academy Eligibility                                           

1. Over-aged students, in or going to be in grades 6-8 starting the school year.

2. Students should be 3 or more years older than their peers as on September 1st and who may not have passed all parts of the STAAR/EOC exams (Reading/ELA or Math).

3. Candidates for the Graduation Cohort and below who do not graduate by the August Graduation Ceremony. Must have been notified in writing by the sending campus staff (documentation on file required)

4. No SPED students or anyone who has been exited from SPED within the last 12 months.
 
5. Walk-ins on a case by case basis.

Academy Expectations                                       

The Brownsville Learning Academy is centered around the 3 A’s… Academics, Attendance, and Attitude. Students who do not respect these three principles will be returned to their home campus at the end of the semester. 


Academics                                                        

The Brownsville Learning Academy will offer all required courses at both middle school and high school levels. 

Students will be required to gain a specified number of credits each semester in order to remain at the Academy.

Students will receive course credit when the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills are mastered at a minimum of 70%.

At the end of each semester, a student who has achieved grade level may choose to stay at the Academy or return to his/her home campus. 


Attendance                                                           

Because all work must be completed at the Academy, success depends upon the student’s promptness and regular attendance. Students are expected to be in attendance every day. 

Students or parents are expected to call (prior to the beginning of class) if the student will be tardy or absent.

Absences from class will be followed up by members of the Academy’s professional staff on a daily basis. 


Attitude                                          

Students are expected to follow the rules of the Academy and comply with the Brownsville ISD Student Code of Conduct.


Student Achievement

Our campus goal is to increase student attendance and achievement, by challenging all students with high expectations. Our goal is to provide support services as needed to our students who are having difficulty meeting the attendance and academic goals. Current research shows that student achievement is directly linked to student attendance. Data was disaggregated by departments and analyzed to determine the needs of the campus.