La Joya Independent School District
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
La Joya Independent School District is a school district headquartered in La Joya, Texas, United States.
The La Joya Independent School District, located in the western portion of Hidalgo County, Texas consist of more than 226 square miles stretching west of Mission (small portions of Mission are in LJISD) to Sullivan City, including the smaller communities of La Joya, Palmview, and Penitas. Boundaries extend from the United States border formed by the Rio Grande River to the 13 mile line near McCook.
La Joya ISD also serves other unincorporated communities include Abram-Perezville, Citrus City, Cuevitas, Doffing, Havana, La Homa, Los Ebanos, and Palmview South.
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[edit] Some Facts
With a peak enrollment of 23,444 students for the 2004-2005 academic school year, of which Hispanic students account for over 99 percent of enrollment, La Joya ISD is one of the fastest growing school districts in Texas with an estimated increase of 1,400 students per year. In the spring of 2007 the LJISD student population had peak to an all time high record of 25,484 students. Overall, La Joya ISD boasts 27 campuses; seventeen elementary schools, six middle schools, an alternative education center, and three high schools. La Joya ISD employs over 4,260 individuals from all across the Rio Grande Valley and some from overseas.
[edit] History
The first schools were established during the 1800's to provide educational opportunities for the people living in western Hidalgo County who did not have access to existing educational institutions. One of the first of these schoolhouses was build in Havana in 1849 when citizens from the towns and villages of Abram-Perezville (Ojo de Agua), Penitas, Tabasco (now La Joya), Havana, Los Ebanos and Cuevitas established a place of learning. Although far from the little red schoolhouse one might envision, the structure of rock and adobe sheltered the students of this area and gave them a solid education. This building would later become known as the La Joya Independent School District
[edit] Nellie Schunior
Nellie Leo Schunior, or Doña Nellie, was the pioneer of education in this area. She taught at the old Havana school from 1913 to 1916 where she was joined by Guadalupe (Ninfa) Ornelas, a resident of Old Reynosa, who crossed the river by boat each day to teach. Schunior's dream was to build a high school to serve the area and even donated 15 acres of her own land to see that dream become a reality.
In 1926, six years following her death, Nellie Schunior Memorial High School was built and hosted a then whopping teaching staff of 18.
[edit] Schools
[edit] High Schools (Grades 9-12)
- Jimmy Carter High School
- Juárez-Lincoln High School
- La Joya High School
[edit] Middle Schools (Grades 6-8)
- Ann Richards Middle
- César Chávez Middle
- Irene M. García Middle
- Lorenzo de Zavala Middle
- Memorial Middle
- Nellie Schunior Middle
[edit] Elementary Schools (Grades PK-5)
- Americo Paredes Elementary
-Irma Vela, Principal
- Díaz-Villareal Elementary
-Magda Villarreal, Principal
- E.B. Reyna Elementary
-Alma Ortega, Principal
- Elodia R. Chapa Elementary
-Raul Valdez, Principal
- Emiliano Zapata Elementary
-Bertha Perez, Principal
- Enrique Camarena Elementary
-Jose T. Garcia, Principal
- Guillermo Flores Elementary
-Becky Villarreal, Principal
- Henry B. Gonzalez Elementary
-Yolanda Salazar-Meave, Principal
- John F. Kennedy Elementary
-Maria Flores-Guerra, Principal
- José de Escandón Elementary
-Dianabel Gomez-Villarreal, Principal
- Juan N. Seguin Elementary
-Marta Castillo, Principal
- Kika de la Garza Elementary
-Irene Fernandez, Principal
- Leo J. Leo Elementary
-Cynthia Ponce, Principal
- Lloyd M. Bentsen Elementary
-Magda S. Palacios, Principal
- Narciso G. Cavázos Elementary
-Marisa Garza, Principal
- Patricio Pérez Elementary
-Belinda de la Rosa, Principal
- Rosendo Benavides Elementary
-Maria Lily Garza, Principal
- Sam Fordyce Elementary
-Myra Trigo-Ramos, Principal
- Tabasco Elementary
-Velma Ochoa, Principal
[edit] External links
- La Joya ISD
- Google Maps - Satellite view of La Joya's High Schools, Football Stadium, Transportation Dept. and Central Office.
| 2006 Texas Education Agency Accountability Rating |
| Exemplary | Recognized | Academically Acceptable | Academically Unacceptable | Not Rated: Other |
