| Maxine L. Silva Magnet High School for Health Care Professions | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| 121 Val Verde Street El Paso, TX 79905 United States |
|
| Information | |
| Type | Public |
| Established | 1993 |
| Principal | Fred Rojas |
| Grades | 9-12 |
| Color(s) | Scarlet and Silver |
| Mascot | Silver Fox |
Silva Magnet High School is a health-focused magnet high school within the El Paso Independent School District in El Paso, Texas.
It is named after lifelong El Pasoan Maxine L. Silva, who once represented the area in which the school is located on the El Paso Independent School District board of trustees.
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Silva Magnet High School is a three-story, one-building campus located on the grounds of Jefferson High School in south central El Paso.
University Medical Center (formerly Thomason General Hospital) and Texas Tech University Health Science Center are located directly across the street from Silva, providing easy and convenient access for student learning. Students from middle schools throughout the county apply for admission to the high school during 8th grade, leading to a diverse body of students from different cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds from all different parts of El Paso County.
Ms. Charmine Deremeir was the first administrator (1993-1994) of the El Paso Magnet High School for the Health Care Professions, now known as the Maxine Silva Magnet High School for the Health Care Professions. She was instrumental in assuring the placement of the Health Magnet High School. Ms. Deremeir was also important to the existence of the Health Magnet High School for she worked closely with the first group of students (Class of 1997) and parents in determining what more needed to be done to assure the school would be seen as a model school.
Mr. Ed Jones, the second administrator of Silva Magnet High School, used the phrase "school within a school" to describe Silva's situation. Students from Silva may attend some classes at Jefferson High School, which is located on the same campus, and participate in athletics and other extracurricular activities (e.g., orchestra, band) with Jefferson students on Jefferson teams. However, the two are separated by different curricula and by other means.
Silva students take particular pride in their participation in Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) competitions. It is the largest organization in the school. Silva students have participated and placed in HOSA competitions and conferences in regional (Area 4), state and national levels.
Many alumni have attended highly regarded universities and have achieved career and personal success. Lekha K., the 2008 Valedictorian attends the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Jesus-Mario Luevano Jr., the 2009 Valedictorian attends Harvard College and 2010 Valedictorian Andrew Olivas Stiles attends Stanford University. Mauricio Gonzalez-Aranda, the 2011 Valedictorian attends Princeton University. A particularly high rate of alumni are now involved in the medical field as doctors, nurses, physician assistants and other health care professionals.
Among El Paso schools (private and public), Silva Magnet High School has consistently ranked academically at or near the top in various categories. In 2006, Newsweek magazine ranked Silva Magnet High School as one of the top 1000 schools in the U.S., and was rated highest of schools in El Paso on the list. [1]
In 2003 and 2011 Silva received the Blue Ribbon Schools Award.[2]