The Science Academy of South Texas, also known as 'SciTech', is a high school in Mercedes, Texas, United States, as part of the South Texas Independent School District.
The school serves as an alternative to larger high schools of local independent school districts for students interested in pursuing careers in science, technology, and engineering. The school's unique curriculum has given it national recognition. Being a public magnet school, open enrollment has been the school's policy since its creation, although application is required. The Science Academy of South Texas is part of the South Texas Independent School District.
The Science Academy of South Texas has notable partnerships with Rice University, Rochester Institute of Technology, University of Texas-Pan American and South Texas College. Its sister school South Texas High School for Health Professions, also known as Med High, resides on the same campus. Both schools are served by Biblioteca Las Americas, the school library, which is located at equal distance from both schools.
The Science Academy has no athletics department but students participate in academic competitions regularly. In 2008, The Science Academy gym was completed, no longer sharing with the neighboring Med High.
A recent study has labeled The Science Academy as a "dropout factory," citing a 55% retention rate. However, this study did not take into the account that the Academy does not have any students zoned into it; all students come from other area high schools and many of those students simply returned to their regular high school.
As of the 2011-12 school year, the school had an enrollment of 675 students and 54.42 classroom teachers (on a FTE basis), for a student-teacher ratio of 12.40.
In 2007, principal Edward Argueta left and was replaced by Michael Aranda, who was an assistant principal at Med High at the time. The current assistant principals include Nora Casarez and Julian Garcia III.
Many SciTech students who graduate in the top 10% of their class have been accepted to Yale University, Stanford University, California Institute of Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Rice University, and Princeton University.
Read more about The Science Academy Of South Texas: History, Awards and Recognition, Extracurricular Activities, See Also
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