NewsWest 9
Next year about 40 high school students at Midland Academy Charter School will be looking for a new campus. A change in the state's curriculum prompted school leaders to cut the 10th through 12th grades. It's a new direction that officials say isn't easy but will ultimately benefit the students.
A couple years ago the TEA began the 4 by 4 curriculum meaning extra credit hours for Texas high school students. When Midland Academy Charter School evaluated those changes, they chose to send their 10th through 12th graders to other Midland ISD schools.
"It was a tough decision and it's going to be hard for them to transition to another school after having been here for ten years," Midland Academy Charter Principal Sam Martinez, said.
With four high school teachers and course limitations, administrators decided to shift their focus to kindergarten through ninth grades and add new A.P. classes to the schedule.
"When I told the students, there were a lot of mixed emotions," Martinez said. "They were shocked, they were sad, but they were excited as well thinking they're going to a new school."
Brenda Martinez has been teaching the high school students since the school began in 1999. She says letting go isn't going to be easy.
"I'm going to miss my students," she said. "I'm already missing them and I tell them every day. We have awesome kids here."
