PHARR, RGV – Narciso Garcia, superintendent of Vanguard Academy, says that while there have been great successes at the seven different campuses in the public charter system, the best is yet to come.
“Last year we had a 96 percent ranking for accountability. This year it is 97 percent,” Garcia said.
The high ranking is all the more creditable, Garcia claimed, because 84 percent of Vanguard’s students are economically-disadvantaged. Plus, 40 percent are English learners.
Garcia was also pleased to learn that Vanguard scored a 100 percent rating for Closing the Gaps. This was achieved for helping students with special needs, helping those that are limited English proficient, and those that are economically disadvantaged.
“Region One ran the numbers a couple of times, they could not believe we reached a 100,” Garcia said.
Additionally, some of Vanguard’s teachers have won national awards from the Texas Association of Future Educators.
“If our teachers did not have the passion and the heart, we would not be having the results we have,” Garcia said.
Editor’s Note: This is the second in a four part series of podcasts on public education in South Texas. Click here to listen to Part One, featuring PSJA ISD Superintendent Daniel P. King. Part Three, featuring J.A. Gonzalez, superintendent of McAllen ISD, will be posted later this week.
