Los Fresnos ISD 2013 Year In Review

The Los Fresnos CISD continued its high standard of academic excellence in 2013 and gained recognition in areas outside of academics as well.

Inspiration Award
One of the biggest achievement of the year was Los Fresnos High School receiving one of three national Gaston Caperton Inspiration Awards from The College Board.
Two other schools received the 2013 awards and both were charter schools – one in Los Angeles and the other in New Orleans, La.
The school received the award for providing low-income students with the support they need to succeed academically. LFHS received a $25,000 award to apply toward programs that encourage more students to attend college.
“The extraordinary work done by teachers and administrators at Los Fresnos High School to ensure that each of their students succeeds truly embodies the spirit of the Inspiration Awards,” said Peter Negroni, senior vice president of relationship development at The College Board.

Academic Success
On June 8, Los Fresnos High School graduated its largest class ever in 2013 – 630 students.
Out of that number, 162 students received scholarship offers from colleges and universities around the country. The amount of scholarships offered was $15.68 million, the highest total ever reported at LFHS.
In August, the Texas Education Agency recognized six Los Fresnos CISD for receiving designations in three areas of the state assessments.
Los Fresnos High School, Los Cuates Middle School, Laureles Elementary, Los Fresnos Elementary, Olmito Elementary and Villareal Elementary received the honor from the TEA.
The statewide percentage of schools that the designations in all three areas was 21.1 percent. Los Fresnos CISD more than doubled the state average with 42.9 percent of its schools.

Growth Leads to Expansion of Los Fresnos United
The Los Fresnos Board of Trustees approved two major projects for Los Fresnos United, the campus that serves all ninth-grade students in the district.
In August, trustees approved a $7.6 million construction project for athletic locker rooms, an athletic training room, a band hall, and parking areas to be located west of the existing campus. Also included is an upgrade to the campus chiller plant.
In November, trustees approved architectural plans for the Community Shelter in connection with the Texas Safe Shelter Initiative.
The 20,000-square foot Community Safe Room will double as a competition gymnasium for Los Fresnos United. Under FEMA guidelines, the federal government pays 75 percent ($1.8 million) of the $2.4 million project, while the school district pays 25 percent ($600,000).
The concrete dome will serve as a 1,600-seat gymnasium and multi-purpose center for LFU. In county-declared emergencies, the facility will be used as a Safe Room for county residents.
Career and Technical Education
Los Fresnos CISD continued to expand enrollment in the Career and Technology programs at secondary schools. The program’s goal is to shape individuals to become leaders in their chosen fields, dedicated to service, social responsibility and to encourage all students to pursue their passion.
There are 34 CTE components in 11 programs of study for all students. Each program offers a certification to prepare students for future employment.
“Now, not only do we want all of our students to graduate, we want them to receive their diploma with a certification in their chosen field,” CTE Director Adrian Dorsett said.
Several Los Fresnos High School students received recognition in national DECA competitions.
Programs featured during 2013 include (click on links) Robotics, Emergency Medical Technology, and Welding.
Financial Transparency
Los Fresnos CISD has also received recognition in areas outside of academics.
For the third straight year, the district received the Gold Leadership Circle Award from the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts for financial transparency.
The Leadership Circle Award recognizes local governments across Texas that strive to meet a high standard for on-line financial transparency by opening their books to the public; by providing clear, consistent pictures of spending; and by sharing information in a user-friendly format that helps taxpayers understand how their tax dollars are spent.
The Gold designation is the highest award given. Los Fresnos was one of only 72 districts in the state to have earned the gold award for three straight years. There was only one other Rio Grande Valley district to receive the distinction.