Students, teachers gear up for first day of classes in EPISD

Thousands of students gear up for the first day of classes in the El Paso Independent School District Monday morning.

There are nearly 60,000 students that make one of the largest districts in the city, along with 9,000 teachers, administrators and staff members.

The district has 94 campuses across the city.

With the start of the new school year comes a brand new addition for the district. On Monday, the Young Women’s STEAM Research and Preparatory Academy opens it’s doors for the first time.

The academy will welcome sixth and seventh graders this year, but will eventually house grades 6 through 12.

EPISD Superintendent Juan Cabrera told ABC-7 students can expect a rigorous curriculum.

The school is located at 2231 Arizona Avenue in central El Paso and currently sharing a campus with Armendariz Middle School.

The academy will focus on STEAM initiatives and project based learning.

Cabrera said the district is beginning to look into the possibility of an all-boy school.

“I think from an equity point, we need to do that,” Cabrera said.

Cabrera said campuses are now gearing up to implement a new style of learning with more technology.

All sixth through twelfth graders now have laptops, middle schoolers being the most recent ones to get theirs over the summer.

“It’s this transition from trying to integrate technology into a more modern learning environment,” Cabrera said.

Another goal for the year includes funding for schools with struggling readers.

“We’re going to unleash a new initiative this year to make sure that no kid gets through third grade without reading at grade level,” Cabrera said.

While there are committees in place to handle the planned bond projects, some have already been unveiled at campuses.

Over the summer, new turf was installed at EPISD high schools, a new fleet of modernized buses has been added with cameras for added security and laptops have been distributed. Some playgrounds at campuses will also be replaced this fall semester.

Last November, voters approved a $668.7 million dollar bond “aimed at modernizing and right-sizing” EPISD.