Who we Are

Physician. Astronaut. Teacher. Artist. Each graduation day a fresh class of El Paso's high school seniors looks  forward to a future of limitless possibilities. Most of these graduates will take their first steps toward their goals by enrolling in a four-year college or university.

For The El Paso Collaborative for Academic Excellence, the successful progress of each student through the public education system marks another promise kept. For more than a dozen years, the Collaborative has been a quietly powerful force in schools throughout our community, following through on our commitment to provide a high-quality education to all of El Paso's students and raising the sights of everyone - students, teachers, administrators and parents - to college and beyond. In an era of high expectations and accountability, we have demonstrated a strategy for education reform that is both highly effective and well within the grasp of other American communities.

Our Goal: Success for Every Child

Founded in 1991, The El Paso Collaborative for Academic Excellence is recognized as one of the most innovative and effective education reform     initiatives in Texas and in the nation. Our founders and partners include the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of Education and The Pew Charitable Trusts, in addition to businesses and organizations in the community and throughout Texas.

Concerned that El Paso's students were being poorly prepared for higher  education and careers - and unwilling to accept traditional excuses such as language barriers or poverty - we implemented a reform model that is both systemic and sustainable.

Our goals are our promise to El Paso's children:

• To ensure academic success for all students, K-16.

• To ensure that all students graduate from high school prepared to  succeed in a four-year college or university.

• To close achievement gaps among different groups of students.

We are keeping our promise.

• El Paso's students are staying in school. In 2002, the high school completion rate of students in El Paso's three urban school districts reached an all-time high of 77.8 percent. Our high school graduation rate was highest among all major cities in Texas, including Austin, Dallas, Houston and San Antonio.

• El Paso's graduating seniors are receiving a higher-quality education. In 2001, the percentage of seniors completing the Recommended  High School Program was the highest of all major Texas cities.

• Achievement gaps are closing fast. For example, in 1992-93, just 32.3 percent of African American and 36.2 percent of Hispanic students achieved passing scores on the math portion of TAAS, the Texas statewide assessment - barely more than half the 63.1 percent passing rate achieved by White students. By 2001-02, passing rates had climbed dramatically for all students and were fewer than eight percentage points apart: 87 percent for African American, 89.2 percent for Hispanic and 94.9 percent for White students. El Paso students achieved similar success in reading, with 2001-02 TAAS pass rates of 85.7 percent for African American students, 88.5 percent for Hispanics and 95.2 percent for Whites.  

• Student expectations are higher. Enrollments and pass rates in college preparatory courses continue to rise. For example, in 1992-93, just 63 percent     of students were enrolled in Algebra I, with 59 percent passing. In 2002-03, 97 percent of students were enrolled in Algebra I, with 86 percent passing the course. Enrollment/pass rates for Algebra II also climbed from 45 percent enrolled and 83 percent passing in 1992-93 to 81 percent enrolled and 75 percent passing in 2002-03.  In Chemistry, just 32 percent of students were enrolled in 1992-93, with 82 percent passing; in 2002-03, the rates for Chemistry rose to 78 percent enrollment and 79 percent of students passing the course.