Collage of eight different advanced academies

Applications for the Socorro Independent School District's early college high schools, advanced academic academies and Pathways in Technology Early College High Schools (P-TECH) are open now through Jan. 24. The opportunities are available for incoming SISD high school students and for students living within the SISD boundaries who are not currently attending SISD schools.

SISD provides the early college high school programs, advanced academic academies and P-TECH programs at all six SISD comprehensive high schools. Eighth graders are encouraged to apply now for the programs that provide invaluable experiences and lessons to enhance their college and career readiness.

The early college high school programs give students the opportunity to earn an associate degree and/or 60 college credits at the same time as a high school diploma. Students in the advanced academic academies can gain real-world experiences and high-tech skills through advanced instruction in a specific area of study. The P-TECH programs can lead to the attainment of an associate degree, Level 1 or 2 certificate, and/or industry-based certification.

Applications are open online for the academies, early college high schools and P-TECH programs. SISD students can access the application portal through their my.sisd.net account.

Eighth-grade students who live within the boundaries of SISD but are not enrolled with SISD may apply for the academies through an alternate portal. The portal can be accessed at: https://my.sisd.net/public_apps/cte-lottery-application-external-ui/dist/cte-lottery-application-external-ui/#/academy-form

Eighth grade students who live outside of the SISD boundaries may apply to Mission Early College High School, International Baccalaureate, AZTEC Architecture Academy, and Libertas, as well as Education and Training P-TECHs at high schools where there is room available to accommodate transfer students, per FDB regulation.

The following are advanced academies/programs open to eighth-grade students who live within the district and require an application. Students who choose these academies are accepted through a lottery system. They will need to complete a transfer request form to transfer to the school where the academy resides. Students can apply to up to three academies. Eighth-grade students may opt out of the lottery system if they choose to participate in any of SISD’s offerings in Career and Technical Education, Fine Arts, or NJROTC.

  • Socorro HS – Health Professions Academy

  • Socorro HS – Fire Science

  • Montwood HS – Synergi4 STEM Academy – Engineering

  • Americas HS – Libertas Academy for Law, Government, and Public Administration

  • El Dorado HS – Aztec Architecture Academy

  • El Dorado HS – International Baccalaureate Academy

  • Eastlake HS – School for Advanced Technical Applications (SATA) Computer Science, Cyber Security, and Game Development

  • Pebble Hills HS – Sparta Academy for Business and Finance

Students also can apply to attend the early college high school at their local high school or Mission Early College High School.

  • Socorro Early College at Socorro High School

  • Rams Early College at Montwood High School

  • Trailblazer Early College at Americas High School

  • Empire Early College at El Dorado High School

  • Falcon Early College at Eastlake High School

  • Pebble Hills Early College at Pebble Hills High School

  • Mission Early College High School

P-TECH opportunities are limited to 25 students per cohort per year. The degree pathways for P-TECHs are dedicated to specific career areas at each school. All six P-TECH schools also offer a pathway to prepare and train for the teaching profession. The P-TECH programs are available in the following pathways:

Montwood High School – Biomedical or Education and Training (Teacher Preparation)

El Dorado High School – Criminal Justice or Education and Training (Teacher Preparation)

Eastlake High School – Computer Science or Education and Training (Teacher Preparation)

Pebble Hills High School – Business or Education and Training (Teacher Preparation)

Americas High School – Criminal Justice or Education and Training (Teacher Preparation)

Socorro High School – Pre-Nursing or Education and Training (Teacher Preparation)

Advanced Academy/ECHS *Timeline 2024-2025 School Year

Dec. 2, 2024 – Jan. 24, 2025

  • Advanced Academy Application window open for students to apply.

  • Application window closes at 5 p.m.

Jan. 24 – Feb. 7, 2025

  • Lottery opens on Jan. 24 at 5 p.m.

  • Students are offered positions through the lottery.

  • Students select or reject the programs that they are offered.

  • Lottery closure is Feb. 7 at 11:59 p.m.

Feb. 18 – 26, 2025

  • Students will receive notification letters indicating their acceptance status along with important next steps.

March 10 – 13, 2025

  • Spring ECHS Bridge camps

  • TSIA2 Preparation Camps for students

  • Edgenuity College Prep, TSIA2, ELA Part 1 to be completed prior to bridge camp.

April 28, 2025

  • Deadline for electronic transfer process for parents.

June 9 – 19, 2025

  • Advanced Academy Summer Bridge camps

*Timelines are subject to change. For more information, please contact the SISD Career and Technical Education Department at 915-937-0238 or the SISD Advanced Academics Department at 915-937-0384.

Per FDA (Local), there may not be a screening process for student transfers to an approved District-wide program, Advanced Academy program, or a Pathways in Technology Early College High School (PTECH) [see FDB(REGULATION)]. A blind lottery process will be used for placement of students and the online transfer portal will be used to initiate the transfer process