El Paso Independent School District is closing its College Career and Technology Academy campus at the end of the school year and moving the program into four host high schools, after a unanimous board vote that reshapes how the district serves some of its most vulnerable students. District leaders say the program, which serves under-credited, at-risk students, will live on in a new school-based model that is supposed to make services easier to reach.
On Tuesday, the Board of Trustees voted 7-0 to redesign the program, reassigning CCTA coursework from the centralized campus into four host schools: Burges, Chapin, Franklin, and El Paso High, with each site serving specific feeder campuses, as reported by KFOX14/CBS4. District officials told trustees the shift is meant to bring students closer to home and offer more flexible schedules during the 2026-27 school year.
What The District Says
El Paso ISD describes CCTA as a program for students who are behind on credits that provides college- and career-level training so they can graduate on time. The campus page lays out the school's focus on credit recovery and technical pathways, according to El Paso ISD.
Enrollment And Timeline
KFOX14/CBS4 reported the campus had about 98 enrolled students in a building with a capacity for more than 500, a gap district leaders cited in their decision. Superintendent Dr. Brian Lusk told trustees that having a single, standalone site has turned out to be a barrier rather than a perk.
"Having a centralized program sometimes makes it more difficult rather than easier for our students to have access to the best possible options," Lusk said, according to KFOX14/CBS4.
Why It Matters
The move comes as districts across Texas rethink how to deliver specialized career and credit recovery programs amid shifting enrollment and funding. The Texas Education Agency's roster of college-and-career campuses shows districts experimenting with a variety of models, according to the Texas Education Agency. Local coverage has also highlighted school shutdowns and enrollment pressures as factors shaping recent board decisions, according to El Paso Matters.
Next Steps For Families
District officials said transition planning will begin immediately and continue through May, with the CCTA campus slated to close by the end of July. The on-site Head Start program will remain at the Grant Avenue location.
Parents and guardians can review board materials and timelines on El Paso ISD's Board Agendas page or consult local Head Start listings for child-care details.
