Texas Border Business
SAN JUAN, Texas – Nearly two decades after launching its Countdown to Zero Dropout Recovery initiative, Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD (PSJA ISD) is seeing significant progress in its efforts to keep students in school and ensure they have a pathway to graduation.
Historically, PSJA ISD recovery teams have worked to reconnect more than 800 students who had stopped attending school. In recent years, that number has dropped significantly as the district has strengthened proactive efforts to identify students at risk of leaving school, reconnect those who do not return, and provide flexible options to help them successfully complete their education.
At the beginning of the 2026-27 school year, approximately 82 PSJA students had not returned to school. Through early outreach and intervention, that number had already decreased to 49 students by the district’s first Countdown to Zero Dropout Recovery Walk on Sept. 12.
Since then, district teams have continued reconnecting students, further reducing the number still needing to be recovered as PSJA prepares for its second and final recovery effort Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, at PSJA Early College High School.
The progress is part of PSJA ISD’s broader focus on ensuring students not only remain in school, but successfully complete their education. The district maintains a four-year graduation rate above 97%, higher than regional and state rates, and recently earned an A rating with a score of 90 in the 2026 Texas Accountability Ratings. All 44 PSJA schools earned an A or B, including 27 campuses that earned an A.
District leaders credit these outcomes in part to a system that emphasizes early intervention, individualized support, and multiple pathways to graduation rather than relying solely on traditional dropout recovery efforts.
“Our responsibility does not end when a student stops coming to school,” said PSJA ISD Superintendent Dr. Alejandro Elias. “We have to understand what is keeping that student from returning and be willing to provide different pathways to help them succeed. Whether that means returning to their campus, completing coursework virtually, or finding another pathway through CCTA, we want our students to know there is still a way forward at PSJA.”
More Than Recovery: Creating Different Pathways to Graduation
For PSJA ISD, recovering a student is only the first step. District efforts focus on understanding why a student stopped attending and finding an educational pathway that can work for that student’s individual circumstances.
Among those options is the PSJA College & Career Technical Academy (CCTA), which provides eligible individuals ages 18 to 26 who did not complete high school an opportunity to return, earn their diploma, and connect with college, career, and postsecondary opportunities.
PSJA also offers PSJA iLearn, a virtual program available to students in grades 9-12 that allows eligible students to complete coursework asynchronously online, providing greater flexibility for students who may face circumstances that make a traditional school schedule difficult.
PSJA ISD was the first public school district in the Rio Grande Valley to offer this type of online program, expanding another pathway for students to remain connected to school and continue working toward graduation.
“Every student matters, and sometimes getting a student back on the path toward graduation starts with someone taking the time to knock on a door and say, ‘We have not forgotten about you,’” said PSJA ISD Assistant Superintendent for Student Services Dr. Orlando Noyola. “We are proud that fewer students are reaching the point where they need to be recovered, but our goal remains zero. We will continue doing everything we can to connect students and families with the support and options available to them.”
These efforts are part of PSJA ISD’s broader commitment to leaving no student behind and ensuring students have access to the support, flexibility, and opportunities necessary to complete their education and continue toward college or a career.
Final Countdown to Zero Recovery Walk Set for Sept. 19
PSJA ISD will hold its second and final Countdown to Zero Dropout Recovery Walk of the 2026-27 school year on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, at PSJA Early College High School.
Participation in the recovery effort is open to PSJA ISD employees, who will join district leaders and staff in visiting students and families who have not yet returned to school.
For more information about PSJA CCTA or opportunities to return and complete a high school diploma, call 956-784-1515.
