Introduction: Whether you are traveling from West to East, North to South, or just trying to find your way through Central Texas on an old country road, along the way you will find yourself landing in the middle of this great land in Hico, Texas. Nestled in the heart of the Lone Star State, Hico can be found a hustle and bustle of eager tourists indulging in some chocolates, eating home-cooked crafted cuisines, or spending the day shopping at one of the many trending boutiques in town. Yet with all that buzz in town, nothing compares to what is happening on the edge of town where all of this excitement continues to grow inside and outside of the walls of Hico Independent School District. At over 100 years in age, progress hasn’t stopped at Hico ISD. Focusing on technology and innovation, Hico ISD is striving to become one of the first schools in the area to transform the education game and bring the needed change to outcomes readiness of its future graduates. For many years Hico ISD has stood as a beacon of academic achievement, community spirit, and Texas Pride. In the past five years alone, Hico ISD has seen its students succeed at the state and national levels in athletics, academics, and agriculture events. Yet all of this success is nothing in comparison to the new standard of success awaiting the Class of 2027 graduates and beyond. Three years in the making, the 2023-2024 school year is bringing about great change in not only the expectations of its students and staff, but brings forth a new level of community based focus in growing its new generation of productive citizens through its P-TECH education model. What is P-TECH? Pathways in Technology Early College High Schools are inno62 Our Hometowns | Volume 5 Issue 1
vative schools that allow students least likely to attend college an opportunity to receive both a high school diploma and a credential and/or associate degree. The hallmark of the P-TECH model is its career focus and the provision of work-based education. Yet, what sets Hico Secondary School apart from all of the rest of the P-TECH schools in the state of Texas? To start, ALL students at Hico ISD participate in this programming. The program is not limiting itself to those least likely to attend, but is creating a culture that all students can and will be successful through their participation in the P-TECH program. In addition, Hico ISD isn’t just stopping at the opportunity for its students to gain an associates degree, but rather it’s leaving its doors open for two more years after they cross their high school stage to finish their Bachelor’s degree. Therein lies the first key to educating your future community. P-TECH at Hico Secondary, in partnership with Collegiate Edu-Nation, is a program designed to provide its students with a smooth transitional experience to postsecondary education and the workforce. Students will have the opportunity to earn a high school diploma while simultaneously earning an industry-approved certification, Associates Degree, a Bachelor’s Degree and beyond. Students will be provided with the academic, technical, and professional skills along with credentials that are needed for competitive STEM jobs. The goal at Hico ISD is to provide a pathway from high school to post-secondary education, to employment in the high-need industry areas. While Hico has been known for its pride in agricultural programs, and STEM education including Audio Video Production and Robotics classes, connecting students to the workforce and developing sustainable job-readiness skills is its new ultimate goal.
