Making the Choice to Enroll at Midland Premier
By: Stephanie Sobic
Updated: August 25, 2010
For a lot of kids, school can be tough academically, socially and with their home life. In order to succeed, some students need a different educational environment. One that doesn't demand 8 hours and a large classroom.
"I don't really try to recruit anybody. I see it as a choice," says Kayli Holley, an 11th Grader at Midland Premier High School.
Kayli made the switch from ISD to Midland Premier High School because she wanted a smaller environment. One where she could work at her own pace and not the pace of a classroom.
"It’s all self-advancement, basically your motivated by yourself, your not motivated by the teachers, by someone on your back, your motivated by yourself," says Kayli.
Kids enroll into this charter school for many different reasons.
"A lot of times that’s not academic, sometimes its because were a safe environment, students here have a lot of individual attention," explains Campus Director, Darren Browder.
And for some students, like Joel Olmos, he's playing catch-up. Joel was held back a year, but Midland Premier allows him to graduate on time.
"I think I work faster if I'm on my own and if I need help the teachers are here for us," says Joel.
Teachers at Midland Premier are there to facilitate, not stand-up and lecture. Kids do lessons on their own and if they need assistance they raise a flag and a teacher will come over. It's a learning style, not for everyone, but for these kids it works.
"As an accredited high school through TEA, as well as TAKS, our students are really better preparing for college," explains Browder.
Right now, about 160 kids attend this school, but now that Midland Premier has moved to a larger campus, Browder hopes more students will enroll.
"We can handle up to 240 students now for our 6-12 grades. It also gives us the opportunity to expand in the future to other grade levels," says Browder.
Another thing to mention, kids only hits the books hard four hours a day. That way students can balance a full time job and school if they need to.
