Premier High School of McAllen/Pharr has a current enrollment of 175 students, a waiting list of 90 applicants, and eight business suites completely operational with a director, staff, and multi-educational programs. The school has evolved into a highly effective public charter campus.

Those who know the school’s history are proud of its unique origin, the character of its students, and the promise that it represents.

This unique campus is one of 19 Premier High Schools located throughout the state of Texas. Designed by the largest charter holder in the state, Responsive Education Solutions (RES), Premier has a rich history of serving students looking for a different approach to completion of their high school education.

Responsive Education Solutions has been a leader in the public charter school movement since 2000, when the district’s first 15 charter schools opened their doors.

Premier High School of McAllen / Pharr, known then as Eagle Project, began its first year of operation in a rented retail facility, and initially enrolled 54 students in grades nine through twelve.

Though successful from the beginning, some neighboring public school districts seemed to view the new campus with concern; however, some administrators visited Premier periodically in search of students who had dropped out of their district and thanked the charter administration for recovering its dropouts.

Students came to the school for various reasons, though most were looking for ways to recover credits lost because of excessive absences. Premier High school of Pharr gave incoming students a “second chance” – a new opportunity for success while coping with full-time employment and family economic hardship.

The current student demographic profile has remained consistent throughout the years. The Pharr charter school has traditionally educated a higher percentage of low income (85%), at risk (90%), and limited English proficient students (88%).

The innovative use of an individualized approach to learning has motivated students to accelerate their pace through the PAKS or chapters of each course.

Premier High School students often discover reading to be an essential ingredient to their academic success. They also realize the importance of increasing reading skills as they progress in the development of responsibility for their own learning.

Even though Premier High School of Pharr has continually served a challenging and unique population, the school has received highest possible academic ratings.

Beginning with 10 graduates in the year 2000, the number of students graduating from Premier High School of Pharr has continually increased. A total of 405 students have graduated over a nine year period. During the current school year 86 students are expected to graduate, including 26 graduates who already participated in a fall ceremony. At a time when high school graduation rates are low and when the economy is struggling, Premier is making a difference in the quality of life and the economy of the region.

With the vision of its founder, Chuck Cook, and the commitment of school leadership, Premier has become a symbol of hope for the Pharr community and its young people. Today, with a new education model and an expanded outreach to the community, students enjoy opportunities for advanced placement and dual enrollment programs.

Just recently the campus became a partner with the University of Texas, Edinburg, who is providing staff and programs to facilitate the college admissions process, financial aid, and career awareness. These services are being offered to all students at a newly developed “Go to College Center” at the school. In addition, mentors will be provided for 16 identified students throughout their four years of college to ensure success!

Nine years have passed and Premier High School of Pharr still serves students from a business suite adjacent to the region?s most popular expressway. While other district schools have built or leased new buildings, the Premier campus has remained at the current location.

“There is something about this location,” said Principal Rosie Zamora. “It has been one of the reasons that we are able to help so many students.” Premier staff agrees, believing that their expressway location has symbolic meaning – “quick accessibility and a steady pace” toward academic growth for all students.