High schoolers return to PSJA campus after 51 years

PHARR — Trophy cases sat empty and hallways stood soundless Thursday morning at the old Memorial building on Business 83 in Pharr, where high school students last roamed the historical marker in 1961.

But as lunchtime approached, teenagers clamored on school stairs and filled the renovated school with shrieks and laughter before heading to an adjacent cafeteria with their friends.

Watching her peers from a sunlit multipurpose room, Student Council President Elizabeth Ramirez remarked on the significance of leading the campus’s first graduating class in more than half a century.

"Oh, we’ll fill those trophy cases pretty quick," the 18-year-old said. "I’m looking forward to doing everything for the first time here.

"We’ve got prom, homecoming – even though we don’t have football – graduation … so much to plan for still," Ramirez added. "First we have to get ready for the new semester."

After shuttering its doors as Memorial Middle School in 2002, the new Thomas Jefferson Early College High School opened Monday to about 400 students who earn college credit while finishing their diplomas.

Ramirez, like her fellow upperclassmen, will spend half her day at the newly restored campus, originally built in 1915, and half at South Texas College when classes resume there next week.

And close to 60 percent of this year’s senior class – the first ECHS graduates since the program’s inception in 2008 – will leave STC with an associate degree even before accepting a high school diploma this spring, said Principal Marisela Zepeda.

"A group of students, maybe 25 or so, asked if they could be the first ones to walk into the building" on Friday, Jan. 6, Zepeda said as tears welled in her eyes.

"I’m sorry. I just get so emotional," she said, "because this is their school. The seniors have not had a true campus, and all of us couldn’t be more excited."

After spending two years in portables at Audie Murphy Middle School, the ECHS program crammed into one wing of the new Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Southwest High School near Las Milpas.

But students could keep their eyes on a campus meant just for them once the PSJA school board approved $8 million for the renovations of the old Memorial building in 2010.

"We can finally call something our own," said senior Ricardo Lara, 17. "There used to be just one printer for all of (the ECHS students at Southwest High) that you’d run out of ink or never have time to print anything.

"Now we have our own library," he said. "This campus looks like a college. We’re allowed to be in charge of ourselves. It’s a good feeling."

Zepeda said she has spent every day after school this week granting tours to curious residents, community leaders, former PSJA employees and more.

And her students shared the same awe over upcoming renovations on science labs, a cafetorium, landscaping and more.

"We went from nothing – maybe not nothing, but something very small – to something so great," Ramirez said. "We’ve been patient for four years. Good things come to those who wait."

"Even the bathrooms are something else!" interrupted Raul Morales, 17-year-old co-leader of the robotics team.

"Oh, yes," Ramirez agreed. "They have doors!"