The Socorro Independent School District enthusiastically opened the doors for some 45,000 students for the 2026-27 school year on July 27. Campuses across the district were full of excitement as students, families and teachers embarked on a new successful chapter filled with opportunities to learn, grow and excel.
Building academic success
At Horizon Heights Elementary School, the first day of school was a celebration. The Eastlake High School cheerleaders and Falcon football team, along with the Horizon Fire Department and Horizon City Mayor Andres Renteria, welcomed the Hornets as they stepped into an exciting new year.
Javier Aguilera, the school’s new principal, planned to continue building the school’s success as an A-rated campus. SISD currently has 18 A-rated campuses, which is the highest rating given by the Texas Education Agency. Additionally, SISD is once again the highest-scoring district in the El Paso region based on preliminary State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) and End-of-Course (EOC) results.
“Our kids are so smart. Our teachers are so amazing. I cannot wait to see all the great work that happens, all the amazing learning and all the great partnerships we’re going to have with our communities as well,” Aguilera said.
At Sun Ridge Middle School, Veronica Lindsey, a seventh-grade science teacher, was eager to inspire her students' passion for science. An educator for 21 years, her goal was to connect her students with hands-on learning activities so they could see science all around them.
Her efforts are part of a districtwide commitment to STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education. SISD is one of only three school districts nationwide to earn the National Certificate for STEM Excellence - District (NCSE-D) from the National Institute for STEM Education.
“I want them to be able to realize that what they're learning in these four walls actually applies to the world outside and make that connection,” Lindsey said.
Across SISD, students are setting their own goals and getting ready to succeed in various subjects.
For Aaron Cortez, a sixth grader at John Drugan School, his goal is to achieve good grades in all his subjects and improve his reading skills. Although he was nervous about being late to class while switching classrooms for the first time, he looked forward to attending math class.
“Since I was little, my mom used to teach me math, so I got really good at it. It’s my favorite subject,” Cortez said.
Preparing for college and careers
Preparing students for lifelong success starts early at SISD. Through its free pre-K programs for 3- and 4-year-olds, the district provides its youngest scholars with a strong educational foundation and the support needed to succeed in college or the workforce.
Steven Morales was excited for his son to begin his education in Bill Sybert School’s pre-K program. He hoped that pre-K would give his son a head start on a successful academic career.
“I’m wishing for an easy transition into the year, where my son is taken care of and that they have a good curriculum for the year, good classes and that he learns as much as he can for the rest of his life,” Morales said.
SISD also offers a variety of high-quality college and career pathways, exceptional fine arts programs and championship athletics that help students graduate with a competitive advantage.
Jason Galvan was excited to start his senior year at El Dorado High School. He was grateful to his teachers and track coaches for helping him prepare for a bright future that includes running track in college and pursuing a career as a firefighter.
“Well, like, athletic-wise, I think our coaching staff is really, really good. They've helped me improve a lot over the years. And like, school-wise, all my teachers have been great. They've helped me through the problems I didn't understand,” Galvan said.
Building legacy
Izabelle Torres felt a wave of nostalgia as she dropped off her children at Robert R. Rojas Elementary School. As an alumna of the school, she took pride in her children following in her footsteps. She considered the school one of the safest places she had ever been.
“I'm mostly excited for them to learn, have friends and just open up more,” Torres said.
Hector Perez, the new principal at the school, said that he recognized many of his former students who were dropping off their children and enjoyed taking pictures with their families. He emphasized that the school’s faculty and staff were the ones who made the school special.
“Thank you to the parents for trusting their kiddos here at Rojas with us. They're in the best care, and we're going to be taking care of everyone for sure,” Perez said.