Donna ISD consolidating two schools into new learning academics

DONNA — The school board here approved the consolidation of two elementary schools to transition students into three new academies focused on arts and science for the 2025-2026 school year.

The Donna ISD school board voted unanimously to consolidate B.G Guzman Elementary and Truman Price Elementary into other elementary campuses Tuesday night.

“We’re going to reassign the students that are currently at these two elementaries to three other elementaries that have available space,” DISD Superintendent Angela Dominguez said. “By consolidating the campuses, we’ll be able to offer some of these innovative programs to them.”

The three new elementary schools are the J.S. Adame Arts Academy for Pre-K to fifth grade, the Ochoa Primary Science and Sports Academy for Pre-K to second grade and the Stainke Intermediate Science and Sports Academy for the third to fourth grades.

Dominguez said the academies will offer unique programming at the elementary level.

The J.S. Adame Arts Academy will offer theater, dance, visual arts and music education. Some specifics include Mariachi, drum line, digital art, sculpture, Folklórico, ballet and musical theater.

The other two academies will have a focus on outdoor learning, physical activity, athletics and an emphasis on science such as environmental science.

All three academies will be in modern facilities, the superintendent said.

The new academies were inspired by the success of the Rivas Primary Discovery Academy that garnered the H-E-B Excellence in Education Early Childhood Award in 2024. The academy focuses on students from Pre-K through second grade and uses traditional classroom instruction and multiple hands-on activities.

“We’re excited,” Dominguez said. “We had an innovation design team work this year to work with family feedback, student feedback and staff to come up with these new school models. The fine arts academy … I know we’ve got some other districts that have that, but the science and sports (academies) is going to be the first of its kind. We’re replicating that early childhood model from Rivas and that has been so successful for our students and our families.”

B.G Guzman Elementary currently has about 297 students and Truman Price Elementary has around 421 students.

Students have already been zoned to what school they will be attending but with DISD being open enrollment, parents still have the choice of what school to send their children to.

Dominguez said the district is anticipating 750 students at J.S. Adame Arts Academy. The two other academies are anticipating about 1,125 students split between the two campuses.

“We’re keeping all of our staff,” she said. “They got some opportunities to choose the direction they want to go in but most of them will follow the students that are transitioning so that we have a smooth transition for kids.”

Dominguez said Texas school districts are struggling and experiencing a decline in enrollment, and that DISD is no different but that the consolidation is going to help maximize the resources they have at hand.

“We are fortunate that we have a healthy fund balance and we want to continue to be financially responsible,” she said. “The consolidation will allow us to maximize the resources we have and offer new things … It’s very challenging to offer innovative things when your resources are spread out.”

The three new academies are expected to open this fall.

“I feel pretty confident that it’s going to be a smooth transition for our community,” Dominguez said. “What we’re going to be able to provide to kids is just going to go through the roof and that’s what we’re here for. We’re here to serve our kids, to make sure that they have access to the highest quality programming. This is going to allow us to do that, and our goal in the future is to innovate at some of our other campuses.”

As for B.G Guzman and Truman Price elementary schools, the district said it will evaluate repurposing the buildings for other needs or selling them or leasing them to another organization.

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