ISD believes all children can learn and within that motto it is focused on performance by having highly qualified teaching staff, effective research-based curriculum, plus state-of-the art technology to meet all instructional needs. Curriculum By 2012 PSJA ISD began using an early college model to encourage university admission among first-time, low income, Hispanic and English as a second language students. It is a model derived from that of the Hidalgo Independent School District; Superintendent Daniel P. King spearheaded this effort. After the initiative started, PSJAISD had an increase in its university matriculation rates, and in a three-year span, the four year graduation rate from the high schools increased to 87% as of 2012 from 62%. By 2012 about 2,000 students, making up 25% of all PSJAISD high school students, took university-level courses. PSJA has been identified as a national model for putting dropouts “Back on Track to College” by Jobs for the Future (JFF) out of Boston, MA. JFF is working to expand key components of the model to other states across the country. They also released a report in March 2012 featuring PSJA's College3 initiative and “College for All” strategy. PSJA ISD has increased the number of yearly graduates by almost 100% from 966 in 2006–07 to over 1,900 in 2011–2012. Schools High Schools (Grades 9-12) Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Early College High School (San Juan) Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Memorial Early College High School (Alamo) Pharr-San Juan-Alamo North Early College High School (Pharr) Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Southwest Early College High School (Pharr) Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Thomas Jefferson T-STEM Early College High School (Pharr) Middle Schools (Grades 6-8) Alamo Middle School (Alamo) Austin Middle School (San Juan) Audie Murphy Middle School (Alamo) Jaime Escalante Middle School (Pharr) Kennedy Middle School (Pharr) LBJ Middle School (Pharr) Liberty Middle School (Pharr) R. Yzaguirre Middle School (San Juan) Elementary Schools (Grades PK-5) PSJA Early Start Pre-K School (Pharr) Allen & William Arnold Elementary School (Pharr) Bowie Elementary School (Alamo) Buckner Elementary School (Pharr) Carman Elementary School (San Juan) Chavez Elementary School (Pharr) Clover Elementary School (San Juan) Doedyns Elementary School (San Juan) Dr.William Long Elementary School (Pharr) Farias Elementary School (Alamo) Ford Elementary School (Pharr) Marcia R. Garza Elementary School (Alamo) Garcia Elementary School (Pharr) Garza-Pena Elementary School (San Juan) Guerra Elementary School (Alamo) Kelly-Pharr Elementary School (Pharr) Long Elementary School (Pharr) Longoria Elementary School (Pharr) Napper Elementary School (Pharr) Santos Livas Elementary School (Alamo) Arnoldo Cantu Sr.