Crowley ISD & Paul Quinn College Partner for Student Success
In an innovative move set to redefine educational pathways in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, Crowley Independent School District has partnered with Paul Quinn College through an 1882 partnership. This collaboration aims to get middle school students thinking about higher education much earlier, positioning college not just as a possibility, but as an exciting and achievable inevitability.
A Groundbreaking 1882 Partnership Takes Root
Beginning this school year, Paul Quinn College’s Quinnite Schools Network has taken over operations at Crowley ISD middle schools. This unique 1882 partnership, established under Texas Senate Bill 1882 (2017), offers districts financial incentives to bring in external partners like colleges to spur innovation and improve academic outcomes. For Crowley ISD, the goal is clear: cultivate a college-bound mindset from an early age.
Making College an Early Reality
One of the most striking aspects of this partnership is the early college acceptance letters offered to incoming sixth, seventh, and eighth graders. While these acceptances are contingent on graduating high school with a 3.0 GPA or better, they provide a powerful, tangible goal. Antonio Mauldin, Paul Quinn College’s lead admissions and retention coordinator, emphasized to eighth-graders during a recent campus visit that consistent effort throughout high school is key, suggesting a 4.0 GPA is within reach for extraordinary students.
Eighth-grade Honors History students from all Crowley ISD middle schools recently experienced college life firsthand at Paul Quinn. These visits, organized with the help of the T3 Partnership (Tarrant To and Through), included attending a lecture class and interacting with college students. Brothers Ean and Ethan Taylor from Summer Creek Middle School shared their excitement about seeing what a college class truly entails, noting how professors encourage discussion and input. Both twins, with future plans ranging from law to medicine, appreciated the early glimpse into campus life.
Why Early Exposure Matters for Futures
Natalie Williams, executive director of the T3 Partnership, highlights that early campus visits demystify the college experience. Seeing a college class and interacting with students helps middle schoolers visualize themselves there, prompting them to plan their high school journey more strategically. Decisions made in middle school, such as taking Algebra I, can significantly impact future college options.
Crowley ISD Superintendent Michael McFarland noted that middle school is a crucial time when peer influence grows stronger. By fostering positive college conversations and experiences early on, the district hopes to guide that peer pressure in a constructive direction, making college a common aspiration among friends. This proactive approach also helps students identify and commit to prerequisite courses for specific career paths, like medicine, before it’s too late in high school.
Comparing Educational Pathways
This partnership marks a significant shift from traditional approaches to college readiness:
| Feature | Traditional College Path | Crowley ISD / Paul Quinn 1882 Partnership |
|---|---|---|
| College Awareness & Planning | Primarily high school years | Begins in middle school |
| College Acceptance | Applications typically in senior year | Conditional acceptance in middle school |
| Academic Goal Setting | Often ramps up in high school | Focus on 3.0+ GPA starts in 8th grade |
| Campus Experience | Limited to late high school visits | Immersive visits and class participation in middle school |
A Vision for Inevitable Success
Michael Sorrell, President of Paul Quinn College, sees a natural fit between public schools and higher education. He believes both are driven by a passion for lifelong learning and a desire to improve student prospects. Sorrell emphasizes that higher education partners are uniquely positioned to instill in students the belief that, with hard work, success is inevitable.
While the partnership’s main goal is innovation, Superintendent McFarland also anticipates academic returns. Given that Crowley ISD middle schoolers have historically trailed state averages in reading and math, this initiative holds potential to significantly boost academic performance by identifying new opportunities for student growth. The district plans to expand programs down to seventh and sixth grades in the coming years, building on the initial focus with eighth graders.
FAQs About the Partnership
- What is an 1882 partnership?
An 1882 partnership is an arrangement in Texas (named after Senate Bill 1882 from 2017) that provides financial incentives for school districts to collaborate with outside partners, such as colleges or charter schools, to manage public school campuses. This can be done to improve struggling schools or foster innovation. - What does early college acceptance from Paul Quinn College mean for students?
Middle school students receive conditional letters of acceptance, meaning they are accepted to Paul Quinn College provided they meet certain criteria, such as graduating high school with a minimum 3.0 GPA. This offers a clear pathway and motivation for academic achievement. - Why is engaging middle school students so important?
Engaging students in middle school helps demystify the college experience, encourages them to make informed academic choices (like taking Algebra I early), and positively influences peer pressure towards college aspirations before options become limited later in high school. - Which grades are currently involved in the partnership?
The partnership began with eighth-grade students in the current school year, with plans to expand programs to seventh and sixth grades in the coming years.
This forward-thinking partnership between Crowley ISD and Paul Quinn College illustrates a powerful commitment to student futures, proving that a strong foundation for higher education can, and should, begin long before senior year.
Crowley ISD Paul Quinn College Early College
