Type Public High School Principal Dr. Nora Casarez Grades 9-12 Founded 2003 | Established 2003 Faculty 53.2 (on FTE basis) Phone +1 956-383-1684 Mascot Tornados | |
Motto "Excellence is not an act; excellence is a habit." Address 510 Sugar Rd, Edinburg, TX 78539, USA District South Texas Independent School District Profiles | ||
South Texas Business, Education & Technology Academy, also known as 'BETA', is part of the South Texas Independent School District, in Edinburg, Texas, United States.
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The school was founded in 1993 as the Teacher Academy of South Texas, but was renamed South Texas Business, Education & Technology Academy in 2003. The school serves as an alternative to larger high schools of local independent school districts for students interested in pursuing careers in Business, Education, and Technology. BETA has notable partnerships with University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M University, Baylor University, Dallas Baptist University, University of Texas-Pan American, and South Texas College.
The Teacher Academy's first class graduated in 1998.
BETA's first class graduated in 2004.
As of the 2012-13 school year, the school had an enrollment of 836 students and 53.2 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student-teacher ratio of 13.9.
In 2006, former principal Adan Farias left BETA to be replaced by Magdalena Gutierrez. In 2014, Dr. Nora Cazares took over as Principal of BETA.
History
The school was founded in 1993 as the Teacher Academy, focusing on only students interested in pursuing Education as a career. It was later changed in 2003 to Business, Education, & Technology Academy; focusing on Business, Education and Technology. In 2008, after 15 years of the campus being a Jr. High/High School, the Jr. High was separated from the high school and was named South Texas Preparatory Academy. In 2012, BETA became the 2000th International Baccalaureate world school in the Americas. In 2013, BETA started sports with women's volleyball and men's basketball. As of 2014, BETA offers students the IB diploma, AP courses, concurrent enrollment, dual enrollment, internships, and Pre-Ap courses.
Awards and recognition
In its November 30, 2007, U.S. News & World Report ranked South Texas BETA at number 54 on its list of America's Best High Schools.
In its 2010 rankings, Newsweek ranked BETA number 52 in its top 100 high schools in America.
As of 2014, Beta is ranked the 18th best High School in Texas.