Academic Performance
Plato Academy provides educational opportunities for students who have dropped out of traditional high schools, as well as those who are working to gain credits lost and gives them the chance to earn a high school diploma through a self-paced educational setting.
All students graduate under the District's Distinguished Graduation Plan with an emphasis on preparing students for a post-secondary education along with acquiring skills needed to join and be effective in the workplace.
Campus History
Plato Academy was started in 1992 at Riverside High School as a program. It was placed under AST in 1997. It became a stand-alone alternative education campus in 2001. In 2003, Plato Academy was moved to 8441 Alameda where it currently stands. The school receives an expedited waiver of attendance from the Texas Educational Agency allowing students the opportunity to participate in a flexible schedule of 4 hours a day for full-time students and 2 hours a day for part-time students. Students may attend two blocks if desired to attempt to complete their credits at a faster pace. Plato Academy is open from 7 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with four blocks. Students will be enrolled in two classes within their block. The expectation is that students will finish their classes within a five week time period. The blocks are as follows:
A Block: 7 a.m. - 11 a.m. B Block: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
C Block: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. D Block: 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Community Outreach
Plato Academy was the only high school in the Ysleta Independent School District that tested former students who had completed all of their course work but still needed TAAS or TAKS tests in order to earn a diploma. The Texas Legislature changed the law in 2017 and Texas Assessments of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) tests are no longer being administered. Former TAKS, TAAS, and TEAMS examinees can now take the appropriate State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) test. STAAR may be used as an alternate assessment to meet graduation testing requirements for former TAKS, TAAS, and TEAMS students.
The Texas Legislature recently passed Senate Bill 463 which allows former students to obtain their diploma if they meet certain criteria. To find out more click on PATH2DIPLOMA .
Contact Karen McVay, Testing Coordinator for information. 434-9026.
