Introduction

Brownsville Raul Yzaguirre STEM Scholars (BRYSS) was founded in 2002 to provide an educational program for students in K-Grade 8 that is comprehensive, intensive, and inspiring. We are committed to shaping the minds and hearts of students to help them become valued and productive members of the Brownsville community.  

Brownsville Raul Yzaguirre STEM Scholars is the South Texas component of the Raul Yzaguirre STEM Scholars (RYSS), a Houston-based charter school district that was established by the Tejano Center for Community Concerns in 1996. Initially, the Tejano Center’s vision was to provide the highest quality education for children living in the center’s surrounding neighborhoods. That vision was later expanded, and the BRYSS was one of the first open-enrollment charter schools in Brownsville approved by the Texas Education Agency. 

Vision

The Raul Yzaguirre STEM Scholars will be a progressive school in which students will attain sustainable 21st century skills that will enable and empower them to become lifelong learners. 

Mission

We—the faculty, staff, family, and community of the Brownsville Raul Yzaguirre STEM Scholars—have committed ourselves to providing and obtaining the highest standard of education in a culturally relevant setting. The pursuit of excellence is aimed at developing self-respect and pride among our students. Our ultimate goal is for our students to become critical thinkers and lifelong learners.

Values

Responsibility- Honor - Commitment - Citizenship

School Demographics

Brownsville Raul Yzaguirre STEM Scholars serves 370 students.

Student Data

Ethnicity Hispanic 100%

Male 48%

Female 52%

Low Socioeconomic Status 98%

English Language Learners 67%

Economically Disadvantaged 98% (What is the difference between this and low SES above?)

English as a Second Language 12%

At risk 95%

Special Education 5%

Annual Attendance Rate 95%  

Staff Data

Ethnicity Hispanic 95%, White 5%

Male 36%

Female 64% 

Average Years of Experience 6 

Highly Qualified Status Attainment 100%

Student Achievement

At the Brownsville Raul Yzaguirre STEM Scholars, there is a lot to celebrate in terms of our academic progress. In the 2015-2016 school year, BRYSS was rated as “Met Standard.” That rating reflected great academic gains across all subjects and grades, even as the state’s testing program is becoming progressively more rigorous. The school’s overall gains are shown in the table below and they are significant increases that we will diligently sustain and improve upon: