Chisum Independent School District

Working together in a cooperative partnership with students, parents, community and staff member, Chisum Independent School District's mission is to achieve excellence through: experimentation resulting in creativity and higher order thinking skills a basic foundation of knowledge and skills engagement in a relevant curriculum technology application in the learning process collaboration and leadership opportunities participative academics character development a focus on individuality Chisum is widely known in this area as "the school with the horse out front". The MUSTANG is the "brain child" and creation of Robert Ballard, Chisum ISD former Maintenance & Transportation Director. This metallic horse was made mostly from car bumpers and a few scrap parts. Each part had to be cut, bent, reshaped, molded, and welded into the shape of a mustang. Standing approximately ten feet high and weighing over 1,000 pounds, the mustang stands tall in front of the new administration office showing our "MUSTANG" pride. Mr. Ballard said the construction of the mustang required some technical skills and provided some meaningful learning activities for the students and others involved. Chisum Independent School District works to provide a community setting for the people of the district. The strength of the school district is the people. The parents of this district provide the support that motivates the staff to work even harder. The community provides the resources necessary to accomplish the goals of the district. Currently 80 percent of the graduating seniors take the ACT test with an average score of 24.3 for this year's top ten seniors. The district has not had a senior fail to graduate due to the TAAS test in the past five years. The staff and students work hard for a fight free environment that is safe for all students. Chisum ISD consists of three school campuses, Elementary (K-5), Middle School (6-8), and High School (9-12). The three campuses are fully networked with a Novell network. There are three to four computers per classroom and a computer lab on each campus. The student to teacher ratio is 13.7. There are currently 50 faculty with Bachelor's degrees, 11 with Master's degrees, and one with a Doctor's degree. Chisum has an excellent vocational and technical program. A few of the courses are agricultural sciences and technology, comprehensive and occupational home economics, career investigation, business computer information systems, business computer programming, diversified career preparation, parenting education programs, as well as a contract for cosmetology, health occupations, and automotive technology. Other programs Chisum ISD offers include choir, band, all UIL sports (except soccer), academic UIL, gifted and talented program for K-12, Title I accelerated instruction, Boy Scouts, upward bound, talent search, driver's education, credit by examination, learning for life, life skills class, and we offer PSAT and PLAN tests. There are many volunteer parent groups active at Chisum. Without these dedicated groups, our school would not be what it is today. Some of these groups include PIPS (Players in Progress), Parent Teacher Organization, Band Boosters, Athletic Boosters, and FFA FAN Club. Chisum's Special Education programs are serviced through the Lamar County Special Education Co-op. Some of the programs include resource class, vocational adjustment class, homebound/hospital instruction, sheltered workshop, early childhood, speech and hearing therapy, regional day school for the deaf, visually handicapped services, physical therapy, Special Olympics, self-contained E.D. classroom, occupational therapy, life skills training, special transportation, study skills/content mastery, diagnostics, counseling, and classes for severely and profound handicapped.