Military-Connected Students & Families (Middle School)
Military-Connected Students & Families
The School Counselor's Role
Our counselors collaborate with administrators, teachers, and parents to support student academic success. They develop comprehensive counseling programs that include character development through research-based social emotional learning curriculum, analyze student data to support academic planning and goal setting, and provide short-term counseling as well as access to long-term counseling and support services as needed.
As the campus military liaisons, our counselors are points of contact for military-connected students and families. They schedule campus visits, arrange initial meetings with teachers, and select student ambassadors to support the transition of military-connected students to Ricardo ISD.Our counselors uphold ethical and professional standards while acting as change agents to improve equity, access, and success through purposeful activities.
The NavyMWR Kingsville Website offers additional of information and links to resources in the area.
In addition to having a counselor at each campus, Ricardo ISD provides students with access to mental health services by contracting with the following professional counseling services:
Texas Child Health Access Through Telemedicine (TCHATT) through the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) to identify and assess the behavioral health needs of children and adolescents and provide access to mental health services with parent consent.
Social emotional learning (SEL)
Character Strong is an SEL program that is grounded in research and supports the development of the Whole Child with age-appropriate curricula. By vertically aligning the development of thoughtful, kind human beings with SEL competencies, Character Strong allows our staff to utilize lessons and strategies that promote:
self-awareness
self-management
social awareness
relationship skills
responsible decision-making
Students in grade 5-8 are exposed to research-based SEL curriculum that fosters student engagement, well-being, and a sense of belonging. Lessons occur weekly during physical education classes.
We are happy to offer campus tours to all prospective families who are looking for a great school district.
Military families who live within the school boundaries may register for enrollment by contacting the Ricardo Middle School Campus for grades 6 - 8.
OUT OF DISTRICT RESIDENTS
Families who do not live in the Ricardo ISD boundaries may submit an Application for Transfer for students in grades Pre-K through 8th Grade. If you need assistance completing the application or registration process, or have questions regarding the required documentation, please call 361-592-6465.
Students in 8th grade have the opportunity to take Algebra I (in lieu of 8th grade math) and Spanish I for high school credit. Students enrolled in Algebra I are required to take the STAAR End of Course (EOC) assessment in the Spring.
All students are required to complete a Personal Graduation Plan by the end of their 8th grade school year prior to enrollment in high school.
Ricardo ISD students have the opportunity to enroll in any of our four area high schools through our District Transfer Agreements. However, students must meet registration deadlines and enrollment requirements set forth by each district.
In the Fall semester, 8th grade students take a field trip to each of the four area high schools for a site visit where they have an opportunity to see the campus, hear from campus administrators, and learn about campus organizations to help them select the high school they plan to attend the following school year.
At the beginning of the Spring semester, guidance counselors from the four high schools come to Ricardo ISD to help their students complete course requests and answer any questions students may have about their district.
Click on the links below to learn more about each high school.
The U.S. Department of Defense and Coast Guard Mutual Assistance provides members of the U.S. Military and their families with free access to online tutoring and homework help 24/7 through tutor .com.
CREDIT BY EXAMINATION - Texas Education Code (TEC), §§ 25.007 and 28.023 (a) requires a school district to provide students with the opportunity to take credit by exam (CBEs).
Ricardo ISD utilizes CBEs developed by Texas Tech University and The University of Texas at Austin for the following:
-Grade Acceleration for Kindergarten-Grade 5
-Credit by Exam without Prior Instruction for Grades 6-8
Grade Acceleration for Kindergarten-Grade 5
For grades 1-5, TAC §74.24(b)(2) states that a student must be accelerated one grade if the student meets the following requirements:
Students must score 80% or above in each of the following areas: language arts and reading, mathematics, science, and social studies
a school district representative recommends that the student be accelerated; and
the student's parent or guardian gives written approval for the acceleration.
Credit by Exam (CBE) without Prior Instruction for Grades 6-8
Study guides for the Texas Tech University and The University of Texas at Austin can be accessed by clicking on the links below:
A school district must annually provide at least four testing opportunities as follows:
one window to test between January 1 and March 31;
one window to test between April 1 and June 30;
one window to test between July 1 and September 30; and
one window to test between October 1 and December 31.
Each examination for acceleration for each elementary grade level and for credit for secondary school academic subjects must be made available during each window unless the examination has an administration date that is established by an entity other than the school district (for example, AP tests administered by the College Board).
A student may take a specific examination only once during each window. The testing window must be designed to meet the needs of all students. The dates must be publicized to the community.
A school district must provide opportunities for a student who is homeless or in substitute care who transfers to the district after the start of the school year to be administered credit by examination at any point during the school year.
Students in 8th grade have the opportunity to take Algebra I (in lieu of 8th grade math) and Spanish I for high school credit. Students enrolled in Algebra I are required to take the STAAR End of Course (EOC) assessment in the Spring.
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