Education

Corsicana features excellent opportunities for quality education offered within our community, ranging from pre-kindergarten to graduate degrees.

Corsicana Independent School District

The Corsicana Independent School District (CISD) has approximately 5,700 students and 800 staff members; Corsicana ISD is a 4A district located in a community of over 26,000. The district consists of four elementary campuses, one dual language campus, one intermediate, one middle, and one high school, and one alternative education campus.

Honors

The CISD was recently honored by the Texas Education Agency with 11 Gold Performance Awards for the 2009-2010 school year.

The entire CISD and Corsicana High School earned Recognized status in the State of Texas school districts’ standardized tests. The CISD currently has three exemplary campuses (Bowie, Sam Houston and Drane) and four recognized campuses (Fannin, Carroll, Navarro and Corsicana High School). To achieve commended status, 30% or more of the students at the campus scored at or above the TAKS-commended performance standard on last year’s state assessment. Campuses achieving that percentage receive gold performance acknowledgement.

Navarro College

Navarro College, conveniently located in Corsicana, offers the opportunity for students of all ages to pursue higher education in a community college environment through a variety of undergraduate degree programs, continuing education programs, vocational / technical programs, customized workforce development programs, and/or certification programs. In addition, Navarro College enjoys a strategic partnership with Texas A&M University - Commerce that allows students to pursue bachelor's degrees and/or master's degrees either onsite at the Corsicana campus or via the Internet.

Educational Programs

  • AVID - The Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) Program has been implemented by Corsicana High School (CHS) for approximately 160 selected students enrolled in CHS. AVID, a nationally recognized student development program that began in 1980 in San Diego, California, successfully prepares students from fourth through 12 grades for college eligibility. AVID targets those students that academically fall in the middle, but are falling short of their academic potential. AVID has a proven track record of bringing out the best in students, and in closing the achievement gap.
  • STAR - The Success Through Active Role-Modeling (STAR) Program was created by local businesspeople and professionals in an effort to fully support the CISD and the AVID students. The STAR program, a subcommittee of the Corsicana and Navarro County Chamber of Commerce, was created with the intent to support local junior high and high school students by tapping into the talents and interests of other businesspeople and professionals. STAR proactively recruits adult role models who will support a student's interests and noted aptitude in any field or endeavor by encouraging them to successfully navigate a predesigned educational plan, including the completion of high school and the pursuit of additional training and/or education to improve and enhance that student's quality of life. Additional information regarding the STAR program may be found by visiting the STARofficial web site.
  • VOICE - Viable Options in Community Endeavors, Inc. (VOICE) was established in Corsicana in 1992 by Lois Jean Hart as a Texas nonprofit corporation. A small group of citizens began meeting together to find solutions to the problems that existed locally. The group identified needs in the community and developed a plan to help the local children strengthen protective factors that encourage positive lifestyles and reduce risk factors contributing to negative lifestyles. The group began providing programs and services for at-risk youth living in Corsicana. Utilizing a small staff and many volunteers, after-school and a summer programs were started at the Martin Luther King Community Center to teach and reinforce skills that would assist these youth in succeeding academically and socially.

James L. Collins Catholic School

James L. Collins Catholic School is located on 23 acres in Corsicana, Texas. JLCCS is a preschool (age 3) through eighth grade school with a strong Christian and academic emphasis. The school was established in 1955 and is fully accredited with the Texas Catholic Conference Department. The Diocese of Dallas Office of Education, in compliance with the Texas Education Agency, designs the curriculum. There are approximately 140 students and 30 faculty/staff members. James L. Collins Catholic School is a member of the Dallas Parochial League in athletics. Two-thirds of graduates rank in the Top 10% of area high schools and one-fourth of graduates rank in the Top 5% of area high schools.

Visit the James L. Collins Catholic School website.