Lockhart Junior High

Program Description

Lockhart Junior High School ACE students continue to be highly motivated to stay after school for our exciting enrichment activities such as Drama Club, Robotics Club, and Sports Clubs. The enrichment clubs help students feel important on our campus and therefore motivates them to go to tutorials on a daily basis in order to participate in clubs.

ACE at Lockhart high is looking forward to our new partnership with “Girls Empowerment Network” that will be coming in January 2023! We are also working on a partnership with “Boys to Men” for our campus.   This program works with mentors with experience in law enforcement and the juvenile probation department in our surrounding counties.

There are several reasons why an afterschool program is needed at this site. Instructional setting options are needed to meet the current demographics of 78 % of the population being Spanish or ESL learners. There is a need for free or reduced cost for after-school tutoring and homework help. There is also a strong need to increase technology as a direct result of virtual learning that took place with COVID as well as needs for student social interactions, involvement in clubs, sports, and friends. The COVID pandemic has also caused many families to be in need of mental health, wellness, and other resources for food, clothing and shelter.

The uniqueness of this center’s population can be found in the description of the community and the characteristics of the families it serves. The average household income in Lockhart is $69,739 with a poverty rate of 14.65%. The median rental costs in recent years run $977 per month and the median house value is $141,000. Offering services to the community include:

• The Lockhart State Park providing education and recreation services

• The Dr. Eugene Clark Library providing reading fundamental camp services

• RBFCU providing support and awareness of financial savings

• Community Action providing social services

• The Lockhart Police Department providing campus security

• The Lockhart Technology Center providing tech support and safety

• 4:15 Kids providing basic necessities for families

• Churches providing food giveaways on site for families in the community

The selection of students for participation in the ACE program begins with parent contact that is initiated through student record checks and the issuance of an invitation. Students are selected to participate in ACE based on teacher, administrator and counselor referrals, parent requests, low test scores, low attendance and/or a high number of behavior incidences.

The ACE program at Lockhart Junior High offers academic activities including homework help and math/ELAR tutorials where students receive 1 on 1 tutoring help from regular school day instructors and the science clubs where students participate in science activities to increase knowledge in classroom science expectations and assignments. The tutorials are specific to the subject area whereas homework help is more generalized to help students in any subject that he/she might be having difficulty in completing assignments during class period or just needing extra time to complete homework.

A variety of enrichment activities are offered during the school year. These included:

• Reading clubs that encourage students to read more

• Art Clubs where exploration through paint take place

• Drama where reading and self-expression are encouraged

• Eduphoria/ prodigy where academic skill building take place through games

Family engagement opportunities are extended to the parents of ACE students. Parents participate in most theater art performances, band, dance, student council, cooking clubs and sports clubs. Parents help with creating props, food, drinks, transportation and donations to the program. The success of the ACE program can be attributed to a number of individuals. Teachers are selected based on their expertise and subject knowledge as well as their interest in the program. The campus administrators and counselors provide program support through their student referrals, the regular school day teachers provide the tutorials and enrichment activities and the curriculum or program specialists provide hands-on and virtual assistance.

The campus administration allow the ACE program to use a variety of campus locations during the ACE program hours. These include use of the total campus at the Lockhart Junior High and the performance art center and gyms at Lockhart High School.