PHOTOS: Virtual Tour of Early College High School, does ECHS need a new facility?

UPDATE: The bond passed in May 2024, Tyler ISD unveiled the brand new campus. Read the full story and see photos of the campus here.

On the campus of a former Tyler ISD middle school, Early College High School and RISE Academy share the same building. But if voters choose to approve a proposed multimillion dollar bond, students at Early College High School will have their own facility.

An $89 million bond proposal will be on the May 7 ballot, and if approved, Hubbard Middle School and Early College High School will both see renovations.

At ECHS, students can earn a high school diploma and a college degree at the same time upon graduation thanks to a partnership with Tyler Junior College.

ECHS was first initiated as a program within a school at first then eventually was transformed into its own facility. The high school is currently located inside A.T. Stewart, a former Tyler ISD middle school, which was renovated in 2016 using designated fund balance for capital projects.

ECHS had its first graduating class in 2019 after being approved by the Texas Education Agency in 2015.

The campus is currently shared with RISE Academy, another Tyler ISD campus. If the bond is approved, RISE Academy would be the only school on the current campus while ECHS would get a brand new building located next to the Tyler ISD Career and Technology Center.

As part of the 20-year facilities master plan by Tyler ISD, $26 million would go to ECHS. It would see upgraded facilities such as a media center along with improved safety and security features such as a fully enclosed campus, science and technology labs and a cafeteria shared with CTC, dedicated parking and more.

The student capacity at ECHS would also increase. It currently has 350 students enrolled but if the bond is passed, the new building would house 650 students.

VIDEO BELOW: TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT NEW CAMPUS IS EXPECTED TO LOOK LIKE IF BOND IS APPROVED

Tyler ISD officials have said the bond will not increase the tax rate. The district’s current debt tax rate is $0.335.

Taxes will be used for payment of bonds, but the tax rate will not be increased, estimated based on ad valorem values. These statements assume that property tax values do not decline, according to Tyler ISD.