AISD is facing some tough decision about the future of Pearce Middle School in Central East Austin.

The school has failed to meet state standards for three straight years. If it fails to pass the TAKS test again this year, the state will step-in and decide whether to close the school. Right now, AISD is making contingency plans. A big part of that plan involves community input. A series of meetings have already taken place. Tuesday night’s meeting is expected to draw hundreds of community and local faith leaders.

This year, the school has undergone many changes to help students meet standards. Students have a dress code, and the shirt color is determined by grade level. It's just one of the changes the new principal instituted this school year.

“I think the hardest thing is the way we as adults look at kids and our expectations of them. And that has changed. We're not blaming the kids. We're not talking about discipline issues. We're talking about academics,” said Principal James Troutman.

And it seems to be working. The preliminary results show 73% of 8th graders passed reading TAKS test; last year, only 52% of those same students passed their 7th grade test.

But it will take more than that. Every section of the TAKS test must be at a passing level, or the state could decide to shut-down the school.

Many parents don't like that idea.

“They should not close it. They should keep it open just for the basic needs of the kids,” said Tony Gonzales, whose niece attends the school.

The student demographic is part of the challenge. Most are economically disadvantaged - and the mobility rate is around 37%. Still, the elementary schools that feed into Pearce are all rated "Academically Acceptable" by the state.

Troutman has an explanation.

“What we know about adolescence, what we know about when they hit the early teens, their bodies are going through so many changes that they're just trying to keep up, and they're being hit by not only that, but also the reality that they have to achieve on the state mandated tests,” said Troutman.

The district has added specialists to help train the newer teachers. One-third of the teachers here have less than 6 years experience. Many parents are hoping this works, because they don't want their kids moved.

“I just don't want them to do that, because this is a smaller school. If they send these kids to the other school, Garcia, then they're going to have more students over there. What's the difference?” asked parent Rachel Rocha.

Webb Middle School was in the same position last year as Pearce Middle is today. Students there managed to pass all the TAKS tests and keep their school open.

Principal Troutman believes his students will do the same.

The community forum is set for Tuesday at 6pm, at Pearce Middle School.