Charter school helping Hispanic kids stay in school

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, Eyewitness News takes a look at Sanchez High School. It's a school on the East End that's been serving Hispanic students for the past 40 years.

A morning of math can be challenging under any circumstance. But considering these students are here by choice brings an added value.

Cristian Sandoval, 18, said, "Everybody thought I was acting out because I wanted to but I was acting out because I didn't want anybody else to think I was less intelligent than they were."

It's those at-risk students Sanchez High School targets. The charter school is operated by the Association for the Advancement of Mexican Americans and offers grades 6 through 12.

Bea Garza, president and chief executive officer of AAMA, said, "Most of our kids other schools, other places do not want because they have challenges."

Sanchez meets those challenges. There's a day care here on campus for students with children. And pre-K classes for older kids.

Another aspect that makes Sanchez different from other schools is a residential building. Primarily through state funding, Sanchez can house up to 20 students diagnosed with substance abuse or behavioral issues.

While predominately Hispanic, Sanchez will not turn away anyone based on ethnicity. With 740 students, the classrooms are smaller and 80 percent of graduates go on to higher education -- a goal both of these seniors once thought was out of reach.

Sandra Zamarripa, 17, said, "The teachers are always there for you, they motivate you to do better."

Another student, Jose Campos, 18, said, "I never had goals until I came here. I started to build goals day to day."

Asked about his goal now, Campos said, "My goal is to graduate and attend a four-year college."