Release provided by the Corpus Christi Independent School District
(Video produced by DMC Media Relations)

April

2025

19:00 PM

Europe/Amsterdam

Corpus Christi ISD receives grant funding to help district strengthen dual enrollment partnership with Del Mar College (Video)

Through their partnership with the Texas Urban Council, Corpus Christi ISD has received grant funding in support of their continued work to prepare students for post-secondary success. The Gates Foundation awarded Commit Partnership $14.39 million to support such work, with a portion of those funds benefiting Corpus Christi ISD in alignment with this initiative. The $569,417 in grant funding will be used to expand early college access, including partnering with Del Mar College. The four-year grant will help students access early college coursework, experience quality advising, and improve district-wide systems targeting higher levels of early college/dual enrollment coursework and increased enrollment in a post-secondary institution immediately upon graduation.

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We appreciate the grant’s goal of increasing the number of students who have completed 15 aligned early college coursework credits by high school graduation. We know postsecondary coursework will help our students and our local workforce experience continued success.

Dr. Roland Hernandez, Corpus Christi Independent School District Superintendent

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The Coastal Bend has been selected as a ‘Priority Region,’ recognizing the well-established collaboration between Corpus Christi ISD and Del Mar College as well as their steadfast focus to improve postsecondary access and completion for all students.

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Del Mar College and CCISD have shaped students' lives through longstanding collaborations with early college and dual enrollment programs, including Collegiate High School and Harold T. Branch Academy. This grant further expands student access to higher education and pathways to success that benefit our region.

Dr. Mark Escamilla, Del Mar College President and Chief Executive Officer

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Funds were awarded to 19 school systems statewide, serving more than 600,000 students, representing more than 10% of Texas’ student population. Nearly 80% of the students who will benefit are from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

Click photos to enlarge, read cutlines and download.

Putting Pen to Paper_CCISD Superintendent Roland Hernandez and DMC President and CEO Mark Escamilla_MOU Signing_040225

During a ceremony on April 2 at Richard King High School, Corpus Christi ISD Superintendent Dr. Roland Hernandez (left) and Dr. Mark Escamilla, Del Mar College President and Chief Executive Officer, sign Memorandums of Understanding to expand CCISD students’ access to early college and dual enrollment coursework offered by the college. The district received a grant that addresses the expansion and other CCISD initiatives that ensure their students are prepared for post-secondary education success. Also shown is DMC mascot Valdar the Viking standing in the background. (Credit: DMC College Relations)

In Partnership_CCISD-DMC MOU Signing Ceremony_040225

On April 2, 2025, the Corpus Christi Independent School District and Del Mar College held a Memorandum of Understanding signing ceremony at Richard King High School after the school district received grant funding that supports expansion of CCISD students’ access to early college and dual enrollment coursework offered by the college. Shown from left to right are DMC President and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Mark Escamilla, DMC mascot Valdar the Viking, DMC Board of Regent Secretary and District 1 Regent Rudy Garza, Jr., CCISD Superintendent Dr. Roland Hernandez and the Mustang, King High School’s mascot. (Credit: DMC College Relations)

CCISD Superintendent Roland Hernandez and DMC President and CEO Mark Escamilla_Signed MOU_Dual Enrollment Expansion_040225

With the Richard King High School mascot, the Mustang, standing in the background, Corpus Christi ISD Superintendent Dr. Roland Hernandez (left) and Del Mar College President and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Mark Escamilla hold signed Memorandums of Understanding that expand CCISD students’ access to early college and dual enrollment coursework offered by the college to prepare them for post-secondary success. CCISD received $569,417 in grant funding for the expansion through the district’s partnership with the Texas Urban Council. (Credit: DMC College Relations)

The Priority Regions Grant is awarded to regions that represent Texas’ diversity. Additionally, these regions demonstrate strong momentum and systems conducive to implementing early college coursework. The grant support is designed to increase access to early college pathways, improve postsecondary advising, and enhance data infrastructure to deepen the partnership between participating school districts and higher education institutions. Such partnerships will ultimately provide college, career and military exemplars for the state of Texas.

Download the CCISD release as a PDF file:

CCISD Release

CCISD receives grant funding for dual enrollment students

About Del Mar College

Del Mar College empowers students to achieve their dreams. We offer quality programs, individual attention, outstanding instruction through faculty with real-world experience and affordable costs to credit and noncredit students in Corpus Christi and the South Texas Coastal Bend area. Nationally recognized while locally focused, we’re ranked in the top two percent of community colleges in the country granting associate degrees to Hispanic students (Community College Week). Del Mar College focuses on offering our students programs that match current or emerging career opportunities. Whether students are interested in the fine arts, sciences, business, occupational or technical areas, students get the education they need for the future they want at Del Mar College.