The 2017-18 school year brings about some welcome change for Bryan ISD.
Beginning this fall, both Bryan and Rudder high schools will be paired with a “feeder school” at the 6th and 7th grade levels. Students at Stephen F. Austin Middle School will now be on track to attend Bryan, while those at Arthur L. Davila Middle School will be slated to attend Rudder.
In the past, Bryan ISD has boasted four 6th– 8th grade institutions: S.F.A, Davila, Jane Long and Sam Rayburn. Those student populations were sometimes split, with classmates zoned for separate high schools. That has, for the most part, been done away with. S.F.A. and Davila now serve as the primary facilities for 7th and 8th grade, while Long and Rayburn work as intermediate schools for 5th and 6th.
The realignment benefits Bryan ISD in more ways than one; not only does it allow for students to remain together through their secondary years, but it gives familiarity to coaches at the high school level.
Ross Rogers, head football coach at Bryan High, can now teach his system and philosophies to athletes at S.F.A., with the assurance those students will be in his program in one to two years. The same can be said for new Rudder football coach Greg Morgan and athletes at Davila. (Morgan worked with a similar system in 16 seasons at Madisonville)
The true advantages of this realignment may not be felt for several years, but it opens a door that has previously been shut at Bryan ISD; hopefully, a door that leads to increasingly competitive programs for the Rangers and the Vikings.
BISD Athletic Director Lance Angel
Bryan head football coach Ross Rogers
Rudder head football coach Greg Morgan