WACO, TX — Nearly 450 Waco ISD students signed up to attend school during spring break.
Five schools operated by in-district charter Transformation Waco are hosting their first spring break academies.
J.H. Hines Elementary School Principal Elijah Barefield said the sessions, which include hands on activities, focus on reading and math.
"We want them to get immersed in it and have fun and just see that learning is fun and is engaging and it's challenging them to think outside of the box," Barefield said.
He added schools invited students who may need extra help to pass or perform better on standardized tests.
"We've paired them up with master teachers from all across the district. We are hoping at least a 10 percent bump, just by having the kids here in school and activities so their minds are always going and they are not taking so much of a break during spring break," Barefield said.
The parents of the students made the final decision whether to send them to school during spring break.
Fifty teachers are giving instruction this week.
