Original Research by School Decision on New Aea
New AEA was an alternative middle school in Presidio, Texas, and is now closed. The school operated under Presidio Independent School District, which serves the tri-campus public system that includes Presidio Elementary, Lucy Rede Franco Middle School, and Presidio High School.
Because New AEA is closed, enrollment data, state assessment results, student demographics, and graduation information are not available. The school's closure means it no longer serves students or serves as a pathway option in the district.
Presidio itself is a small, predominantly Hispanic border town in far West Texas at the junction of the Rio Conchos and Rio Grande, paired with its larger Mexican sister city of Ojinaga, Chihuahua. Daily life blends English and Spanish, and the community is tight-knit and slow-paced, shaped by ranching, border crossing, and family ties on both sides of the river. The town has a small commercial core anchored by Family Dollar and Dollar General, with civic anchors including the public library, St. Francis Plaza with its farmers market, and the Presidio-Ojinaga International Bridge, which carries both pedestrian crossings and vehicle traffic. Most residents drive; there is no fixed-route public transit.
The local economy depends heavily on public employment and border trade. Presidio Independent School District is a major employer, and the Presidio-Ojinaga Port of Entry supports Customs and Border Protection jobs and cross-border commerce, including much of the Mexican beef used in the U.S. fast-food industry. Median household income has historically run well below half the Texas median. The Presidio Municipal Development District is pursuing economic-development goals including attracting major employers, completing water-system upgrades, and a geothermal energy partnership with Exceed Geo Energy for food processing and cold storage. The expanded Presidio-Ojinaga International Bridge was completed in 2023, and officials project continued growth in cross-border trade for both towns. The housing market is small and slow, with low inventory and homes lingering longer than the national average before sale.
In May 2025, Presidio ISD asked voters to approve a bond for capital improvements across its three campuses, including playground and daycare upgrades at Presidio Elementary, cafeteria expansion at Lucy Rede Franco Middle School, and improvements to the high school's career and technical education facilities. The bond was structured to replace an expiring bond carrying the same property-tax charge, so district officials said passage would not have raised the tax rate despite mandatory ballot language. The measure failed by a narrow margin, leaving those campus improvements unfunded. The result reflects both the condition of existing school facilities and the community's recent decision on funding them.
With New AEA now closed, families seeking an alternative middle school pathway in Presidio would need to look to Lucy Rede Franco Middle School or explore programs offered through the district office or at the high school level.
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