Campus Info

Coleman High School is an academic, alternative school of choice for Midland Independent School District (MISD). MISD students who choose Coleman may apply at any time and go through a selective application and interview process prior to registration. Students choose to attend our campus for a variety of reasons including, but not limited to, an individualized and customized learning experience, flexible scheduling options, early graduation, dual credit options or credit recovery. We encourage any student to apply. CHS has its own campus, separate budget, Texas Education Agency (TEA) campus number, and a College Board number. Coleman is registered as a state-accredited Alternative campus with TEA. It is not a disciplinary campus, and students are not placed by any other agency or school.

Students graduating from Coleman HS do so with the state high school diploma meeting the recommended course requirements as set forth by the Texas Education Agency (TEA). Coleman HS does not offer a GED program.

CHS serves students in grades 9 through 12. The delivery of instruction, course syllabi, goal setting, and high level of student accountability allow students to move through requirements for each course with some flexibility; depending on the learning style and each individual’s rate of learning the content and concepts in each course. In other words, students may move more quickly in their academic areas of strength, yet take additional time needed in an academic area to ensure knowledge of the concepts necessary for success.

Students who attend CHS are considered at-risk for a myriad of factors including, but not limited to: credit deficiency, difficulty succeeding in a traditional school environment, illness, family issues, or teen parenthood. Coleman seeks to prevent students from dropping out of school as well as to recover those who have already left the school system.

Viola M. Coleman High School began in March 1987, as a Midland Alternative School with one teacher, two teacher aides and 20 students. It was funded through the Private Industry Council and the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPS), the Abell-Hanger Foundation, and the Midland Independent School District. Located in Dellwood Mall, students were enrolled in a GED preparatory program that was computer based. As students completed the program, they were referred to Midland College for the GED test.

In August of 1989, the enrollment had grown to more than 90 students being served in three classrooms. With the same teacher and two teacher aides, new space was located in Starline Plaza that expanded the facility to 3,000 square feet. During that year, courses for credit toward high school graduation were added which included a vocational component. A Social Studies/English instructor and a Math/Science instructor were added to the staff along with a counselor. During the Spring semester, fourteen students completed requirements for graduation and received diplomas at the May commencement ceremonies.

The enrollment continued to increase over the next two years as did the course offerings. The successful bond election of 1991 provided for the building of a facility to house the Midland Alternative School. Students formed a committee to review essays to name the school. In January, 1992, the name Viola M. Coleman was selected by the school board. The Midland Alternative School officially became Viola M. Coleman High School.

The Knight was selected as the mascot. Delton Lunceford, a senior student at CHS, drew the mascot which was adopted by the school board. In his presentation, Delton explained that the Knight was a symbol of power, strength and courage to overcome obstacles. As a defender, a champion, a zealous upholder of a cause or principle, the Knight serves as a reminder to students that it is not impossible to find the courage and strength to overcome any obstacle in order to achieve success.

The school colors of red and black were selected by students. Red is the color of courage - courage to overcome all that hinders success. Black represents the obstacles that students have encountered in school. The combination stands as a challenge to find the courage to overcome the obstacles and achieve success.

The motto, "You can be anything you want to be; do anything you want to do, if you are willing to pay the price of success," is a quote from Dr. Viola M. Coleman. During "An Evening with Dr. Viola M. Coleman," she challenged students to find within themselves the courage to set goals and work toward achieving them.

MISSION, VISION, AND VALUES

Coleman High is a place where students are provided individual opportunities to excel in classes designed for them to achieve success. Coleman High values grit, individuality, and a meaningful connection with all students. Our supportive and alternative environment accelerates the high school program, enabling all of our students to graduate prepared and ready for college or career. Coleman High serves students in grades 9-12 and our namesake is Dr. Viola M. Coleman, who stated: "You can be anything you want to be if you are willing to pay the price for success"

What is a Knight?

A Knight has a strong attraction to knighthood and chivalry. Both the title and the rite-of-passage it represents is a core need that today's society no longer meets, despite its technological wealth and myriad distractions..

What is that need?

It focuses on self-identity. Generally speaking, young men and women inherently need to be recognized as people of value and accomplishment by their community. The title of knight provides just this kind of recognition. In most cultures, and throughout history, the passage from boy-to-man, girl-to-woman meant more than just a matter of age and physical development. It meant earning the status of being a "man or woman," someone who represents the very best values of one's community.

While this suggests that morality is something bequeathed by one's culture, there is another way to perceive it. The ideals might very well be innate. If that is so, the culture's responsibility is to nourish and direct their development.

If the ideals are innate, that would explain the subliminal connection we feel, even when the culture fails to recognize them, and our lives run in different directions.

Basically, when we allow ourselves to feel it, we have individual and cultural needs to take our place as responsible, capable people. Knighthood encapsulates this idea, offering both a code and an example of what it means. It honors and shapes our warrior spirit in positive directions, and provides a title that carries obligations of commitment. What else do we have that systematically performs this function?

With all this in mind, today's knight should be someone who carries specific purpose and meaning in life, which extends itself to the well-being of others.

Some of the variations of knighthood represent such people. Others do not. The question we face is what knighthood means to us.

It is an updated code of chivalry designed to guide and nurture fundamental ideals that most of us have already. One of its most important concepts has to do with freedom. Today's knight must be a product of his own expectations, not someone else's. While he may serve the welfare of others, he is not their slave. He sees the world as it is, rather than catering to illusion. His beliefs are tried and true. He replaces stale thoughts with fresh thinking, and looks upon life as a serious quest for truth and goodness.