Students Moderate El Paso Council Debate
Voters in Districts 5 and 6 saw Libertas Academy students question City Council candidates directly.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Secondary Education
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Libertas Academy, a program at Socorro Independent School District for students pursuing careers in public administration, law, and government, hosted an El Paso City Council debate for District 5 and District 6 candidates last week. Students served as moderators and questioned candidates directly, which matters for El Paso voters in those districts.
Why it matters
The debate put high school students in the moderator's seat for a local election, giving District 5 and District 6 voters a direct look at candidates on the city's own stage. The academy is one of four such programs in Texas and accepts nearly 130 students each year, so the civic training reaches a steady pipeline of young El Paso residents.
Libertas Academy accepts nearly 130 students every year and is one of four such academies in Texas. The El Paso City Council debate covered District 5 and District 6, with Libertas students moderating and questioning the candidates.
The players
Libertas Academy
A Socorro Independent School District program preparing students for careers in public administration, law, and government, one of four such academies in Texas.
Socorro Independent School District
The school district that operates Libertas Academy and serves students across the Borderland region of El Paso.
The details
Students at the academy learn the basics of the judicial system and how federal and state courts operate, and they practice writing legal papers. At the debate, students spoke directly with candidates, asking questions as moderators rather than only observing from the audience. The academy is housed at Americas High School, so the debate was held at that campus.
Timeline
Last week, relative to November 4, 2026, Libertas Academy hosted the El Paso City Council debate for Districts 5 and 6.
The Home Front
Libertas Academy's four-campus Texas network trains high school students for public service careers in a state with more than 500 city councils. For El Paso families, the debate shows how local government functions and who represents their neighborhoods on the City Council.
If you live in City Council District 5 or District 6, check the City of El Paso's election information for candidate filing and voting details before the next election date. Families with teens in the Socorro Independent School District can ask the district whether Libertas Academy is taking applications for the coming year.
The takeaway
Civic participation can start in high school, and programs like Libertas Academy give students a seat at the table during local elections. If your teen is interested in government or law, ask Socorro Independent School District about enrollment for the academy's next class.
Further reading
For more on how local schools prepare students for civic life, see Secondary Education in El Paso.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KVIA.
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