Dade Center

The Dade Center serves as Longview Independent School District’s Disciplinary Alternative Education Placement (DAEP) campus, providing academic instruction and behavioral support to students in grades 1 through 12.

The campus operates with a small team of teachers, support staff, and a campus administrator. Elementary and secondary students are served in separate programs, with guidance counselors from home campuses maintaining continuity in emotional and academic support.

Instruction is structured to help students stay aligned with grade-level curriculum during their placement, easing their transition back to regular classrooms.

Founding and Purpose
The Dade Center is named in honor of Mr. Bennie James Dade, a pioneering educator who helped establish Longview ISD’s first alternative education program in the 1970s. A veteran, counselor, and administrator, Mr. Dade spent his career advocating for students who needed a second chance. The campus reflects that ethos—firm but fair, structured but hopeful.

What began as a modest disciplinary program has matured into a comprehensive educational setting that balances accountability with opportunity. The goal has always been simple: remove barriers, not students. When students stumble, the Dade Center helps them regain their footing.

Academic and Behavioral Approach
At the heart of the Dade Center is a belief that discipline should not mean disengagement. Students placed at the campus receive full academic instruction in a focused, low-distraction setting. Lessons are tailored and tracked to ensure students can reenter their home campuses without having fallen behind. Teachers serve as both instructors and liaisons, working closely with each student's originating school.

The approach is structured and consistent. Expectations are clear. But so is the message: success is still within reach. Students are guided, not written off. Their mistakes are addressed, not endlessly punished.

Counseling and Reintegration
The campus does not operate in isolation. Home campus counselors remain involved throughout a student’s placement. Emotional well-being, behavior reflection, and reentry readiness are all part of the plan. Transition back to the home campus includes individual meetings, support plans, and coordination to ensure students return with a real chance to thrive.

Legacy and Role in the District
The Dade Center exists to serve students at a crossroads. Some arrive angry, others indifferent. Many are simply lost in the system. The staff’s job is to guide—not by coddling, but by challenging them to take responsibility, make progress, and get back on track.

Though not often in the spotlight, the Dade Center plays an essential role in the district’s mission. It’s where the line is held, but also where the door stays open. A place built not just on discipline, but on the belief that no student is beyond reach.

Dade Center Contact Information

410 S. Green Street
Longview, TX 75601
903-381-3970