The school bell at Pearce Middle School almost didn't ring this year.

The Texas Education Agency rated Pearce "academically unacceptable" for five consecutive years, after which point the agency threatened to close down the school, but community outcry and pleas from the Austin Independent School District gave the school a lifeline and a repurposing plan.

"I hope there is a turn around," Pearce parent Hector Cortez said.

Cortez was one of a handful of parents and students who showed up Friday, at an orientation for the new school year, to learn about how things will work at the repurposed school. He had the option to send his child to another campus, but said he's willing to give Pearce a second chance.

"I believe that if the community and the students and the faculty can get together, I think we can make this school work," Cortez said.

Making the school work, however, won't come easy, but those in charge of turning the school around believe it can be done.

"Pearce made a lot of gains, a lot of gains last year. We are still going to build upon those strengths that we saw last year, and still work really hard to get the science and everything else where it needs to be," Texanna Turner, with AISD, said.

Under the plan, student's progress will be monitored daily and they'll also be able take advantage of counseling and more non-traditional forms of learning.

"I think we're on the right track and we have to be on the right track," Turner said.

School starts on Aug. 24. Pearce's Parent Teachers Association plans to hold a community celebration on Saturday, starting at 6 p.m.