These students from Condit ES were two of the more than 1,000 that attended HISD’s Winter UIL Meet.

HISD has been offering students the chance to compete in University Interscholastic League (UIL) activities for years, but the district recently hit an attendance milestone, when more than 1,000 elementary school students participated in a single UIL competition.

The UIL A+ Academics Winter District Meet, which took place at Davis High School, had students from more than 40 schools competing, making it the most-attended UIL A+ Academics Meet in district history.

“This achievement is a testament to the strength and popularity of HISD’s UIL programs,” said HISD Manager of UIL Activities Don Hernandez. “Each year, thousands of students benefit from these activities, and they just keep growing.”

UIL A+ Academics offers 20 different events for students in grades 2–8. Competitions span the curriculum — they are designed to complement and expand upon what students learn in the classroom, both through learning specific subject knowledge, and through learning skills that are valuable in many disciplines. Approximately 3,000 Texas schools participate in A+ Academics, competing in more than 300 district meets each year.

“HISD hosts the largest elementary UIL competitions in the state of Texas,” added UIL Elementary Program Specialist Natasha Tillman. “We are the model for school districts wanting to compete in UIL at the elementary level.”