Yearly Archives: 2016

New Worthing High School to feature custom mural focused on importance of education

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In a community rich with history, Sunnyside has another reason to be proud — a new addition to Worthing High School, which will open its doors to students and neighbors with an open house and dedication ceremony on Aug. 18.

Though the new building embodies 21st century design, it honors the history of Sunnyside with a mural painted in the tradition of African American folk art that will be unveiled in the school’s learning commons.

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More HISD schools meet state standard

Number of schools with “Improvement Required” rating declines 31 percent

The number of Houston ISD schools meeting state standards is now the highest it has ever been under Texas’ tougher new accountability system.

According to preliminary ratings released Monday, 85 percent of HISD schools (235 out of 275) earned a “met standard” rating for the 2015-2016 school year, a 6-point increase from the previous year. At the same time, 18 fewer schools received an “improvement required” rating. HISD earned a “met standard” district rating. Continue reading →

HISD to open six new school buildings

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The Houston Independent School District will open six new schools that were rebuilt as modern learning environments with flexible classrooms, increased access to technology, bursts of color, and plenty of natural light.

The six campuses – Condit and Mark White elementary schools, Mandarin Immersion Magnet School, North Houston and South early college high schools, and Fonwood Early Childhood Center — will open their doors Monday, Aug. 22 for the 2016-2017 school year. The designs for each school place an emphasis on 21st century learning with centralized learning commons, courtyards, outdoor learning areas, and other seating nooks where students can gather to create and learn. Continue reading →

HISD voters to decide whether to send local school tax dollars to the state

Board also calls special election for Trustee District VII

In order to comply with Texas’ school finance law, Houston ISD trustees on Thursday called a special election to let voters decide whether they are willing to send an estimated $162 million in local tax dollars to the state of Texas.

Under Texas law, HISD is now considered a “wealthy” school district because of rising property values, even though three-quarters of all students come from low-income households. As a result, HISD is being asked to pay the state about $162 million later this fiscal year. That payment cannot be made unless voters approve.

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Free immunizations to be provided to Houston-area students

Texas Children’s Hospital, along with Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee and HISD Trustee Rhonda Skillern-Jones, will host Houston’s First School Immunization Sunday from 1-4 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 14 at Forest Brook Middle School (7525 Tidwell Road).

Free immunizations will be provided to Houston-area students.

August is National Immunization Awareness Month, which recognizes the success of vaccines and the challenges presented by vaccine-preventable diseases.

Free school meals now available at 186 HISD campuses 

Nutrition Services’ Student Eligibility and Accountability department has added more schools to the Community Eligibility Provision prfree_mealsogram, increasing the number that provide free school lunches to 186 eligible campuses. HISD serves free breakfast at every school and to all students.

Nutrition Services continues to increase the number of HISD schools participating in CEP.

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Nutrition Services upgrades make online lunch account enrollment easier

School Cafe

Nutrition Services School Eligibility and Accountability department (SEA) improved two of its programs to increase satisfaction and participation. SEA digitized the Community Eligibility Provision program survey that provides more free lunches to HISD students. In addition, ParentOnline.net is now SchoolCafé.com, a software that allow parents to load funds into and manage their child’s meal account. SEA Manager Mark Allen believes these improvements will speed up the process for the back-to-school rush.

The SEA department is responsible for collecting data, and reporting it to the Texas Department of Agriculture. In February, TDA applauded Nutrition Services’ SEA team for having an excellent program that services students and their families.

Waltrip HS students will enjoy new spaces this school year

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After years of construction, Waltrip High School is now poised to unveil the completion of several major renovations projects when students return to school this fall.

On the first day of school, students are expected to be welcomed by a new main entry and band hall, new first- and second-floor classrooms, new administrative offices, and new career education spaces.

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Mentor-protégé program provides opportunities for M/WBE participants

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Recent graduates of the Interagency Mentor-Protégé Program (IMPP) had the opportunity to meet and speak one-on-one with HISD Procurement professionals today during a networking event hosted by HISD’s Business Assistance Supplier Diversity department.

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STEM students from Washington HS travel to missile range to test rockets 

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The biggest lessons sometimes come from the smallest mistakes.

Booker T. Washington engineering students on the Golden Eagle Rocket teams worked on their supersonic rockets all year long and then traveled to White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico in June to launch them. When both failed to launch, it was heartbreaking, but the students learned some valuable lessons.

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