Number of schools given Gold Ribbon status nearly doubles to 21
Children at Risk announced its annual list of the top schools in the greater Houston area, and for the eighth consecutive year, HISD’s DeBakey High School for Health Professions was listed as number one among high schools in the area and the state.
Five other HISD high schools were included in the top 10: Eastwood Academy (#2), Carnegie Vanguard High School (#3), East Early College High School (#6), Sharpstown International School (#8), and Challenge Early College High School (#10).
Five HISD middle schools also were recognized as top 10 performers: T.H. Rogers School (#1), Project Chrysalis Middle School (#4), Lanier Middle School (#6), Energized for STEM Academy Southwest MS (#6), Mandarin Immersion Magnet School (#9). On the elementary school list, four HISD schools were ranked in the top 10: T.H. Rogers School (#1), Horn Elementary School (#4), River Oaks Elementary School (#5), and West University Elementary School (#6).
“These rankings are validation that we’re heading in the right direction in providing a quality public education for our students,” HISD Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan said.
Also noteworthy this year are 21 HISD campuses that earned the Gold Ribbon distinction. These schools are neither a charter nor a magnet, have a high concentration of economically disadvantaged students, and received an A or B grade by Children at Risk. At the elementary level, 16 HISD campuses earned the award, including Field, Lyons, Park Place, De Chaumes, Ed White, DeAnda, Foster, Southmayd, Hines-Caldwell, Moreno, Osborne, Sutton, Sanchez, Henderson, Ketelsen, and Rodriguez elementary schools. Three HISD middle schools also received Gold Ribbon status: Project Chrysalis, Energized for Excellence Academy Inc. middle schools, and Pilgrim Academy. And two HISD high schools were awarded Gold Ribbon status: Eastwood Academy and Energized for STEM Academy Southwest HS.
Children At Risk considered three categories in its ranking methodology: performance on STAAR reading and math tests in 2017 (factoring in percentage of economically disadvantaged students), student progress, and graduation rates and SAT/ACT participation. Each category was weighted evenly. In previous rankings, test scores received more weight than the other two categories.