HISD campus is one of two Texas schools to receive the award     

The Houston Independent School District’s North Houston Early College High School is one of about 70 campuses nationwide and one of only two in Texas to receive a Distinguished Schools Award from the national organization of program administrators who manage Title I and other federal funds.   

The HISD campus was selected from among thousands of schools across the country and is the only one in Texas to earn the distinction due to its significant progress in closing academic achievement gaps between diverse student groups.  

“North Houston Early College High School is an exemplary campus that receives a lot of recognition, but this national honor is outstanding,” HISD Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan said. “The students, their parents, and teachers have demonstrated once more that a child’s economic status is not an indicator of their academic abilities.”  

Across the country, state education agencies select exceptional schools then submit their names to the National Association of ESEA State Program Administrators (NAESPA) for inclusion on the nation’s Distinguished Schools list. North Houston Early College High School was selected by the Texas Education Agency.    

The HISD high school is one of the district’s 35 dual-credit campuses, which offer students the opportunity to simultaneously earn their associate’s degree or a professional certification while completing high school.  

“To say we are thrilled to receive this recognition is an understatement,” North Houston Early College Principal Brian Gaston said. “Our entire community is very proud of the work we are doing. About 75 percent of our students graduate with associate’s degrees. My staff has a 90 percent retention rate. This campus is a special place.”    

Gaston said he and his team are looking forward to attending the NAESPA conference in Atlanta in February 2020 to receive the award.  

Valley View Elementary School in Hidalgo, the only other Texas school to make the list, earned its spot for exceptional academic student performance and academic growth.     

A full list of campuses named as 2019 Distinguished Schools will be available in mid-January.