Author Archives: HISD Communications

HISD to celebrate new building dedication and two groundbreakings in May

Three HISD schools are celebrating construction milestones this month — Fonwood Early Childhood Center will dedicate its new building, while Wharton Dual Language Academy and Barbara Jordan High School for Careers will celebrate the start of construction on their new schools.

The first event will be held at Fonwood Early Childhood Center, where school officials plan to formally dedicate the new school that opened its doors to students for this school year. The new school, which serves the district’s youngest learners, features 27 classrooms, including two special education centers and specialized visual arts and science labs, as well as three outdoor play areas and an outdoor learning center. It also features vibrant interior colors with plenty of natural light throughout. Continue reading →

Doors of Mickey Leland College Preparatory Academy set to open this August

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Students of Mickey LelandCollege Preparatory Academy for Young Men are in for a great start to the year as the long awaited opening of their new school edges closer.

The $42 million project is about 80 percent complete with move-in expected to begin towards the end of July. Finishing touches are being done to both the painting and drywall, while framing in the new building has almost concluded. Site improvements, such as the development of the outdoor track area, are already underway and should be finished by September.

“The kids are really excited to come back,” said Leland Principal Dameion Crook, who smiled when asked if his staff shared that emotion. “The teachers are pumped about it.”

Continue reading →

HISD fifth- and eighth-graders see significant mathematics gains on STAAR

HISD’s fifth- and eighth-grade students made significant gains in mathematics on the first administration of the STAAR test in March.

Overall, passing rates for district fifth-graders in math increased 6 percentage points from last year, and rates for district eighth-graders rose 5 percentage points. In state results, both fifth- and eighth-grade scores rose 5 percentage points.

Among economically disadvantaged students, passing rates in math increased for fifth- and eighth-graders by 7 percentage points and 6 percentage points, respectively. Continue reading →

Ketelsen ES namesake, Project GRAD founder passes away

James Ketelsen

James Ketelsen – namesake for HISD’s Ketelsen Elementary School, Project GRAD founder, and a longtime public education champion and businessman – has died at the age of 86.

The retired chairman of the board for Tenneco, Ketelsen served as a University of Houston System regent and on a number of state education commissions and task forces.

During his tenure at Tenneco, Ketelsen and his wife, Kathryn, founded Project GRAD, which began in 1989 as a scholarship program that was offered to every graduating senior at Davis (now Northside) High School to help them attend college. Continue reading →

HISD names new director for its Family and Community Engagement Department 

Dr. Michelle Burke

Dr. Michelle Burke has been selected as the new director for HISD’s Family and Community Engagement (FACE) Department.

Dr. Burke will report directly to Chief Student Support Officer Mark Smith. She will continue working on assisting schools, families, and community stakeholders with the tools, guidance, and resources needed to support student academic achievement. She will take an active role in empowering families and the community at large to make the best decisions for their child’s academic success.

“I am so honored to have the privilege to lead our family and community engagement efforts,” Dr. Burke said. “I look forward to sharing my passion and service to the community and will continue building solid partnerships with our schools, families, and the community to impact the success of our students.” Continue reading →

Help determine the ‘Fan Favorite’ Teachers of the Year 

Winners to be announced at May 19 Educators of the Year banquet

HISD will honor teachers and principals on Friday, May 19, at the district’s Educators of the Year banquet, and back by popular demand will be the announcement of the “Fan Favorite.”

The districtwide elementary and secondary Teachers of the Year are determined using performance data and other criteria, but the Fan Favorite category was created so the HISD community could vote on social media for their favorite elementary and secondary teacher. Continue reading →

48 HISD schools earn spot on 2016 Texas Honor Roll

The Houston Independent School District has 48 schools that have been named to the 2016 Texas Honor Roll by the Educational Results Partnership – with 15 more schools on the list than last year.

ERP, a nonprofit organization that showcases schools with high academic achievement, included 727 Texas public schools on its list. These schools display academic excellence, continue to improve over time, and show reduction in achievement gaps among ethnic minority and economically disadvantaged students.

Continue reading →

HISD Board of Education approves plan to use bond surplus funds to address outstanding bond campus and district needs

The Houston Independent School District Board of Education on Thursday approved a plan allowing nearly $99.1 million in forecasted bond surplus to be used for outstanding needs at bond campuses across the district.

About $20.3 million of the projected surplus comes from addition and renovation projects, while about $52 million comes from new school projects. Another $12 million in surplus comes from districtwide projects and $14.8 million from construction contingency.

Continue reading →

‘On the Yard’: Westbury HS College Go Center helps students navigate college-application process 

During this month’s episode of On the Yard, HISD Board President Wanda Adams sits down with Westbury High School Principal Susan Monaghan and the staff of the school’s College Go Center.

The Go Center allows students at the school – many of whom are first-generation college applicants – to access the information they need on where and when to apply, financial aid, housing options, and more.   Continue reading →

Energy Institute HS places second at FIRST Robotics World competition 

Energy Institute High School’s Energy HEROs team on Saturday placed second in the world at the Houston-hosted FIRST Robotics World competition.

The HEROs were part of an alliance with three other teams: alliance captain, The Robonauts, and alliance partners Citrus Circuits and Columbus Space Program. Continue reading →