Author Archives: HISD Communications

HISD boasts half of 8-county region’s top elementary, middle and high schools

District is home to No. 1 schools at every level in statewide rankings

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Houston Independent School District campuses occupy half of the top 10 slots on the 2016 Children at Risk public school rankings of the region’s best public schools.

Additionally, HISD schools took the statewide No. 1 ranking in every category, with River Oaks No. 1 among elementary schools, T.H. Rogers No. 1 in the middle school category, and DeBakey High School for Health Professions No. 1 at the high school level.

The rankings were publicly released Monday at a ceremony conducted at HISD’s Pilgrim Academy, which received special distinction as a Gold Ribbon school, recognizing the region’s highest-performing, high-poverty campuses. Continue reading →

Schools’ Office Organizational and Staffing Changes

As HISD prepares for the 2016-2017 school year, the district is taking the necessary steps to align the central office team in a way that best supports teaching and learning. Also, as a result of the $165 million recapture payment HISD must make to the state, the district is making changes to the organization and staffing structure at the cabinet level and throughout central office departments. Continue reading →

Yates High School community celebrates ceremonial groundbreaking for new school   

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Yates High School Principal Ken Davis made an impassioned promise Thursday as he spoke to the crowd of students, alumni and school supporters who gathered to celebrate the groundbreaking for their new $59.4 million school.

“I pledge to you, just as I have the community and the children I serve, I’m going to do my very best to make their dreams come true,” Davis said, applause erupting throughout the auditorium as he spoke. “I may not get to the mountain top with you, but I’m going to make sure the road is paved for you to get there.”

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Help prevent ‘summer slide’ by mentoring for Read Houston Read

It’s not uncommon for students to lose a little momentum during the lazy days of summer. Luckily, parents and community members can help prevent the “summer slide” by volunteering for the Read Houston Read program this summer break.

HISD’s Elementary Curriculum and Development literacy team is excited to announce that many Read Houston Read schools will offer the program to volunteers and students during summer school.

This will enhance the current summer school program and add additional intervention for students who need it most.

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South Early College HS selected as state STEM academy by TEA

South Early College High School was named one of 23 new Texas Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (T-STEM) Academies for the 2016-2017 school year by the Texas Education Agency.

T-STEM academies are rigorous secondary schools focusing on improving instruction and academic performance in science and mathematics-related subjects, with a goal of increasing the number of students who study and enter STEM careers. Designated T-STEM campuses serve students in grades 6-12 or 9-12. Continue reading →

Yates High School to hold groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate new school

Yates High School will hold a groundbreaking ceremony this morning to officially mark the start of construction on the school’s new $59.4 million facility.

Scores of students, staff, alumni, elected officials, and district and community leaders are expected to attend the groundbreaking for Yates, which is among 40 schools across the district being renovated or rebuilt as part of HISD’s voter-approved 2012 Bond Program.

The groundbreaking is being held at 9 a.m. oat the Yates High School campus, 3703 Sampson St.

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Austin HS band director up for Grammy ‘Music Educator Award’ 

keavon_runnelsAustin High School band director and music teacher Keavon Runnels is a quarterfinalist for the Music Educator Award presented by The Recording Academy and the GRAMMY Foundation.

The Music Educator Award was established to recognize current educators who have made a significant and lasting contribution to the field of music education and who demonstrate a commitment to the broader cause of maintaining music education in the schools.

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2015-2016 HIPPY participants gather for graduation ceremonies

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HISD’s Family and Community Engagement department on Tuesday hosted an end-of-year ceremony at Chavez High School to honor 2015-2016 HIPPY (Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters) graduates.

More than 500 parents and children completed the program this year. FACE held two additional end-of-year gatherings at Fondren Middle School on May 16 and Sam Houston MSTC on May 18. Together, those gatherings honored another 1,281 participants.

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HISD students become nutrition ninjas during games with Houston Texans

The fun started early for Houston ISD elementary school students from nine schools as they participated recently in the first HISD Nutrition Ninja Warrior Competition at Houston Methodist Training Center. The students were ready to take the gold back to their school during the morning games.

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HISD Dietitians Jennifer Lengyel and Nan Cramer organized the event with DairyMax and the Houston Texans to teach students about the benefits of healthy eating and physical activity.

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Six HISD students win National Merit College-Sponsored Scholarships

Six Houston Independent School District students from four schools were announced this week as winners of National Merit Scholarships financed by U.S. colleges and universities.

The students — from Bellaire, Carnegie Vanguard, DeBakey, and Lee high schools — received college-sponsored National Merit Scholarships from the University of Houston, University of Oklahoma, University Texas at Dallas, Texas Tech University, and Vanderbilt University.

The scholarships provide between $500 and $2,000 annually for up to four years of undergraduate study. Many post-secondary institutions also award additional scholarships to students who are recognized as National Merit scholars. Continue reading →