Category Archives: Advanced Academics

Innovative 3DE high school model to launch at Austin HS

The Houston Independent School District and Junior Achievement of Southeast Texas have announced a partnership to launch the innovative 3DE model at Austin High School.

United around the belief that equitable access to high-quality education is a lever to economic mobility, 3DE transforms learning to be more interconnected and better reflect the real world. The program will serve ninth-grade students this fall and will continue to grow as students move to the next grade level.

The 3DE program is designed to help drive student engagement and opportunity in high school to better prepare students for the demands of tomorrow’s economy. The 3DE model will help students achieve this by teaching them critical skills and knowledge in all content areas by combining traditional learning and with real-world experiences.

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Trustees approve comprehensive facilities assessment to address aging infrastructure across the district 

The Houston Independent School District Board of Education on Thursday approved a comprehensive, districtwide facilities assessment designed to aid administrators as they prepare to address aging infrastructure across the district.

Facing more than $4.7 billion in deferred maintenance needs, the assessment data will be used to drive the district’s response to maintenance issues, safety concerns, student population growth, and building capacity needs, as well vertical curriculum alignment and educational equity.

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Students, teachers prepare for upcoming AP exams

Students, teachers prepare for upcoming AP exams HISD Advanced Placement students are invited to attend the AP Saturday Countdown Academy to help prepare for Advanced Placement exams.

The first of four Countdown Academies will take place at Carnegie Vanguard High School from 8:30 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Nov. 16. Throughout the morning, students will participate in three different review sessions aimed at AP exam preparation, skills, and content.

The event is free, open to all HISD AP students and teachers, and breakfast will be provided. Students should bring a notebook, a pencil, and a laptop. Students should inquire with their school if transportation is provided.

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Attend a parent information session on HISD’s Gifted and Talented programs

HISD’s Gifted and Talented department is offering parent-information sessions on Gifted and Talented, often referred to as simply G/T, for parents who would like to learn more about HISD’s G/T programs.  

HISD provides two program options for Gifted and Talented (G/T) students – Vanguard Magnet and Vanguard Neighborhood programs. The Vanguard Neighborhood programs are designed to meet the needs of G/T students at the school to which they are zoned, and the Vanguard Magnet program provides an environment where G/T students can work with their peers at a Vanguard Magnet School. 

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HISD north area superintendent named interim chief academic officer

Yolanda Rodríguez

Yolanda Rodríguez, HISD’s north area superintendent, has been named interim chief academic officer of the Houston Independent School District.

Rodríguez assumes her new role immediately, reporting to Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan.

“Ms. Rodríguez has 25 years of experience with Team HISD and has a long history of turning around underperforming schools right here in our district,” Lathan said. “I am proud to have her at the helm guiding academics and instruction in HISD, and I know our schools will see continued success under her leadership.”

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Together With Tech Student Conference set for April 7

The Second Annual Together with Tech Student Conference is all set for Saturday, April 7, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center, 4400 W. 18th St. The theme is “Mind, Body, and Soul,” and the idea is to brainstorm solutions that will help the community. More information is available at the Together With Tech website.

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HISD named to College Board’s AP District Honor Roll for gains in student access, success

District, placed on list for first time, is among 447 across U.S. and Canada to earn distinction

The Houston Independent School District is one of 447 school districts in the U.S. and Canada being honored by the College Board with placement on the 8th Annual AP District Honor Roll, a first for the district.

To be included on the 8th Annual Honor Roll, HISD had to increase the number of students participating in AP since 2015 while also increasing or maintaining the percentage of students earning AP Exam scores of 3 or higher. The district has more than doubled that number since 2007. Reaching these goals shows that HISD is successfully identifying motivated, academically prepared students who are ready for AP.

“I am very proud of our students and staff for achieving this distinction,” Superintendent Richard Carranza said. “This honor is yet another example of the district’s commitment to offering rigorous options to all our students that we believe prepare them for their next level of education.” Continue reading →

15 Days of Code offers opportunity for daily interactive coding experiences 

HISD Advanced Academics is providing a fun way to participate in Computer Science Education Week in December with the 15 Days of Code, made up of interactive calendars that allow students to engage in a new coding experience every day.

The activities on these three calendars  for elementary, middle, and high school include lessons such as designing a web pages with HTML, creating a virtual pet, developing interactive art, and even teaching a robot to make crepes.

HISD’s 15 Days of Code coincides with Computer Science Education Week, which is Dec. 4-10. During this week, students and the greater HISD community are encouraged to join the worldwide movement and try one hour of coding as an introduction to computer science. Through this “Hour of Code,” students are challenged to think critically and solve problems as they learn the basics of computer programming.  Continue reading →

Learn about Advanced Placement courses during AP Parent Night on Nov. 14 

Over the next few months, HISD’s Advanced Academics Department will be hosting multiple parent information sessions on Advanced Placement courses.

The fall parent information session will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 14 at the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center (4400 W. 18th St., 77092).

HISD offers students the chance to earn college credit while still in middle and high school by taking advantage of AP courses. Last year, HISD students took 28,236 AP exams, which resulted in more than $9 million in college savings for students and their families.   Continue reading →

HISD students compete in Coding Challenge Day

On Saturday, Dec. 3, HISD Advanced Academics and the STEM Teacher Development team hosted “Crack the Code: A Coding Challenge Day” with HISD students to kick off Computer Science Education Week, which is Dec. 5–11. Students and teachers from 27 district elementary and middle schools participated in the challenge day, which was held simultaneously at two locations – Southmayd and McGowen elementary schools.

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