Category Archives: College Readiness

Texas A&M University tour inspires both students and parents

College tours can have a dramatic effect on current HISD students as they prepare for life after high school. They can encourage students to set goals, take more rigorous classes, improve grades, and participate in extracurricular activities that may increase their chances of being admitted to the college or university of their choice.

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College Readiness wraps up 2015–2016 with resounding success

The HISD College Readiness Dept. works closely with HISD high schools to create and maintain a college-bound culture. The district saw a major increase in college applications and FAFSA completions this past school year, with a 23-percentage-point increase in college applications over last year and a 10-percentage-point increase in financial-aid applications.

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Twenty-eight new College Success Advisers (CSAs) and 15 new College Success Managers (CSM) were definitely a factor in the increases. Last summer, thanks to a Houston Endowment grant of $3 million, the college advisers and managers were hired and trained to assist district seniors with applying for college and scholarships.

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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 →

North Houston Early College HS opens doors early for visit from graduating seniors

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Having spent six years in a temporary campus, Principal Angela Lundy-Jackson couldn’t stop smiling as she showed off the new North Houston Early College High School, one of 40 schools being rebuilt or renovated under HISD’s 2012 bond program.

“Everyone is just giddy,” she said. “It’s been a tremendous learning process but now I see the reward.”

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Thousands of HISD students to receive high school diplomas at graduation ceremonies

Nearly 10,000 high school seniors from across the Houston Independent School District will receive their diploma at graduation ceremonies held this week for the Class of 2016.

The district’s first graduation ceremony will be held Tuesday, May 24 for the Mickey Leland College Preparatory Academy for Young Men with Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner as keynote speaker. The school will graduate its second class of seniors this year with 11 students. The 6th through 12th grade campus is one of two single-sex academies established by HISD in 2011. The ceremony is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Kingdom Builders Center, 6011 West Orem Dr. Mayor Turner also will speak at the graduation ceremony Thursday, May 26 for Energized for STEM Academy High School and at the ceremony for Carnegie Vanguard High School on Friday, May 27.

Additional graduation ceremonies will take place around the city between Friday, May 27 and Sunday, May 29 at various locations, primarily at the Barnett Fieldhouse, Butler Fieldhouse, NRG Stadium, Texas Southern University campus, and Williams Pavilion. Continue reading →

Sharpstown High School senior wins a car at school’s Academic Signing Day

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Other events held at campuses across HISD to celebrate seniors’ commitment to colleges of their choice

Thanks to Joel Rogers Classic Chevrolet, a lucky senior will be driving to college. Sharpstown High School’s Academic Signing Day Celebration ended with a drawing, and Joshua Baffoe won a Chevrolet Sonic.

As part of First Lady Michelle Obama’s #ReachHigher Initiative, she sponsored #CollegeSigningDay on Tuesday, April 26, 2016. Most HISD high schools have been holding Academic Signing Day events since late April, and they are continuing almost until graduation.

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HISD student to be honored as U.S. Presidential Scholar in Washington, D.C.

Student also one of 16 HISD students to win National Merit Scholarship

A Houston Independent School District high school student hopes to have the opportunity to meet President Barack Obama this summer after being selected as a U.S. Presidential Scholar.

Liana Wang

Liana Wang

Liana Wang of Bellaire High School is among only 160 high school seniors from across the country to be recognized in the 52nd class of U.S. Presidential Scholars for her leadership, academic accomplishments, and service to the community.

“I am pretty excited to be a part of an amazing group of scholars, and I’ve heard that sometimes presidential scholars get to meet the president,” Wang said. “I would love to intern at the White House and work in the state department one day to help contribute to the culture of an administration and its policy decisions.”

The U.S. Presidential Scholars will be recognized and presented with a Presidential Scholar Medallion during a special ceremony held June 19 in Washington, D.C. Continue reading →

HISD to host college summit for historically black colleges, universities

Hundreds of HISD middle and high school students will have the opportunity to meet admissions representatives from regional historically black colleges and universities from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, May 10 at the HISD College Summit for HBCUs at Texas Southern University.

Historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) located in Texas and Louisiana will be represented, and general information will be provided on the more than 100 HBCUs across the country. Students in grades 6-12 along with their parents are invited to attend. The free event will include a college fair and breakout sessions focused on financial aid and college admissions.

“Attending an HBCU changed my life,” said HISD EMERGE academic program manager Steven Chambers, who will be a featured speaker at the event. He is a graduate of Hampton University. “The HBCU college summit will expose students to the diversity of school offerings as well as highlight the impact HBCUs have on the character and confidence of students enrolled.”

Representatives will be in attendance from the following colleges and universities: Huston-Tillotson University, Jarvis Christian College, Prairie View A&M University, Southwestern Christian College, Texas College, Texas Southern University, and Wiley College.

The event is organized by the HISD College Readiness Department. Transportation will be provided from some campuses. This year, the district strengthened its college readiness efforts by deploying 28 new college success advisors and 10 college success managers to campuses across the district.

 

Five HISD students win coveted Gates Millennium Scholarship

Five Houston Independent School District students are among more than 1,000 high school seniors from across the country to be selected this week to the final class of the Gates Millennium Scholars program.

The students — Nofisat Babajide and Esther Brown from Bellaire High School, Janeth Rodriguez from Carnegie Vanguard High School, Leslie Benavides from Eastwood Academy, and Sheighlah McManus from Jane Long Academy— will be awarded a scholarship that can be used to pursue a degree at accredited colleges or universities of their choosing. Continue reading →