Category Archives: College Readiness

Migrant students set their sights on college

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Migrant students may not always live conventional lifestyles, but that doesn’t mean they don’t share the same dreams as other young people—such as getting a college education. That’s why HISD students who qualify for assistance through the district’s Migrant Educational Program have spent the past few weeks touring Lamar, Texas A&M, and Sam Houston State universities in order to learn more about the college application process. They concluded their tours, which were organized by the Office of College Readiness, with a trip to Stephen F. Austin University (SFA) in the East Texas piney woods on June 30.

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California trip provides EMERGE students glimpse of tier-one college life

Rising juniors from schools throughout HISD tour seven colleges in five days

More than 75 rising juniors from high schools throughout HISD traveled to California during the week of June 15 to tour several tier-one colleges and universities, and learn more about the college application process. The group of students from HISD’s EMERGE program toured seven colleges in five days including the University of Southern California, Occidental College, and the Claremont Consortium, which is a cluster of private colleges that specializes in liberal arts, sciences, and engineering. Read below to learn more from several EMERGE students who were on the trip.

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Students embark on the road to independent living

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This June, HISD is teaching young people to be part of a community beyond the classroom.

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Students’ graduation stories publicized in Times Square

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Three lucky HISD students got to see their names in lights on June 10, when hundreds of students from across the country were featured on a Times Square billboard in New York City.

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Free SAT prep course now being offered by Khan Academy

Partnership with College Board to help students prepare for redesigned SAT

The College Board and Khan Academy have teamed up to provide free Scholarship Aptitude Test (SAT) preparation for all students beginning this month.

The SAT is a globally recognized college admission exam that demonstrates a student’s knowledge of reading, writing, and math. Most students take the SAT during their junior or senior year of high school, and many colleges use the test to make admission decisions.

HISD also offers a free online SAT coaching course for grades 9 through 11 called “PREP ME,” which is available here.

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Hundreds of seniors receive associate’s degrees alongside diplomas

Members of the HAIS Class of 2015

Members of the HAIS Class of 2015

A high school diploma looks better when it’s next to an associate’s degree.

That’s why several HISD campuses offer students the opportunity to obtain an Associate of Arts or an Associate of Science degree from Houston Community College while they’re still in high school. More than 300 HISD seniors met the challenge this year, enabling them to graduate with an associate’s degree as well as a diploma.

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Seven HISD students win National Merit College-Sponsored Scholarships

Seven Houston Independent School District students from four schools are among more than 2,200 high school seniors from across the country to be selected this week to win National Merit Scholarships financed by U.S. colleges and universities.

The students — from Carnegie Vanguard, Challenge Early College, and Lamar high schools, as well as DeBakey High School for Health Professions — received college-sponsored National Merit Scholarships from the University of Houston, University of Oklahoma, University of Tulsa, and Texas A&M University.  Continue reading →

Seniors take D.C. by storm

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Lofty goals can make a traveler of anyone. Forty Wheatley High School seniors journeyed to Washington, D.C. May 12-15, 2015, for a leadership conference hosted by Close Up, an organization that encourages students to become engaged with democracy. Students applied for the trip by writing essays about Rosa Parks.

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HISD superintendent surprises Bellaire High School student with $10,000 scholarship

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Houston Independent School District Superintendent Terry Grier made a surprise visit to Bellaire High School on Wednesday to present a dedicated and hardworking graduating senior with a $10,000 college scholarship.

The award was given to Alisa Hamilton, who was selected by Dr. Grier because of her drive to succeed academically and be involved on campus despite significant personal challenges. Hamilton, who is homeless, does not live with her parents and has worked two part-time jobs to make ends meet. She has done all of this while maintaining good grades and participating in Bellaire’s DECA business club. Continue reading →