Johnston is the first from the Houston area to be so honored
Johnston Middle School’s Sinfonia orchestra will be heading to Carnegie Hall next April, thanks to a stellar performance at a National Orchestra Honors competition this spring and the encouragement of an internationally acclaimed conductor.
The orchestra was named one of three national winners in the “middle school strings” category of the contest held in May of 2013 after submitting recordings of two of its performances for judging.
Lamar HS will face Pearland at 1 p.m. Friday in the regional round of the UIL 5A Division football championships after blanking Alief-Taylor’s powerful offense Saturday, 36-0. Go to the Houston Chronicle’s website for an account of the game.
HISD has selected the 18 high schools whose students will be receiving laptop computers in the 2014-2015 school year in the second phase of PowerUp, the district’s one-to-one digital transformation initiative.
Every year, HISD students from across the district create original artworks in the hopes of having their design chosen to grace the district’s annual holiday card. This year, Superintendent Terry Grier selected three students’ designs–one from Park Place ES, one from Johnston MS, and one from DeBakey HS. The winners were announced during a special reception for the finalists on Nov. 8. You can learn more and see a gallery of all of the finalists’ submissions in this related article.
Frank Iheanacho one of only 36 students from across the nation to be selected
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Frank Ileanacho, a senior at HISD’s Westside High School, has been selected by the U.S. Army to participate in its 2014 All-American Bowl.
Frank was one of just 36 students to be chosen from across the nation, and the only one from HISD schools, and officials at the Westside campus held a pep rally in his honor to celebrate on Nov. 21.
Nearly 100 people turned out this week to weigh in on proposed design concepts for Worthing and Sterling High Schools during community meetings held at each campus.
Both schools are slated to be rebuilt under the 2012 bond program, which was approved by voters in November 2012.
“This is an exciting time for Sterling,” Principal Dale Mitchell told the audience of more than 40 at his campus on Monday. “It’s very important that you’re here and giving your feedback.” Continue reading
Burbank and Elrod elementary schools to keep magnet status for 2014-2015 academic year
The Houston Independent School District is restoring the magnet designation at two elementary schools following a thorough review of the schools’ presentations and related documentation during the appeal process. Burbank and Elrod elementary schools will keep their magnet designation and funding for the 2014-2015 academic year.
“As we listened to the magnet program representatives who presented appeals, the committee was looking for clear evidence that these programs were on the path to meeting the magnet standards within one to two years,” HISD Assistant Superintendent of School Choice Dave Wheat said. “After a lot of deliberation, we’re pleased to announce that we are restoring the magnet designation at Elrod and Burbank elementary schools.”
During the appeal process, Burbank administrators presented to the committee nearly 40 additional applications they have received from non-zoned students. Those additional applications bring their percentage of non-zoned students to 16.52 percent, just under the minimum standard of 20 percent. In addition, Burbank will be adding three classrooms to increase capacity and accommodate additional non-zoned students.
As for Elrod, school administrators showed the committee their consistent enrollment growth over the past three years, going from 4 percent at the start of the magnet program to nearly 14 percent this year. Also, because Elrod changed its magnet theme in 2012 from math, science and technology to Emerging Medical Scholars, the committee felt more time was needed to assess the program’s viability.
However, Burbank and Elrod, like all magnet schools in HISD, will be re-evaluated at the conclusion of the 2013-2014 school year and every year thereafter to assess compliance with the enrollment goals and state accountability system ratings.
The Magnet Appeal Review Committee is still reviewing Law Elementary’s appeal, with a site visit planned for Wednesday morning.
“This is HISD’s first step in applying system standards across the district to ensure we maintain a high level of excellence at all schools,” Wheat said. “It is critically important that we ensure all magnet programs are meeting the enrollment and academic requirements set forth by HISD’s Board of Education.”
In May of 2013, the HISD Board of Trustees adopted a new policy that included the 20 percent non-zoned enrollment requirement for all magnet schools and the 100 non-zoned magnet students per grade level requirement for secondary magnet schools. The policy also stated that magnet schools would be held accountable for student academic outcomes aligned with the Board Monitoring System and/or current accountability standards.
As a result, HISD made the decision last month to remove the magnet designation from 20 magnet schools with the lowest percentages of non-zoned students enrolled. The schools were notified of this decision and were given the opportunity to appeal. Thirteen campuses filed an appeal but only Burbank and Elrod were approved to keep their magnet programs.
At the end of this academic year, the following 18 schools are slated to lose their magnet status and will only receive half of their funding during the 2014-2015 academic year: Law (under review), Pleasantville, Wesley, and West University elementary schools; Attucks, Deady, Dowling, Holland, Jackson, Key, and Patrick Henry middle schools; and Jones, Lee, Madison, Sharpstown, Westbury, Wheatley and Worthing high schools.
Burbank and Elrod elementary schools to keep magnet status for 2014-2015 academic yea
The Houston Independent School District is restoring the magnet designation at two elementary schools following a thorough review of the schools’ presentations and related documentation during the appeal process. Burbank and Elrod elementary schools will keep their magnet designation and funding for the 2014-2015 academic year.
“As we listened to the magnet program representatives who presented appeals, the committee was looking for clear evidence that these programs were on the path to meeting the magnet standards within one to two years,” HISD Assistant Superintendent of School Choice Dave Wheat said. “After a lot of deliberation, we’re pleased to announce that we are restoring the magnet designation at Elrod and Burbank elementary schools.”
Reagan senior Magnus Kinne (30) and sophomore Cedric Pickrom (5) teamed up for a key tackle as the Bulldogs knocked off Tomball Memorial. (Photo by Michael Sudhalter/The Leader News)
After tough first-round playoff action for 12 HISD varsity squads last weekend, Lamar and Reagan high schools have survived to meet more suburban opponents in the second round of playoffs.
Lamar prevailed over Morton Ranch, 38-14, and will face Alief Taylor at 2 p.m. Saturday at Delmar-Tusa Stadium. Click here for an account of the game.
M. C. Williams Middle School is partnering with Harris County Precinct One Constable Alan Rosen to distribute bags of groceries to some 100 families in the Acres Homes community. At 1:30 p.m. on Nov. 26 various tow trucks and wrecker services will arrive on campus with traditional Thanksgiving favorites. M. C. Williams students will sort them into grocery bags, which will be distributed starting at 3 p.m. The groceries will be given to needy families previously identified by area churches and the middle school.