Category Archives: High Schools

Upcoming School Choice Fair Provides Options, Answers for Parents and Students

These students chose Young Women's College Preparatory Academy. Which school will your children be attending next year? Learn more about the options available at the School Choice Fair on April 27.

These students chose Young Women's College Preparatory Academy. Which school will your children be attending next year? Learn more about the options available at the School Choice Fair on April 27.

At HISD, parents and students have a multitude of education options. From Montessori and magnet programs to preschool programs and early college high schools, representatives from over 70 different HISD schools will be on-hand at the third annual HISD School Choice Fair from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, April 27, at the Hattie Mae White Education Support Center (4400 West 18th Street).

Schools that have space for the upcoming 2013-2014 school year will be available at the fair to answer questions and provide more detailed information about their campuses, answer questions about the application and student transfer process, and assist parents with making the best school choice for their children.

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HISD Recognizes Top Six JROTC Cadets in HISD Class of 2013

Students come from HSLECJ, Lamar, Reagan, SHMSTC, Scarborough, and Waltrip

HISD’s JROTC program formally honored its top six cadets from the Class of 2013 during the Annual HISD JROTC Final Review and Awards Ceremony on April 20.

The students were chosen from the ranks of all graduating seniors in HISD’s 25 JROTC programs and all were promoted to Cadet Colonel, which is the highest rank attainable in the JROTC program. Continue reading

Apply Now for New HISD Magnet Schools

Two students learning parts of the body with a

These could be your students at the new Baylor College of Medicine Academy at Ryan beginning next fall.

Applications are being accepted now through the application deadline of May 16, 2013 for the newly created Energy Institute High School and the Baylor College of Medicine Academy at Ryan. The two new magnet schools were approved by the HISD Board of Trustees at a recent board meeting.

The Energy Institute High School will capitalize on Houston’s world-leading energy industry, representing the fields of geoscience, alternative energy, and offshore technology. HISD is expanding its existing partnership with the Independent Petroleum Association of America to enhance the school’s curriculum and instruction. The Energy Institute High School will begin with ninth-grade students and add a grade level each year to eventually serve students in grades 9-12.

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HISD Schools Add Some Pep to STAAR Prep

HISD schools across the district are doing their part to get students prepared and pumped up for the upcoming STAAR exam. At Neff Elementary, Principal Rupak Gandhi and his teachers have been practicing their dance moves for an upcoming STAAR pep rally that they hope will encourage students to do their best. Over the past few weeks, members of the school’s fine arts team have spent their ancillary periods and after-school hours creating a fun “Gangnam Style” video that they will show at the campus rally on Monday, April 22, 2013. Students in grades three through eight will take STAAR April 23–26.

“We wanted to do something fun that would not only motivate our students to do well, but would involve the entire staff,” said Gandhi. In the video, entitled “Neff STAAR Style,” Gandhi breaks out his best dance moves and so do the school’s custodians, food services workers, and students.
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Texas Supreme Court Justice is Austin High School’s White Rose Dinner Keynote Speaker

Second annual event to raise funds to benefit students and school programs

April 16, 2013 – Texas Supreme Court Justice Eva Guzman, an Austin High School alumna, will be the keynote speaker for the school’s second annual White Rose Dinner on Thursday, April 18.

Justice Guzman was appointed to the Supreme Court of Texas in 2009.  Before her appointment, she served as an Associate Justice on the Houston-based Texas 14th Court of Appeals for eight years and as a trial court judge in the 309th Family District Court.

The annual dinner is hosted by Austin faculty, staff and alumni to raise funds to benefit the students and school programs.  Last year, the dinner raised $7,000 and all proceeds were used to purchase incentives to promote perfect attendance and honor roll.

The cost per person is $50, and sponsorships are available.  For ticket information, call 713-924-1600.

What:              2nd Annual White Rose Dinner

Who:               Eva Guzman, Texas Supreme Court Justice and Austin High School alumna

When:             Thursday, April 18, 2013, 6 p.m.

Where:            University of Houston Hilton Hotel, 4800 Calhoun, Houston, TX 77004

Record Number of Houston Schools Make Nation’s Top 9 Percent

Carnegie Vanguard HS

Carnegie Vanguard High School is one of the national top 100 schools in the Washington Post High School Challenge.

Houston ISD high schools made their strongest showing ever this year in the prestigious Washington Post High School Challenge rankings that were released this week.

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HISD Claims Nearly One-Quarter of Texas’ Top High Schools

Record number of Houston Schools Make Nation’s Top 9 Percent

Houston ISD high schools made their strongest showing ever this year in the prestigious Washington Post High School Challenge rankings that were released this week. 

The rankings are based on the number of college-level Advanced Placement exams attempted, the number of students passing at least one AP or International Baccalaureate exam, and the percentage of students from low-income families at each campus. Only the nation’s top 9 percent of schools make the rankings. This year, HISD landed 33 high schools on the list, the best showing since 2010 when 25 HISD schools made the cut.  Statewide, 146 high schools appeared in the rankings, meaning Houston high schools account for 23 percent of all Texas campuses named in the annual report.

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Nine HISD Schools Win at State Odyssey of the Mind Competition

Students from Horn Academy pose as pirates for part of their Odyssey of the Mind competition.

Students from Horn Academy pose as pirates for part of their Odyssey of the Mind competition.

Fourteen schools participated in the state Odyssey of the Mind competition on Saturday, April 13, 2013 and students from nine of those schools will advance to the World Finals in May.

Odyssey of the Mind has become the largest international creative problem-solving competition worldwide, and HISD teams have been working hard to on their projects and presentations since October.
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Reagan Seniors Treated to Prom Shopping Spree

Reagan High School senior Diana Velasquez is excited about her upcoming prom and thanks to the generosity of several local organizations she’ll be going to the event dressed to the nines. “It’s going to be a big day for me and I am very lucky to have my dress, jewelry and even my shoes paid for,” said Velasquez.

Velasquez and 27 other Reagan senior girls, who might ordinarily miss out on the magic of prom, were recently treated to a shopping day from the Houston Heights Woman’s Club. Continue reading

Supreme Court Justice to speak at Austin HS’s second White Rose Dinner

Texas’ first Hispanic female Texas Supreme Court justice will be returning to her alma mater on Thursday, April 18, 2013, when The Honorable Eva Guzman presents the keynote speech at Austin High School’s second annual White Rose Dinner.

Guzman is a member of Austin High School’s Class of 1979. She was appointed to the Supreme Court of Texas on Oct. 8, 2009, by Texas Governor Rick Perry, and has been named one of the “101 Most Influential Latino Leaders” by Latino Leaders magazine, “Latina Judge of the Year” by the Hispanic National Bar Association, and “Judge of the Year” by the Mexican American Bar Association of Texas Foundation.

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