Category Archives: High Schools

HISD Announces Meetings to Discuss School Transition Plans

Sterling HS students will move to Jones HS campus during construction; Ryan MS students would move to Cullen MS

Four community meetings have been scheduled for Tuesday, February 26 to discuss HISD’s plan move students out of two school buildings at the end of this school year.

Under the plan, the current student bodies of Sterling and Jones high schools would be combined into a single campus on a permanent basis.  Students from Sterling will move to the Jones campus and remain there while the new Sterling campus is under construction as part of the recently approved HISD bond program.  The school would operate as a single campus, with all students joining together to compete on the same academic and athletic teams.  Once the new campus opens in late 2016 or early 2017, all students currently zoned to Jones would be rezoned to the new school, a $72.3 million campus capable of supporting modern technology and accommodating the latest approaches to collaborative learning.

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Waltrip HS Ram Band says thanks for experience of a lifetime in D.C.

Many Waltrip Ram Band students are calling it the experience of a lifetime.  Those are just a few of the words being used to describe the band’s trip to the recent Inaugural Celebration in Washington, D.C.  The Ram Band was selected to represent Houston ISD and the state of Texas during ceremonies celebrating President Barack Obama’s second inauguration. Continue reading →

Waltrip Ram Band Prepares for Inaugural Celebration Performances

Donations from local attorney and Texas legislator helped group finally meet its fundraising goal

The Waltrip Ram Band is making final preparations for its trip to perform at the Inaugural Celebration in Washington, D.C.  For the past few months, the band has been holding benefit concerts and other events to raise the $150,000 needed to cover the costs of the trip for the more than 140 students.

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HISD Now Hiring for the 2013-14 School Year!

HISD is now recruiting highly-qualified teachers for the 2013-14 school year to help us fulfill our mission of providing each and every one of our students with an excellent education.  Candidates are strongly encouraged to apply online here by the Early Bird application date of January 14, 2013, to have the best chance of securing an early contract for the 2013-14 school year.    Continue reading →

Campus Safety Message from Superintendent Terry Grier

Dear HISD Community,

Schools are supposed to be places where our children feel safe to learn and play with their friends.  On Friday, we were reminded that even our best efforts to protect our precious students are sometimes not enough to prevent tragedy.  I know that all of you join me in praying for the Newtown community and sending them our sincere condolences as they grieve their unimaginable loss.

As Houston ISD students and employees return to class today, I want to assure you that we are taking action to ensure our schools are as safe as possible.  We have nearly 200 fully certified police officers in the HISD Police Department, and they are vigilantly patrolling our school neighborhoods and walking our campus hallways.  Every school in HISD regularly performs safety drills, and every campus leadership team has an emergency preparedness plan in place.  In the days and weeks to come, our police department leaders will be reviewing our procedures to determine whether any modifications are necessary to further protect our children and employees.

HISD also employs a well-trained team of psychologists whose services are available to every campus.  Our principals and teachers will not hesitate to bring them in to help any student who might need their care.   It is not uncommon for children to have questions and to express fears in these times.  We encourage parents to address their children’s concerns proactively.  The National Association of School Psychologists offers some helpful tips for parents as they discuss this tragedy with their children.  Those suggestions include reassuring children that they are safe, and acknowledging their feelings.  You can find more recommendations on the group’s website by clicking here.

The final week of school before winter break is always a time of celebration and anticipation.  We owe it to our children to keep it that way.  We also owe them a collective commitment to doing whatever it takes to keep them safe while they are in our care.  I want to personally wish each of you a joyful holiday season, and encourage you to hug your children just a little tighter and a little longer this year.

 Terry B. Grier

2012-2013 School Year Ushers in Year Two of STAAR

The 2012-2013 school year is the second year for the new state assessment known as STAAR, which requires high school students to take End of Course exams or EOCs rather than grade-based assessments under TAKS. Last year, only high school freshmen were required to take STAAR End of Course exams. This year, all ninth- and tenth-graders in the state of Texas will take STAAR EOCs.

Under STAAR, a student’s score on an EOC would normally count toward 15 percent of their final course grade. However, the Texas Education Agency has deferred implementation of the 15 percent grading requirement for the 2012-2013 school year.

Westside High School freshmen and their parents wanting more information on STAAR recently came out to a special campus workshop. The informational session was held to help parents understand how the new EOC exams could impact their child’s course grades and GPAs, as well as their ability to graduate.

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YWCPA Hosts Computer Programming Symposium

[slideshow]More than 200 area third- through eighth-grade students, teachers, and parents attended a computer programming symposium on Saturday, Nov. 17, at Young Women’s College Preparatory Academy.  

The Inaugural Schlumberger Log-in Symposium provided participants with free access to computer programming and robotics software, equipment, training, and other resources. There also were student robotics and computer exhibitions from Young Men’s College Preparatory Academy on display.  

Volunteers from Schlumberger, Rice University, University of Houston and Texas Southern University served as mentors and instructors for the students. They also held informational seminars for parents interested in learning about education opportunities in the computer programming and technology fields.

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New Futuro Awards HISD Students with Scholarships, iPad

Thousands of Houston students and their families left the New Futuro college prep fair in October equipped with all the tools and resources necessary to get into college and beyond. But three lucky HISD students left with more, including thousands of dollars in scholarships.

New Futuro’s biggest prizes, a $4,500 and a $2,500 college scholarship, went to Alejandro Reyes from Hartman Middle School and Jennifer Hernandez from Debakey High School. 

“I’m really grateful for this scholarship,” said Hernandez, an aspiring clinical psychologist who plans to attend St. Edward’s University. “College is expensive and any amount is helpful, especially if it helps relieve the burden my parents will face when I attend the university.”  Continue reading →

Featured in HISD’s Revamped eNews: Joe Tusa Reflects on Stadium Honor

The following story appeared in Friday eNews – HISD’s weekly  e-newsletter. Click here to subscribe and you’ll receive a roundup of the week’s top headlines, plus personal stories like this one and other interactive features.

In this week’s I am HISD, which features HISD graduates and HISD employees, former HISD Athletic Director and Reagan High School alumnus Joe Tusa talks about his 37 years with the district. On November 3, HISD officially renamed the district’s Northside sports complex the Delmar-Tusa Athletic Complex in honor of Tusa, who is HISD’s longest serving athletic director. Continue reading →