Category Archives: High Schools

“Voting Early Style” – HISD students, teachers, principals go Gangnam Style to get out the vote

Forget what you thought you knew about “Gangnam Style,” the year’s biggest hit song and music video. Some may say it’s a parody of fashion and lifestyles in an upscale Korean neighborhood, but they’re mistaken. We sent the lyrics around the district and our students, faculty and staff have come to the conclusion that rapper PSY was actually encouraging Harris County voters to not only vote this election, but to vote early and finish the entire ballot.

We want anybody who’s eligible to vote in the November 6 election to take control of their future and go to the polls. We encourage you to register to vote (do it soon as the deadline is fast approaching) and to vote early beginning October 22.

We’re also asking for your help in getting out the vote. Make sure your friends see this video by tweeting it (we’re using the #VoteEarly hashtag and you can tag us with @HoustonISD), posting it to Facebook or Tumblr and liking it on YouTube.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZP7lBB83McY]

HISD Students Named Among Semifinalists for National Achievement Scholarship

Thirteen African-American seniors from four HISD high schools are among the semifinalists for the National Achievement Scholarships.  These students will have the opportunity to compete for 800 scholarships worth more than $2.5 million that will be offered next spring.

The National Achievement Scholarship program is a privately financed academic competition that was started in 1964 to recognize and offer scholarships to academically promising African-American students throughout the nation.

To be considered for this scholarship, more than 160,000 high school juniors took the 2011 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying test.  The nationwide pool of semifinalists, about 1,600 students, includes the highest-scoring entrants in each state.

To become a finalist, semifinalists must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by a high school official, write an essay, and earn SAT scores that confirm the student’s earlier performance on the qualifying test.

“We are very proud of these students and their academic achievements,” said HISD Superintendent Terry Grier.  “To be recognized among the nation’s best students by the National Achievement Scholarship program is truly an honor and a testament to their hard work.” 

The selected semifinalist students are from the following HISD schools: Bellaire High School, DeBakey High School for Health Professions, the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, and Westside High School.  The 2013 National Achievement Winners will be announced starting in April 2013. 

National Achievement Scholarship Semifinalists

 Bellaire High School                                

Alexander Franshaw                                                              Evan S. McClain
Alayah M. Frazier                                                                    Lonnie A. Smith
Salem B. Hadgu

DeBakey High School for Health Professions

Rachel A. Adenekan                                                                   Nathalie C. Meremikwu
Anusha A. DeSilva Bradley                                                      Acara E. Turner                      
Malcolm C. Lizzappi                             

High School for the Performing and Visual Arts

Ellisa M. Bray                                                                             Jyron Walls

 Westside High School

 Bianca R. Draud

PBS ‘Frontline’ Episode Tonight Highlights HISD’s Dropout Prevention Efforts

HISD’s efforts to get dropouts back in class — and keep at-risk students from leaving school in the first place — will be the focus of tonight’s (Tuesday, Sept. 25) special report by the award-winning Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) television show, Frontline.

The two-hour “Dropout Nation” episode documents the challenges and obstacles four students face in their quest to earn a diploma from HISD’s Sharpstown High School.  The documentary was produced by a PBS crew that spent the spring 2012 semester embedded with the Sharpstown faculty and students.

On Monday night, HISD Superintendent Terry Grier and Sharpstown Principal Rob Gasparello were featured on this Houston PBS program to discuss HISD’s innovative approaches to the national dropout crisis.  Today, HISD schools graduate 2,000 more students annually than they did in 2007, even though the overall number of students attending Houston schools is unchanged.  The HISD dropout rate has been in decline and the graduation rate has been climbing in for four consecutive years, and now stand at record levels. Read more about HISD’s latest dropout data here.

“Dropout Nation” is set to air on PBS and on the PBS website Tuesday at 8 p.m. You can watch a trailer here and check local listings for showtimes here.

There will be a live chat at 1 p.m. Wednesday following the airing of the episode with the film’s producer, Frank Koughan, Sharpstown administrator Brandi Brevard, and HISD dropout prevention expert Mark White.

Happy Birthday, Lamar High School! Campus Celebrates 75 Years

Lamar High School marked its 75th year this week by inviting members of its first two classes (1938 and 1939) back to campus to commemorate the occasion. Pictured are Ben Duffie (Class of 1938), Mayor Annise Parker, and Mary Ann Duffie (Class of 1944).

Sept. 20, 1937, was the official first day on which the school opened. At that time, the country was deep in the throes of the Great Depression, Westheimer was still just a shell road, and River Oaks boasted only a few completed homes.

Lamar will formally celebrate its 75th anniversary on Sat., Oct. 20, with an Open House starting at 10:30 a.m., followed by its homecoming football game against the Sam Houston Math, Science & Technology Center at 2 p.m. at Delmar Stadium.

Below is a photo of the campus from the school’s early years, before the stately oak trees that now grace the front lawn were even planted.

Sept. 25 ‘Frontline’ Episode to Highlight HISD’s Dropout Prevention Efforts

HISD’s efforts to get dropouts back in class—and keep at-risk students from leaving school in the first place—will be the focus of an upcoming special report by the award-winning Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) television show, Frontline.

The “Dropout Nation” episode documents the challenges and obstacles four students face in their quest to earn a diploma from HISD’s Sharpstown High School.

The show is set to air on cable and the PBS website on Tues., Sept. 25, at 8 p.m. You can watch a trailer here and check local listings for showtimes here.

HISD’s DeBakey High School is a Finalist for Title I National Distinguished Schools Award

DeBakey High School for Health Professions is one of only two Texas schools that are finalists for the Title I National Distinguished Schools award.  The award recognizes schools that have consistently demonstrated strong academic performance over a three-year period and have also achieved the “academically exemplary” rating for the present year.   The schools must also have a population of 40 percent or more low-income students.

DeBakey was recognized for its successful curriculum and instruction and for providing opportunities for all students to succeed. All of its graduates are accepted into colleges or universities, and in 2012 DeBakey students received more than $30.8 million dollars in scholarship offers.  The school was also acknowledged for its continuing professional development for teachers and administrators and its partnerships with parents, families, and members of the community.  

“We are excited DeBakey High School for Health Professions is receiving national recognition for its effective approach to learning,” said HISD Superintendent Terry Grier. “We’re proud of the hard work our students, administrators, and staff have shown in making DeBakey one of the best schools in the nation.”

DeBakey is also the 2012 No. 1 high-school in the eight-county Houston region, according to Children at Risk.  DeBakey received National Title I Distinguished school recognition during the 2006-2007 school year. This year’s winner will be announced in January.

Over 600 Volunteers Participate in HISD’s Grads Within Reach Walk

Hundreds of volunteers spent Saturday morning knocking on more than 1,300 doors across the city encouraging students who have not returned to school this academic year to re-enroll.   The outreach effort was part of the ninth annual Grads Within Reach Walk, which led to 45 HISD students deciding to return to school immediately and many more promising to give school another try.

HISD Superintendent Terry Grier kicked off the walk at Austin High School by motivating dozens of volunteers and administrators.  “We know the factors that drive these students to make the difficult decision of dropping out of school vary,” Dr. Grier said. “That’s why we’re here today — to let them know about the programs HISD offers to help them graduate.  But more importantly we want them to know HISD cares about them and wants to help them get back in school.”

Dr. Grier later led the volunteers as they knocked on the homes of various students at Austin High School.  HISD Board of Education Trustee Juliet Stipeche and Austin High School Principal Jorge Arredondo were among those volunteers encouraging students to re-enroll.

“I’m excited we have the opportunity to reach out to these students to help them get their diploma,” Stipeche said.  “We want them to know HISD is going to do whatever it can to help them succeed.”  Principal Arredondo said he is invested in this effort, and it’s his privilege to be involved with the Grads Within Reach Walk.  “We know this community. We are from this community, and we deeply understand its challenges,” he said.  “We also realize as adults who work with the youth of Houston, we are very often these students’ last best chance.”

Among their successful visits was Imelda, 18, who only needs credit for one course to graduate and says she is now going to re-enroll.  “My dad has been encouraging me to finish high school,” said Imelda. “I do want to complete my course work so I can get my diploma, especially since I’m only one credit shy of graduation.”

Continue reading →

Houston ISD students receive more than $180 million in scholarship offers in 2012

Just received the latest numbers and the task of paying for higher ed is getting a bit easier for Houston ISD students.

HISD students have been offered more than $180 million in scholarships this school year, eclipsing last year’s total by more than $50 million. Digging a little bit deeper, students at 27 schools received more financial offers than in 2011. High schools such as Austin, Booker T. Washington and Eastwood more than doubled their 2011 scholarship offers, while Bellaire, DeBakey, HSPVA, Lamar and Westside reached or far exceeded more than $15 million each in offers. Westside HS also saw the largest overall increase in scholarship offers, receiving more than $34 million in offers, a total of $13 million more than the $21 million its students received in 2011.

Jordan and Worthing high schools eclipsed the $1 million mark this school year.

Congratulations to the class of 2012 for taking advantage of the millions available to continue their education. We encourage future graduates to not waste any time in seeking financial assistance in attending college, as higher education costs are rising and every bit of scholarship assistance now means less of a financial impact on students and their families.

‘We’re Looking for Gold!’

HISD Police Officer and boxing coach Rudy Silva at Olympic Village

Editor’s note: This is a guest blog entry from HISD Police Officer Rudy Silva, who coaches U.S. Olympic boxer Marlen Esparza. On Monday, Esparza won her quarterfinal match. She is guaranteed to win at least a bronze medal. Her next match is on Wednesday.

Marlen and I have been doing this for 11 years. Today, I was about to catch the train and we were about to be in our first Olympic fight. I was thinking hard work really pays off. You always hear people say that, but today it really hit me. We have come a long way. There were times when I know Marlen wanted to stop because people weren’t giving women enough recognition. I told her, “Just keep winning and people will notice.”

Continue reading →

Booker T. Washington Student Embarks on Unique Expedition

Booker T. Washington High School student Darryl Prevost has embarked on a deep-sea expedition aboard Titanic discoverer Dr. Robert Ballard’s ship of exploration. The Exploration Vessel Nautilus is currently exploring the waters of the Black, Aegean, and Mediterranean seas off the coasts of Turkey and Cyprus.

Darryl Prevost

Prevost, 17, who was selected as a JASON Project National Argonaut, is among a group of students, educators, and scientists from around the world participating in the weeklong expedition.   

Since 1990, the JASON National Argonaut program has provided hands-on, scientific field work to more than 450 students and educators worldwide, many of whom have gone on to pursue degrees and careers in science. National Argonauts also participate in scientific research with peers and scientists and return to their communities as mentors and role models.

Prevost, the only HISD student participating in the expedition, says he is thankful for the opportunity and is excited about being chosen for the project.

“I was in shock at first when I heard my name being called out as one of the Argonaut winners,” Prevost said. “I hope to learn and explore a lot while I am aboard the Nautilus.”

The JASON Project, managed by Sea Research Foundation and National Geographic Society, was founded by Ballard and is an internationally acclaimed, exploration-based program that links students—inside the classroom and out—to real science and scientists through technology intensive, inquiry-based curricular experiences.