Category Archives: High Schools

Bellaire HS student named national ’Young Hero’

A Bellaire High School senior was recently named a winner of the Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes for her work connecting those who may go hungry with those who can supply free, nutritious food.

Annie Zhu is one of only 15 winners of the prestigious award that recognizes inspiring, public-spirited young people from diverse backgrounds who live in North America.  

Zhu is the co-founder of Fresh Hub, which collects food from Houston-area grocery stores and bakeries and then distributes it to Houston neighborhoods that have been deemed food deserts. To date, Fresh Hub has collected 10,000 pounds of food and distributed it to more than 1,400 people.

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HISD to hold Virtual Multilingual Parent Leadership Conference on Oct. 24

The Houston Independent School District’s Office of Multilingual Education will hold its annual 4th Annual Virtual Parent Leadership Conference for parents to learn supports and strategies that will help students to be successful while learning from home.  

The conference will be held virtually from 9 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. on Saturday, October 24. The conference is designed for parents and guardians of HISD students.  

This year’s conference will feature a variety of workshops on how parents can work with their children at home. The conference will feature recognized speakers who will inform and inspire parents of English Learners to become advocates for their children’s education. Sessions will be offered in English and Spanish. Translation will be available.

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D.A.R.E. program returns to district with HISD PD training program

The Houston Independent School District announced the return of the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) program to select HISD schools at a press conference on Monday.

“I am so very excited about D.A.R.E. returning to HISD,” Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan said. “We are determined to ensure that all students not only receive a quality education but that they come to school not under the influence and prepared to receive that quality education.”

In partnership with state Rep. Jarvis Johnson, D.A.R.E. America, the HISD Police Department, and the Houston Police Department, the program will initially train 35 HISD PD officers and seven HPD officers on teaching evidence-based prevention education curricula to students.

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October is College & Career Readiness Month

The Office of Strategy & Innovation is excited to announce HISD’s third annual College & Career Readiness Month (CCR Month) in October.

CCR Month is a fun and creative way to engage students and introduce them to a variety of college and career options. This year’s theme is “Take Control: Explore. Design. Launch Your Future!” Each week of the month will highlight a specific CCR theme, including:

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FAFSA, TASFA applications open this week

The official filing period for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, opens October 1 for students planning on attending college in the fall of 2021.

Filling out the FAFSA is the first step toward getting many different types of financial aid for school and finishing the FAFSA early is the best way to maximize college-award packages.

When applying for student aid, timing matters. Each year, the Office of Federal Student Aid offers more than $120 billion through grants, loans, and work-study funds to help students pay for higher education. Priority for this money will be given to students who apply before the priority consideration deadline.

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Three HISD schools named 2020 National Blue Ribbon Schools

Memorial Elementary School, Young Women’s College Preparatory Academy and the High School for Law & Justice have been designated 2020 Blue Ribbon campuses by the U.S. Department of Education.

This is the first time the schools have received the designation, which is awarded to schools that maintain high academic standards among all its students while demonstrating progress in closing achievement gaps among various subgroups of students.

“I am extremely proud of our schools for being recognized with this prestigious honor,” said HISD Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan. “The hard work is exemplified in the academic excellence of our students, and that takes an entire campus working together to reach such an impressive achievement.”

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HISD encourages eligible students to register to vote

The Houston Independent School District wants to make sure students are responsible, active, and engaged citizens who recognize the importance of participation in elections.

HISD is encouraging eligible students to register to vote. Voting is a privilege and civic obligation. When people vote, they are empowered, and their voices are heard.

If you are a United States citizen and will be 18 before election day, which is Tuesday, November 3, then you are eligible to register. To register, go to votetexas.gov[, fill out the online registration form, and follow the instructions.

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National Merit Scholarship Program names 81 HISD seniors as semifinalists

The National Merit Scholarship Program has named 81 Houston Independent School District seniors as 2021 semifinalists.

The high school seniors have an opportunity to compete for approximately 7,600 scholarships worth more than $30 million that will be offered next spring. Nationwide there are approximately 16,000 semifinalists in the 66th annual National Merit Scholarship Program.

“We are proud of our global scholars who are competing with their peers from across the nation for this prestigious academic honor,” HISD Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan said. “We support and encourage them to maintain the level of excellence that has resulted in their semifinalist designation, despite challenges they may face in this year of flexibility.”

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HISD recognizing Hispanic Heritage Month 

The Houston Independent School District Board of Education on Thursday issued a proclamation designating Sept. 15 through Oct. 15 as Hispanic Heritage Month in the district.  

Hispanic Heritage Month kicks off with the anniversary of the 1821 Independence Day of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. The month also encompasses the independence days for Mexico (Sept. 16) and Chile (Sept. 18).  

Throughout the month, a variety of virtual events showcasing performances, art, and many other displays of the rich Hispanic culture can be observed across the city of Houston.  

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