Students looking for a university experience with a special focus on calculus should apply to the Tapia Math-Science Scholars (TMSS) program at Rice University, which runs from July 6 through August 1, 2015. Applications are due by Friday, May 8.
Category Archives: High Schools
HSPVA’s ‘Sound of Music’ nominated for six Tommy Tune Awards
Theatre Under the Stars (TUTS) announced the nominees for the 13th annual Tommy Tune Awards, and HISD’s High School for the Performing and Visual Arts (HSPVA) received six nominations for their production of “The Sound of Music.”
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Schools in DFW area offer Jordan HS planners a glimpse of 21st century CTE spaces
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HISD educators are looking at the district’s $1.89 billion building program as a unique opportunity to align their buildings with 21st century education – especially career and technical programs.
Student Congress using literacy to cultivate readers, leaders

Students from North Houston Early College High School read to second-graders at Roosevelt Elementary School.
Literacy is so important to HISD’s newly formed Student Congress that the organization has already created its own mentoring program.
“Bring a Book” got its start last September, when Congress members began brainstorming ideas for possible service projects. After agreeing to focus on literacy, the group decided to pair high-school students with second-graders to develop the younger children’s reading comprehension skills.
New ‘Caught in the Act’ video series to showcase great instruction
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HISD is kicking off a new video campaign to recognize highly effective teachers delivering great instruction.
It’s called “Caught in the Act” (CIA), and its goal is to demonstrate what high-quality teaching looks like by spotlighting instructors from across the district. Every month, the HISD video team, along with Chief Elementary Curriculum and Instruction Officer Lance Menster and Chief Secondary Curriculum and Instruction Annie Wolfe, will be dropping in on classrooms to observe and point out examples of great instruction.
Scholars Banquet recognizes 90-plus high school seniors at top of their class
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The Houston Independent School District paid tribute to the top students from each high school’s graduating class during the annual Scholars Banquet on April 7.
In addition to their outstanding academic achievements, these 96 valedictorians and salutatorians have garnered more than $2 million year-to-date in scholarship and financial aid offers.
Chávez HS proves afterschool programming still attractive to older kids
At 4 p.m. in the hallways of Chávez High School, chatter and laughter exceeds the typical end-of-school day buzz as a new community comes alive. Afterschool is on.
Youth who would normally hit the streets are weightlifting in the field house. A business venture takes shape as the afterschool smoothie shop showcases new recipes. Savvy girls with profit margins in mind construct homemade, designer valentine cards to satisfy schoolyard crushes. A running club is canvassing the community to organize a neighborhood fun run.
At a time when out-of-school time funding is being cut throughout the state and nation, this southeast Houston high school is finding funding for its afterschool ventures. The latest comes from a $550,000, homegrown initiative from the City of Houston City Council called City Connections. Chávez received $15,000 from the initiative organized and promoted by the Center for Afterschool and Expanded Learning for Kids (CASE for Kids), a division of the Harris County Department of Education.
“It’s a misnomer to think that high school students won’t become involved in afterschool,” said Lisa Thompson-Caruthers, director of CASE for Kids. “If afterschool activities are meaningful, teens will readily participate.”
“It keeps me out of a lot of trouble,” said Chávez HS senior Jair Woods, between barbell crunches. “Plus, I’m not sitting home being lazy like a normal teenager. I’m doing something productive with my life.”
CASE for Kids, formerly the Cooperative for After-School Enrichment, was launched by Harris County Department of Education in 1999.
Westside HS students win Cooking Up Change competition for second time
Three students representing Westside High School’s Culinary Arts Program won grand champion for the second year in a row at the Cooking Up Change Culinary Competition held on March 28.
Jalien Noel, Jose Acosta, and Briseida Salas wowed judges with a Cajun chicken with black bean hoppin’ John, Texas cabbage and greens, and pineapple turnover. Their winning meal will be featured on next school year’s high school lunch menu. The team will also travel to Washington, D.C. in June to represent Texas in the national Cooking Up Change competition against more than ten teams from across the nation.
HISD Board of Education to accept $8.5 million in grants for college readiness programs
The Houston Independent School District Board of Education will vote Thursday to formally accept $8.5 million in grants for programs designed to help high school students get into and graduate from college.
The Houston Endowment awarded the district with two separate grants — $5.5 million and $3 million — in February. The $5.5 million grant will be used to expand the district’s successful EMERGE program to all high schools, while the $3 million matching grant will be used to deploy 28 new college success advisors to campuses across the district. Continue reading
Students produce April Fools’ Day issue of school newspaper
“President Obama visits Lee High School and awards teacher ‘Hipster of the Year’” reads the headline on the first page of “The Traveler,” Lee High School’s student newspaper.
Also on page one is a story about Principal Jonathon Trinh paying cash to students for good grades. In fact, the first six pages of the monthly publication are filled with hilarious stories that reflect the cleverness of the staff reporters in producing an April Fools’ Day issue. Continue reading