Category Archives: Magnet/School Choice

Wharton Dual Language Academy breaks ground on new facility

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Nestled in the middle of a dirt construction site, current and former Wharton Dual Language Academy students donning brightly colored dresses, sombreros, and mariachi suits danced in celebration of the school’s groundbreaking.

The students — part of MECA Ballet Folkorico — joined scores of Wharton parents, students and staff, all of whom gathered Friday to celebrate the start of construction on the renovation and addition project for their new school. Continue reading →

Doors of Mickey Leland College Preparatory Academy set to open this August

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Students of Mickey LelandCollege Preparatory Academy for Young Men are in for a great start to the year as the long awaited opening of their new school edges closer.

The $42 million project is about 80 percent complete with move-in expected to begin towards the end of July. Finishing touches are being done to both the painting and drywall, while framing in the new building has almost concluded. Site improvements, such as the development of the outdoor track area, are already underway and should be finished by September.

“The kids are really excited to come back,” said Leland Principal Dameion Crook, who smiled when asked if his staff shared that emotion. “The teachers are pumped about it.”

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Still looking for a magnet program for next school year?

If you are looking for an HISD magnet school for the 2017–2018 school year, you will have an opportunity to learn more about dozens of schools with openings firsthand at the HISD Spring School Choice Fair. The event will be held from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, April 22, at Gregory Lincoln Education Center, located at 1101 Taft St, Houston 77019.

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Accept an offered magnet seat by Thursday, April 6

Parents who submitted magnet applications for the 2017-2018 school year have until Thursday, April 6, to accept any offered seat.

Parents who participated in Phase 1 of the application process (Sept. 30 – Dec. 9, 2016) were notified of the status of their submissions on Thursday, March 23. Phase I includes in-district applications only.

Parents who created online accounts can find the results posted on their dashboards, and letters were sent out by U.S. mail to all parents who submitted an application.

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HISD superintendent shares report on Listen and Learn tour findings

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Watch Superintendent Carranza’s report about what he learned during his Listen and Learn Tour

Houston Independent School District Superintendent Richard Carranza has shared a full report on the results of the Listen and Learn town hall meetings with the HISD Board of Education.

The HISD Board of Education hosted more than two dozen town hall meetings that began in September as a way to introduce Carranza to the community, solicit input from stakeholders about the district’s future, and learn about key issues across HISD.

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Last school choice fair on Saturday as first magnet deadline approaching 

School Choice Fair at Westbury High School, September 17, 2016.

School staff discusses magnet options with parents at a school choice fair in September at Westbury High School.

Parents have a wide variety of choices regarding where to send their students to school in HISD, but time is running out to be in the first round of consideration.

Parents who still aren’t sure which school they want their child to attend next year are invited to the final School Choice Fair from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Dec. 3, at Sterling High School (11625 Martindale Road, 77048). Representatives from HISD magnet schools will be there, and attendees can get help submitting their application.

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Wilson Montessori breaks ground on new addition

The groundbreaking ceremony for the new addition and renovations at Wilson Montessori School on Tuesday had all the usual celebratory elements from the obligatory shovels and hard hats to a distinguished list of speakers.

But Principal Beth Bonnette turned the morning into a teachable moment for the school’s more than 500 students when she challenged them to be part of history by contributing to a time capsule that will be placed within the walls of the new building.

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Mandarin Immersion Magnet School celebrates new building with grand opening ceremony

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The Mandarin Immersion Magnet School (MIMS) on Monday held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the official opening of the school’s new Galleria-area building.

The $32.2 million school, part of HISD’s 2012 bond program, is one of six new campuses that opened across the district for the start of the 2016-2017 school year.

More than 100 supporters of the school, including State Rep. Gene Wu and Houston City Council Member Mike Laster, turned out for the event, which featured student performances, special presentations, a reception, and a tour of the new 119,000-square-foot facility.

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Grand opening planned to celebrate new Mandarin Immersion Magnet School

Mandarin Immersion Magnet School will host a grand opening on Oct. 24 to celebrate the completion of its new building, which was built as part of the 2012 Bond Program.

The new school — the first of its kind in Texas when it was first launched in 2012 — formally opened its doors to students in August. Located just west of the Galleria on West Alabama Street, the $32.2-million, 120,000-square-foot facility is designed to accommodate up to 950 students.

The school was designed around a sun and moon concept. In accordance with the concept, bright colored learning spaces and academic areas are located in the sun wing, which represents energy. Common areas and community spaces — such as the cafeteria and gym — are in the moon wing, which represents reflection. The building also features a soaring, three-story atrium housing the central library and learning commons areas.

The grand opening will be held at the new school on Monday, Oct. 24 at 10 a.m.

Mandarin is among 40 schools — including 29 high schools — being renovated or rebuilt as part of HISD’s voter-approved 2012 Bond Program. By the end of 2016, construction will be underway on nearly three dozen campuses — more than at any other time in the district’s history. Once all work is complete, HISD will boast of one of the most modern portfolios of urban high schools in the nation.

 

School Choice Fairs highlight special programs, magnet application process

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Weekly campus tours also planned; applications accepted Sept. 30 through Dec. 9

The Houston Independent School District Office of School Choice will host five School Choice Fairs and offer weekly campus tours at all magnet campuses throughout the fall semester for families to meet with magnet representatives and learn about the 2017-2018 application process, which begins Sept. 30.

Families will be able to attend a fair to learn more about the district’s 119 Magnet programs, which specialize in areas such as fine arts, language studies, college and career readiness and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, & Math).

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