Category Archives: Middle Schools

Board of Education set to name Richard A. Carranza HISD superintendent

carranza2New superintendent will address news media, meet with public following vote

The Houston ISD Board of Education is scheduled to finalize the hiring of lone superintendent finalist Richard A. Carranza on Thursday.

The meeting will begin at 4:30 p.m. in the Board Auditorium of the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center, 4400 W. 18th Street. After the vote, Mr. Carranza will address members of the news media and participate in a meet-and-greet with members of the public. The full agenda is available here. Continue reading →

Families Encouraged to Complete Application for HISD’s Free and Reduced Price Meals Program

Application available online and at all HISD campuses for 2016-17 academic year

The Houston Independent School District announced its policy today for providing free and reduced-price meals for children served under the attached current income eligibility guidelines. Each school/site or the central office has a copy of the policy, which may be reviewed by anyone on request.

Starting on Aug. 22, 2016, the Houston Independent School District will begin distributing letters to the households of the children in the district about eligibility benefits and any actions households need to take to apply for these benefits. Applications also are available at the HISD Nutrition Services Support Facility and all HISD schools.

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More HISD schools meet state standard

Number of schools with “Improvement Required” rating declines 31 percent

The number of Houston ISD schools meeting state standards is now the highest it has ever been under Texas’ tougher new accountability system.

According to preliminary ratings released Monday, 85 percent of HISD schools (235 out of 275) earned a “met standard” rating for the 2015-2016 school year, a 6-point increase from the previous year. At the same time, 18 fewer schools received an “improvement required” rating. HISD earned a “met standard” district rating. Continue reading →

Trustee Harvin Moore to step down

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Moore has represented Trustee District VII nearly 13 years

HISD District VII Trustee Harvin Moore has announced that he is stepping down from the board.

A former Houston Independent School District student, Moore was first elected to the board in 2003, and served as president in 2008. He is currently the longest-serving member of HISD’s nine-member board. Continue reading →

New HISD campus leaders gather for intensive training, networking 

IMG_3920Campus principals face unique challenges, as they balance running a school while making sure the needs of their teachers and students are being met.

That’s why HISD has all new principals attending the annual New Leaders Institute (NLI), a 10-day intensive training event that gives them many of the tools and resources they’ll need to hit the ground running when the 2016-2017 school year begins. The NLI started July 6 and wraps up on Thursday, July 21.  Continue reading →

HISD to test schools for lead in water

Amid national concerns about lead in municipal water supplies, HISD has begun random lead testing and plans to test all schools not being rebuilt within the 2012 bond program by the end of the 2018-2019 school year.

In March 2016, HISD conducted a test for lead at five schools that were selected at random. The schools tested were: Wharton Dual Language Academy, Hogg Middle School, Henderson Elementary School, Mickey Leland College Preparatory Academy for Young Men, and McReynolds Middle School. Lead levels in all water samples were within acceptable standards.

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Mickey Leland robotics clubs end year on top, winning national championships 

Mickey Leland Preparatory Academy's middle-school and high-school teams at the SECME VEX nationals with SECME staffer Anthony Bowser. Students (left to right) are Evert Guzman, Brandon Chuor, Danny Medina, Anthony Bowser, Marcellus Jordan, Luis Torres, and Jarmel Brown.

Mickey Leland Preparatory Academy’s middle school and high school teams display their awards at the SECME VEX nationals with SECME staffer Anthony Bowser (center). Students (left to right) are Evert Guzman, Brandon Chuor, Danny Medina, Marcellus Jordan, Luis Torres, and Jarmel Brown.

Mickey Leland College Preparatory Academy’s high-school robotics club won first place at the 40th annual SECME Summer Institute’s VEX nationals in June at Tennessee State University in Nashville, and the middle-school team took second place.

This summer event brings together STEM educators and students for learning, collaboration, and dialog.

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Extreme Makeover: Middle School Restroom Edition

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Student restrooms at 31 middle schools across HISD are being renovated with funds from the district’s $1.89 billion bond program. When completed, the remodeled facilities will be fully ADA accessible and include much needed upgrades.

Renovations at each campus will vary, but the total scope of work includes installation of new plumbing, sinks and fixtures, new toilets and urinals with automatic flush valves, and electric hand-dryers, as well as repairs to existing walls, and installation of new wall and floor tile, lighting, and painted gypsum board ceilings. New toilet partitions will be black with a textured surface to deter students from marking on them. Continue reading →

HISD boasts half of 8-county region’s top elementary, middle and high schools

District is home to No. 1 schools at every level in statewide rankings

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Houston Independent School District campuses occupy half of the top 10 slots on the 2016 Children at Risk public school rankings of the region’s best public schools.

Additionally, HISD schools took the statewide No. 1 ranking in every category, with River Oaks No. 1 among elementary schools, T.H. Rogers No. 1 in the middle school category, and DeBakey High School for Health Professions No. 1 at the high school level.

The rankings were publicly released Monday at a ceremony conducted at HISD’s Pilgrim Academy, which received special distinction as a Gold Ribbon school, recognizing the region’s highest-performing, high-poverty campuses. Continue reading →

Schools’ Office Organizational and Staffing Changes

As HISD prepares for the 2016-2017 school year, the district is taking the necessary steps to align the central office team in a way that best supports teaching and learning. Also, as a result of the $165 million recapture payment HISD must make to the state, the district is making changes to the organization and staffing structure at the cabinet level and throughout central office departments. Continue reading →