Category Archives: New schools

Preliminary HISD STAAR scores show strong gains across multiple grades, subjects, and student groups

Houston Independent School District students showed strong gains that exceeded those made by the state in third- through eighth-grade reading and math, and on end-of-course (EOC) assessments in English I and Algebra I, according to preliminary 2018 State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) scores.

“This year, our students made significant progress on the state-mandated STAAR tests,” Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan said. “We are excited about what these preliminary results mean for our schools labeled by the state as Improvement Required and our district’s accountability ratings. HISD is shifting course and turning schools around. We know that it is critical that we continue our commitment to strengthening the supports in place to further advance our progress in student achievement.”

Overall, the spring administration of the 2018 STAAR grades 3-8 assessment results indicate the district held steady or showed increases in the percentage of students meeting the Approaches Grade Level standard in reading, math, science, and social studies. Continue reading →

Lawson MS hosts ‘Walk to Remember’ before building demolition

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Music echoed throughout the Lawson Middle School gym as community members gathered with former students and staff to catch up with old friends, flip through old yearbooks, and dance the afternoon away.

Led by current students and staff, the stroll down memory lane was part of a “Walk to Remember” — an event held to let stakeholders bid their final farewells to the building before it is demolished later this summer.

“It’s important to preserve the memories,” Lawson Principal Kasey Bailey said. “There’s a lot of history with this school, but we’re very excited to move into the new building.”

Continue reading →

Eastwood Academy library addition nearing completion

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Eastwood Academy is set to open a new two-story library wing this August as crews put the finishing touches on the second and final phase of the school’s expansion and renovation project.

Installation of exterior masonry and mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems have been completed, and window installation is set to wrap up this week. Crews are in the process of hanging sheetrock inside the addition, which will be followed by internal inspections and installation of internal fixtures and finishes.     Continue reading →

Milby HS team takes second place in national Cooking up Change competition

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What do you get when you combine chicken, zucchini, pinto beans, bananas, and yogurt?

You get the menu that snagged second place in the national Cooking up Change contest held this week at the U.S. Department of Education in Washington, D.C.

The Broadway Buffs of Milby High School — made up of students Roberto Blas, Jordyn Moore, and Esteven Mata — beat out four teams from Boston, Chicago, Dallas, and Troy, Ala., to bring home the second-place trophy. The team from Orange County took top honors. Continue reading →

Construction on new Wharton DLA now 75 percent complete

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Construction on the new Wharton Dual Language Academy is making continued progress as the project is now 75 percent complete.

Crews have finished the installation of roofing, exterior brickwork, windows, HVAC systems, and kitchen equipment. Interior walls are nearly complete, and metal paneling for exterior walls is underway.

In addition, permanent power — a significant milestone in the project — was connected in early May.

Continue reading →

FF&E manager for HISD making an impact on students

To the naked eye, a chair may seem ordinary. But for Michelle Black, it’s more than just a piece of furniture — it’s a tool that can foster student learning.

As the HISD Furniture, Fixtures, & Equipment Manager for the 2012 Bond Program, Black is responsible for furnishing all 40 bond schools — including 29 high schools — with comfortable, modern, and flexible furniture.

Black oversees each project — often managing more than five at a time – as they near completion. Continue reading →

Furr HS dedicates new building

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A sea of red flooded the main entrance of Furr High School on Friday morning as the cheerleaders, Sparkle Dancers — dressed in red and white uniforms — and band pepped up the crowd in celebration of the school’s building dedication ceremony.

Music and chants echoed through the air, and lush trees and landscaping lined the length of the brightly colored 182,000-square-foot-building, offering an ornate backdrop to a long red ribbon stretched across the building’s main walkway.

“Close your eyes for a moment and imagine a high school that empowers students to tackle environmental injustice and becomes the central green hub of their community,” said Furr Interim Principal Rosa Hernandez to attendees. “Imagine spaces filled with student voices, trust, school spirit, and a flexible learning environment.” She pointed to the new building, saying “That’s what we have here.”

Continue reading →

Wisdom HS celebrates new school with building dedication

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A lush, open green space with paved walkways leading to the entrance of the new Wisdom High School served as the perfect setting on Tuesday for the school’s momentous building dedication celebration.

As the most diverse school in HISD, the campus includes students from nearly 60 different countries. The event provided guests with a beautiful representation of that international makeup, with students lining the walkway adorned in their native attire and holding flags of their respective home countries.

“Margaret L. Wisdom High School represents my America; it represents your America,” HISD Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan said. “Over 70 languages are spoken here at this school. This is America.” Continue reading →

Jordan HS hosts beam-signing; PAT members tour site

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Barbara Jordan High School for Careers students gathered this week in their old parking lot — now the future site of their new school — to ink their signatures on steel beams beneath the building’s learning staircase.

The students and faculty were invited to sign the beams as a way to commemorate construction progress and memorialize their signatures in the new structure, which is scheduled to be finished by the end of this year.

Continue reading →

Austin HS undergoes demolition to make room for new facility

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Demolition is underway at Austin High School, where crews are working to bring down the back section of the building along South Lockwood Drive, making way for a new $79.6 million campus.

Asbestos abatement will be completed this month, and demolition already has been completed on the water tower, agriculture building, and workshop. The remainder of the demolition is expected to wrap up in June. Continue reading →