Read Houston Read volunteers begin working with students

Volunteers in HISD’s Read Houston Read initiative have met the students they’ll be working with this school year and are beginning the journey of helping children develop a love for reading.

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“I come once a week, every Monday, to read to two special little boys,” said Kimberly Thompson, who volunteers at Sutton ES. “When someone from the outside comes in and reads to these children, they just feel special. When you feel special, you are more open to every experience that comes your way.” Continue reading →

Thousands of parents attend School Choice Fair to learn more about neighborhood schools, magnet programs

Thousands of parents attended the HISD School Choice Fair on Saturday to learn about the district’s 100-plus magnet school programs to help them decide which programs meet their child’s needs and interests.

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The magnet application for the 2015-2016 school year is now available. The application takes about five to 10 minutes to complete, and parents may apply online or via a paper application. The magnet application will be open until Dec. 19, which is the last day to apply and be considered in the first round of the magnet application process.

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Houston Texans and HCC surprise cancer survivor on her birthday

Jefferson ES second-grader Genesis Cuevas may be battling Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, but she’s certainly not doing it alone.

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Not only did students and staff turn out en masse on Oct. 31 to surprise her with a party on her eighth birthday, she also received a campus visit from TORO the Bull, the Houston Texans’ mascot, along with two cheerleaders and Texan front-office officials Austen Smith and Brian Peden. They came bearing gifts, too, including a football signed by David Quessenberry, an offensive tackle who was diagnosed with lymphoma in June, as well as hats, T-shirts, and other gifts. Continue reading →

Condit ES first school to break ground under 2012 bond program

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Condit Elementary School on Saturday became the first school to break ground under HISD’s 2012 bond program, kicking off the construction phase of the school’s new 21st century campus.

Condit is in the first group of 17 schools transitioning from the design phase to the construction phase as part of the district’s $1.89 billion bond program to rebuild or renovate 40 schools.

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District’s new literacy program reshaping student instruction

Fall is always a time for adjusting to new routines, as the regular academic year gets underway. But in HISD, many students also spent the first five weeks of the new school year adjusting to a new method of reading.

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“Principled habits,” which are a part of the district’s Literacy By 3 movement, are designed to allow students to build literacy skills independently while their teacher works with smaller groups of students. Continue reading →

Literacy By 3 gets a boost at Neff with donation of 4,500 books

HISD’s Literacy By 3 movement got a big boost on Oct. 31, when four organizations joined forces to help students at Neff Early Learning Center start or build a home library.

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The Greater Houston First Book Volunteer Board (GHFB), partnering with Disney, First Book National, and the Rotary Club of Sharpstown, distributed 4,500 books to Neff students that day, with each student receiving seven books to take home. Continue reading →

HISD enrollment reaches 215K, highest level in four decades

The first of four official state counts of enrollment in Houston ISD showed Friday that membership now surpasses 215,000 students — the highest figure since 1973.

The district’s membership tally on the 51st day of school was 215,225, up from 211,406 over the same day in 2013, 3,819 students more. It is the figure that will go into state records as HISD’s fall Public Education Information Management System (PEIMS) count.

“The steady upswing in student performance, our great neighborhood schools, and HISD’s reputation for a school option for every interest and goal are undoubtedly helping to draw families to our schools,” said Superintendent Terry Grier. Continue reading →

Newly designed website and catalog to help with school choice process

HISD magnet applications are now being accepted for the 2015-2016 school year, but selecting a school among so many choices may sometimes seem overwhelming.  In an effort to help parents and students navigate the process and make an informed choice, HISD has redesigned its school choice website and has created a helpful catalog.  Continue reading →