Almost every East Early College HS graduate received an associate’s degree in 2014

These East Early College High School students (black gown with blue cord) were some of the more than 100 seniors from that campus to receive their associate’s degrees from Houston Community College SE two weeks before their high school diplomas. (Houston Independent School District)

These EECHS students (black gown with blue cord) were some of the more than 100 seniors from that campus to receive their associate’s degrees from Houston Community College SE two weeks before their high school diplomas.

It’s been more than a decade since HISD opened its first early college high school off Loop 610, but the number of students taking full advantage of both their premise and their promise—the chance to finish high school with a diploma in one hand and an associate’s degree in the other—has been steadily rising.

Nowhere is this trend more evident than at HISD’s East Early College High School, where just over 100 seniors graduated this year with a college degree—a stunning 93.5 percent of its Class of 2014.

Principal Tamera Bolden attributes her school’s incredible success to a variety of factors, including a stellar attendance rate (98 percent) and the “unwavering support” of Dr. Irene Porcarello, the president of Houston Community College Southeast (HCC-SE). Continue reading →

Free camp helps high school students build reading, writing skills

Do you have a rising freshman or sophomore who needs to boost their reading and writing skills? HISD is hosting a free Literacy Enrichment Camp to give them tools to help increase their end-of-course exam scores.

The eight-day camp will be held at Challenge Early College High School on the HCC Southwest Campus, 5601 West Loop South, July 21-24 and July 28-31. Participating students are expected to attend both weeks. The camp will be held 9 a.m.-3 p.m. each day. If transportation assistance is needed, METRO cards will be provided. Lunch will be served daily. Continue reading →

Davis HS community hears about design plans for new school

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The new Davis High School on Houston’s north side is being built to preserve the facility’s history while becoming a 21st century campus that can prepare students for college and careers.

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Sinclair principal receives honor from Texas PTA

Sinclair ES Principal Abigail Taylor

Abigail Taylor

Sinclair Elementary School Principal Abigail Taylor knows that her students’ parents are just as passionate about learning as she is, and her partnership with them has led to her being recognized as the 2014 Texas PTA Elementary Principal of the Year.

“I am honored that our PTA would think to nominate me for this award,” Taylor said. “When I learned that I was a finalist, I thought it was pretty neat, but I never thought that I would be selected.” Continue reading →

State Board of Education to honor Bellaire HS economics team

Jinchen Zhou, Ridge Liu, Michael Clark, Laura Zhang, Patrick Giradet

Bellaire High School’s economics team won the National Economics Challenge in May, and you can watch the ceremony live online when the Texas State Board of Education honors members at 9 a.m. Friday.

Team members Patrick Giradet, Ridge Liu, Laura Zhang, and Jinchen Zhou beat out more than 1,200 teams from 40 states to claim the title in a quiz-bowl live on CNBC. The students, who have since graduated, spent an average of 15 hours a week preparing for the competition and skipped their prom to be there. They each received a $1,000 award and rang the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange within a few hours of their win. Continue reading →

Design concepts for South Early College High School featured in video

South Early College High School recently presented the final design images of its new 21st century learning environment facility, which is highlighted in a new HISD video that explores the planning and design of the campus.

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School leaders learn more about PowerUp:HUB

HISD school leaders recently got a closer look at the district’s new digital teaching and learning platform that will launch in the coming school year at 48 K–12 pilot schools. It’s called the PowerUp:HUB, and the online platform is part of the district’s larger initiative to digitally transform teaching and learning. During the 2014–2015 school year, all teachers will access the district’s curriculum through the HUB, and teachers at the pilot schools  will have access to additional features including a customizable planner, the ability to create assignments and deliver tests and quizzes for students, and the ability to collaborate with their peers to share ideas and education resources.

Principals and school administrators recently underwent introductory training on the HUB and will receive more intense training in early August.  “They were able to show us what it could look like and what it will look like in the coming year, and I am really excited about it,” said Highland Heights Elementary School Assistant Principal Raquel Sosa-Gonzalez.
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Question: ‘What skills should all HISD graduates possess?’

HISD staff collaborated with leaders in business and post-secondary education last week to create a graduate profile that reflects expectations the district wants all high school graduates to meet in order to be successful in college, career, and life — and the public and board of trustees will soon have a chance to weigh-in on this important benchmark.

“We want to make sure that our graduates leave with skills that are required to be successful in colleges and careers of the 21st century,” said Assistant Superintendent for Linked Learning Adam Stephens.

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Principals prepare for launch at New & Emerging Leaders Institute

Almost two dozen new principals will take the driver’s seat for the first time this fall at various HISD campuses, and the district’s New & Emerging Leaders Institute is helping to prepare them for success.

The intensive four-week training program, which started July 7, provides new and aspiring campus leaders with information on both practical matters, such as balancing budgets and analyzing data subjects, and more ethereal subjects, such as managing change, building community, and providing leadership.
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