Hundreds of volunteers at 24 HISD high schools spent Saturday morning knocking on doors across Houston encouraging students who have not returned to school this academic year to re-enroll. The outreach effort was part of the 10th Annual Grads Within Reach Walk which led to 47 HISD students deciding to return to school immediately and many more promising to give school another try.
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Hundreds of Volunteers to Visit Students’ Homes during 10th Annual Grads Within Reach Walk
24 high schools participating across Houston
What: HISD’s Department of Dropout Prevention will lead visits to the homes of hundreds of students who did not return to school for this fall semester during the 10th annual Grads Within Reach walk. The purpose of this walk is to let the students know about the programs HISD offers to help them graduate such as the Grad Labs online credit recovery program and the Twilight High Schools around the city which offer flexible night and weekend hours. The volunteers will set out from 24 high schools across the city to knock on the doors of students’ homes to personally encourage them to return to school.
Media are invited to Sam Houston Math, Science & Technology Center for video of the walk and interviews with administrators and volunteers.
Who: HISD Department of Dropout Prevention, principals and volunteers
When: Saturday, Sept. 7 at 8:00 a.m.
Where: Sam Houston MSTC, 9400 Irvington
Grad Labs help students earn their diplomas
On Memorial Day weekend, when her family was gathered around the grill, Rebecca Babb was at work on the computer.
The Waltrip High School senior was determined to finish the only course standing between her and graduation. “I told my mom, ‘I am going to try, I am going to see what I can do,’” Rebecca said.
Rebecca Babb, who graduated from Waltrip High School on Sunday, credits her school’s Grad Lab with helping her to receive her diploma with her class.
Rebecca knew the stakes: Pass the online math class and walk the stage or fail and report to summer school. She had already failed Algebra II twice.
Waltrip Graduation Coach Brett Rusnock, who works in the school’s Grad Lab, identified the online class as an option that would allow her to graduate with her class.
Her hard work and extra effort were rewarded on Sunday night as she walked the stage in her red cap and gown to receive her diploma.