Under HISD’s bond program, Jones High School will receive renovations to its existing facility and some site improvements.
The project is currently in the design phase, with construction expected to begin in the second quarter of 2016.
The Houston Independent School District will expand the health sciences career program at Jane Long Academy through a partnership with Walgreens for the school’s Futures Academy of Pharmacy Technology.
Continue readingAs more than 210,000 students head to the first day of the school year today, there’s a lot that’s new awaiting them. Continue reading
This is the fourth in a series of stories counting down to the start of school, spotlighting what is new in HISD in the coming year.
On the first day of school, Houston ISD will welcome students at two new Middle College High Schools, a new Futures Academy, and at the district’s first AP-focused school. Continue reading
Help HISD get dropouts back in school by volunteering for the 2014 Grads Within Reach walk.
This year’s event will be held at 24 high schools from 8 a.m. to noon on Sat., Sept. 6, 2014. Volunteers will be placed in teams and fan out across the city, based on the school to which they are assigned, and visit the last known address of students who dropped out or didn’t show up for the first weeks of school. Continue reading
Sgt. Juan Deluna
Learning he was not a high school graduate came as something of a shock to Sgt. Juan Deluna. The 27-year-old ex-Marine had just returned from his third tour of duty overseas and was trying to apply for a job with the Houston Police Department when he found out.
“I was under the impression that I was already a 2005 graduate of Jones High School,” he said. “Sadly, I was not.”
Sgt. Deluna only learned of the discrepancy when he tried to obtain a copy of his high school transcript, which is a required part of the application. But instead of a complete transcript confirming his status as a Jones HS alumnus, Sgt. Deluna discovered that he was just shy of the district’s graduation requirements.
HISD students have the opportunity to apply for the new Futures Academies at Jones High School. The districtwide program follows the HISD Board of Education’s decision to keep Jones High School open but to repurpose the campus into a home for a specialty program.
The Futures Academies at Jones — like other academies across the district — will allow students the chance to earn industry certifications, college credits, and even an associate’s degree, all at no cost.
Students who attend Jones will have two high-wage, high-demand career pathways to choose from: Health Sciences or Construction Technology. Health Sciences will give students the opportunity to work toward becoming a certified nurse assistant or certified personal trainer, with the possibility of going on to earn advanced degrees in nursing or physical therapy. Construction Technology will offer students the opportunity to work toward becoming an industrial electrician or HVAC technician, with the potential to earn advanced degrees in construction technology. Both programs will operate in partnership with Houston Community College.
“Our students can earn more than just a high school diploma. They are being prepared for both, high paying jobs and college,” said Geovanny Ponce, who recently was named as principal and will oversee the rollout of the new program and its pathways. “The decision to take a job or go on to pursue a four-year degree will be in their hands.” Ponce previously served as the principal of Hartman Middle School and is credited with helping to develop the school’s health and medical science magnet program.
The deadline to apply is May 21. Applications are available at the school as well as online at www.houstonisd.org/futuresacademy
Proposal would close Jones, Dodson; new graduation plan under HB 5 would include Algebra II requirement
The Houston Independent School District Board of Trustees will review proposals to close Jones High School and Dodson Elementary School, and vote on new policies associated with House Bill 5 during a board meeting planned for Thursday, March 13.
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The Houston Independent School District Board of Trustees will review proposals to close Jones High School and Dodson Elementary School during the March 13 board meeting. Three of the five schools – Nathaniel Q. Henderson Elementary School, Port Houston Elementary School, and Fleming Middle School – originally proposed for closure have been removed from consideration by Board President Juliet Stipeche. This authority is provided to the president through board policy.
“I respect our board president’s request to remove these schools from consideration,” HISD Superintendent Terry Grier said. “I also appreciate her input, the input of all trustees, and the community-at-large in this process.”
Thirty-one of the Houston area’s best prep teams will begin three days of action Thursday in the 74th annual HISD Boys Basketball Tournament at nine district locations – and they’ll combine play with holiday giving.
Fans bringing two nonperishable food items and one unwrapped toy will gain free admission, with no re-entry permitted. The toys will go to the U.S. Marines Toys for Tots Drive, and the food will benefit the Houston Food Bank. Collection points will be located at each site for those who want to contribute additional items.