last updated: 08/22/2008

7900 N. Eldridge Parkway, Houston, Texas  77041
(281) 807-8000
Principal:  Mr. Claudio Garcia
School Hours:  7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Administrative Team

Principal

Claudio Garcia

Associate Principal

Stephanie Meshell

Assistant Principal

Rich Dixon

Assistant Principal

Martin Drayton

Assistant Principal

Archie Grigsby

Assistant Principal

Kim McDonald

Assistant Principal

Ana Martin

Assistant Principal

Leroy Morales

Counselor – Lead

Linda Gonzales

Counselor

Tamyra Bruce

Counselor

Roland Diaz

Counselor

Julia Everett

Counselor

Karen Jacobs

Counselor

Angela Hopkins

Counselor

Brenda Lamb

Counselor

Carol Morris

Counselor

Suzanna  Mouton

Director of Instruction

Teresa Baranowski

Media Specialist

Tona Espel

Media Specialist

Melanie Wachsmann

Nurse

Jo Shirk

Academic Achievement   Specialist

Jelaine Castillo

Academic Achievement  Specialist

Barbara Votaw

 

Enrollment

3024 students as of 9/14/07

 

Demographics

African
American
Hispanic
White
Native
American
Asian/
Pacific
Islander
Economically
Disadvantaged
17.8%
42.7%
26.2%
0.3%
13.1%
38.9%

 

VIPS

Partnerships with the community are vital in order to strengthen instructional outcomes for all students. We would like you to develop a collaborative relationship with us that will foster long-term student achievement ... one that offers opportunities for all students ... making a difference together. For more information, please contact Irene Herring.

 

Class Ranking

Beginning with courses taken between eighth and ninth grade, all high school courses including correspondence, night school, college courses taken for dual credit, credit-by-exam, and summer school, are averaged in the class rank with the exception of teacher student assistant, local credit, and courses taken under the pass/fail option. High school credit courses taken by seventh- or eighth-grade students and completed by the end of the eighth-grade year will not count in class ranking with the exceptions of Geometry, Biology, and the third or higher levels of a foreign language. (*See additional exceptions for Classes of 2011 and beyond.) Rank will be determined by grade point averages (G.P.A.) of the students. Estimated class rankings are to be determined at the end of the junior year and first semester of the senior year for the express purpose of college entrance requirements. Another ranking shall be performed at the end of the fifth six-weeks grading period to identify summa cum laude, magna cum laude, and cum laude graduates. No valedictorian or salutatorian will be officially recognized at graduation.

 

Honor Graduate Designation

At graduation ceremonies, graduates will be recognized in the following categories: summa cum laude (6.5 G.P.A.), magna cum laude (6.25 G.P.A.), and cum laude (6.0 G.P.A.). A final calculation of G.P.A. and class rank is determined at the end of the senior year and will be reflected on the final transcript which is sent to colleges.

 

Grading Scale

Grade points are allocated for a course of study based on the designation of the course as follows:

GRADE

LEVEL OR COURSE

 

K, AP, and HORIZONS Levels

L-Level (on level)

Below Level
Adaptive Behavior,Co-teach,
ESOL, and Resource

Life Skills

A (90-100)

7 grade points

6 grade points

5 grade points

4 grade points

B (80-89)

6 grade points

5 grade points

4 grade points

3 grade points

C (75-79)

5 grade points

4 grade points

3 grade points

2 grade points

D (70-74)

4 grade points

3 grade points

2 grade points

1 grade points

F (below 70)

0 grade points

0 grade points

0 grade points

0 grade points

The semester grades are computed by allocating a weight of 2/7 for each six weeks' grade and 1/7 for a semester exam. A student will receive credit for each semester passed. If the course is a two-semester sequence and the student passes the second semester after having failed the first, he/she may receive the credit for both semesters if the yearly average is passing (70+).

*Beginning with the Class of 2011, four mathematics and four science courses will be included in a student's GPA calculation.  If a student takes Algebra I and/or IP&C in 8th grade and takes four math and/or four science courses in grades 9-12, the four math and/or science courses taken in high school will be included in the student's GPA.  But, if a student takes Algebra I and/or IP&C in 8th grade and only takes three math and/or three science courses in grades 9-12, the Algebra I and/or IP&C course will be included in the student's GPA calculation.  Algebra I and IP&C taken at any time will carry L-level grade points.

 

Graduation Requirements for the Classes 2009 and 2010

Students who entered the ninth grade in the fall 2004 through fall 2006 must enroll in courses necessary to complete the Recommended High School Program or the Distinguished Achievement Program unless the student, parent, and a school counselor agree that the student should be permitted to take courses under the Minimum High School Program.   Students should study the table below which outlines requirements for the Recommended High School Program and the Minimum High School Program. Then, using the list of course descriptions that follow, students should select and register for courses.  Note that students graduating under the Recommended High School Program will need to schedule additional courses not required for the Minimum High School Program.  These courses include Algebra II, Chemistry, World Geography, foreign language (two credits), fine arts (one credit), and three state-approved electives. Counselors at each high school will furnish all other information necessary for students to complete registration.

 

Courses

Recommended
High School
Program

Minimum
High School
Program

English

4

4

Advanced Academic Strategies
or

Skills for Academic Success

½

or

1

½

or

1

Mathematics

 

3
Algebra I,
Geometry,
Algebra II

3
must include Algebra I, Geometry

Science

3
Integrated Physics and Chemistry,
Biology,
Chemistry

2
Integrated Physics and Chemistry,
Biology

U.S. History

1

1

World History

1

1

World Geography

1

 

Government

½

½

Economics

½

½

Health
            or
Health Science
Technology

½
or
1

½
or
1

Physical Education

Languages other than English (Foreign Language)

2

 

Speech

½

½

Fine Arts

1

 

Technology Applications
(Computer course)

1

1

Academic Elective:
World Geography or Science Elective

 

1

Electives

3

3 to 5

Total State Credits Required

24

22

Distinguished Achievement Program

Students desiring to earn the Distinguished Achievement Program transcript must complete the requirements for the Recommended High School Program plus one additional credit in languages other than English (foreign language) and any combination of four advanced measures selected from the following options:

  • A score of three or above on The College Board Advanced Placement Examination.
  • A grade of 3.0 or higher on courses that count for college credit, including tech-prep programs and dual credit courses.
  • Original research/project conducted under the direction of mentor(s) reported to an appropriate audience and judged by a panel of professionals in the field that is the focus of the project.  Original research may not be used for more than two measures.
  • A score on the PSAT that qualifies a student for recognition in one of these ways:  (1) Commended Scholar or higher by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, (2) National Achievement Scholarship Program for Outstanding Black Students, or (3) National Hispanic Scholar Program.  Note:  The PSAT score may only count as one advanced measure, regardless of the number of honors received by the student.

 

Graduation Requirements for the Classes of 2011 and Beyond

Students who enter the ninth grade in the fall 2007 and thereafter must enroll in courses necessary to complete the Recommended High School Program or the Distinguished Achievement Program unless the student, parent, and a school counselor agree that the student should be permitted to take courses under the Minimum High School Program. Students should study the table below which outlines requirements for the Recommended High School Program and the Minimum High School Program. Then, using the list of course descriptions that follow, students should select and register for courses.  Note that students graduating under the Recommended High School Program will need to schedule additional courses not required for the Minimum High School Program. These courses include Algebra II, Chemistry, World Geography, foreign language (two credits), fine arts (one credit), and three state-approved electives. Additionally, beginning with the Class of 2011, students must earn 26 total credits including four math and four science credits. Counselors at each high school will furnish all other information necessary for students to complete registration.

 

Courses

Recommended
High School
Program

Minimum
High School
Program

English

4

4

Advanced Academic Strategies
or

Skills for Academic Success

½

or

1

½

or

1

Mathematics

 

4
Algebra I,
Geometry,
Algebra II, and an additional math course

3
must include Algebra I, Geometry

Science

4
Integrated Physics and Chemistry,
Biology,
Chemistry, and Physics or an additional science course

2
Integrated Physics and Chemistry,
Biology

U.S. History

1

1

World History

1

1

World Geography

1

 

Government

½

½

Economics

½

½

Health
            or
Health Science
Technology

½
or
1

½
or
1

Physical Education

Languages other than English (Foreign Language)

2

 

Speech

½

½

Fine Arts

1

 

Technology Applications
(Computer course)

1

1

Academic Elective:
World Geography or Science Elective

 

1

Electives

3

3 to 5

Total State Credits Required

26

22

Distinguished Achievement Program

Students desiring to earn the Distinguished Achievement Program transcript must complete the requirements for the Recommended High School Program plus one additional credit in languages other than English (foreign language) and any combination of four advanced measures selected from the following options:

  • A score of three or above on The College Board Advanced Placement Examination.
  • A grade of 3.0 or higher on courses that count for college credit, including tech-prep programs and dual credit courses.
  • Original research/project conducted under the direction of mentor(s) reported to an appropriate audience and judged by a panel of professionals in the field that is the focus of the project.  Original research may not be used for more than two measures.
  • A score on the PSAT that qualifies a student for recognition in one of these ways:  (1) Commended Scholar or higher by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, (2) National Achievement Scholarship Program for Outstanding Black Students, or (3) National Hispanic Scholar Program.  Note:  The PSAT score may only count as one advanced measure, regardless of the number of honors received by the student.

Note:  Math Models with Applications and AP Computer Science may not serve as math credits on the Distinguished Achievement Program (DAP). Additionally, Integrated Physics and Chemistry may not serve as a science credit on the DAP.