Home to some of the largest and most highly rated public school districts in Texas and the U.S., Northwest Houston offers its residents an impressive array of high quality educational opportunities.
In Northwest Houston, your child will get a great education at one of the many quality private and public schools which you’ll discover in this section. There are also a variety of adult educational opportunities in the area’s universities and colleges.
Five independent school districts offer public education in the area: Cy-Fair, Houston, Klein, Spring and Tomball. Each district works to provide learning, and extra-curricular options for all students while meeting the Texas Education Agency’s standards assessments and many have received numerous rewards for their efforts.
STUDENT ASSESSMENT: STAAR
The State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness Program measures a child’s academic growth, and college and
career readiness. Reading and mathematics are tested each year in grades three to eight; writing in grades four and seven; science in grades five and eight; social studies in grade eight and end-of-course (EOC) assessments are required for English 1, English 11, algebra 1, biology and U.S. history, which count for 15% of the final grade in that course. www.tea.texas.gov.
SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENTS
Students enrolling in Texas Public Schools can be tested for dyslexia and related disorders. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act prohibits discrimination and assures that students who are disabled by a physical or mental impairment have educational opportunities equal to those provided to non-disabled students.
CHARTER SCHOOLS
Charter schools operate under fewer rules, which allows for innovation, flexibility and more personalized learning. They offer tuition-free open enrollment and may specialize in a specific area; some offer students in higher grades the chance to take high school and college courses simultaneously.
Charter schools must be fiscally and academically as accountable as public schools, adhere to the Texas Education Agency curriculum standards and give their students STAAR tests. The State of Texas provides funds based on the average daily attendance of the students, just as it does for public schools; however, charter schools do not receive funds from local tax revenue and most do not receive state facilities funding. Visit Texas Charter Schools Association at www.txcharterschools.org.
