Home to some of the largest and most highly rated public school districts in Texas and the U.S., West Houston offers its residents an impressive array of high quality educational opportunities.
“What are the schools like?” This is one of the first questions a new Houstonian with a family will ask. And in West Houston, the answer is: “Pretty, darn good!” Top-notch education has long been a major ingredient in West Houston’s winning recipe for quality of life, and one of the key reasons the area’s population continues to increase. West Houston is home to some of the largest and most respected public school districts in Texas and the U.S., and offers its residents an impressive array of high-quality educational opportunities.
But learning isn’t just for kids; there are excellent facilities for adult training and continuing education in the area or right nearby.
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.
