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Source: http://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/tag/emerge/feed

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<title>HISD EMERGE students spend summer visiting nation’s top colleges</title>
<link>https://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/2023/06/30/hisd-emerge-students-spend-summer-visiting-nations-top-colleges/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[HISD Communications]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Fri, 30 Jun 2023 15:42:29 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[College Readiness]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[EMERGE]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[HISD]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Houston ISD]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Lamar HS]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Team HISD]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/?p=44706</guid>
<description><![CDATA[College campus visits are an essential part of choosing the right school for higher learning. For HISD students in the EMERGE program, that means a summer vacation full of stops to some of the best universities across the nation for free. EMERGE helps assist economically disadvantaged families by removing barriers and creating systems to ensure […]
The post <a href="https://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/2023/06/30/hisd-emerge-students-spend-summer-visiting-nations-top-colleges/">HISD EMERGE students spend summer visiting nation’s top colleges</a> appeared first on <a href="https://blogs.houstonisd.org/news">News Blog</a>.
]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
College campus visits are an essential part of choosing the right school for higher learning. For HISD students in the EMERGE program, that means a summer vacation full of stops to some of the best universities across the nation for free.
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EMERGE helps assist economically disadvantaged families by removing barriers and creating systems to ensure students have the necessary information, tools, and support to apply to top colleges. This summer, HISD sophomores and juniors in the program got to travel to Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Ohio, New York, and California for the opportunity to tour several prestigious campuses as part of the EMERGE College Trip Experience.
“I feel empowered and very grateful to have an experience and opportunity like this to visit colleges outside of Texas,” said Lamar High School junior Amya Washington. “Before our trip, I wasn’t sure where I wanted to go for college but now, I want to attend the University of Pennsylvania.”
According to EMERGE, the week-long trips are designed to increase students’ exposure to out-of-state schools, increase student investment into the selective application process, and build community and connection.
“The students have the opportunity to live on site, learn on site, eat on site, and simply immerse themselves into the college experience,” said Director of Access Initiatives Ashley Long.
About 90% of the program’s students are the first in their family to graduate from a four-year college or university.
“We understand that many of our families have different economic statuses in terms of challenges,” said Long. “We wanted to remove that barrier, so the program is free of charge for our students. We pay for housing, transportation, and all their meals.”
According to the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation, only 25% of high-achieving students from low-income communities in the U.S. apply to the nation’s most selective colleges and universities. EMERGE’s goal is for every graduating senior in their program to be one of the most competitive colleges applicants in the country.
The program also assists students with completing college applications, financial aid packages and scholarship applications.
“We know that it is critical for our students to have the proper guidance throughout the admission process and gain firsthand experience by seeing for themselves what we’re talking about when we talk about selective colleges.”
Since 2010, EMERGE has helped hundreds of students receive full-ride scholarships to attend ivy league schools such as Yale, Rice, Harvard, Stanford University, and more.  
To learn more about EMERGE, click <a href="https://www.emergefellowship.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>.
2023 EMERGE College Trip Experience Featured Schools
California: Scripps College, Pitzer College, Pomona College, Claremont McKenna College, Occidental College, University of California
Connecticut: Wesleyan University, Barnard College, Columbia University, Trinity College, Connecticut College
Pennsylvania: Haverford College, Lehigh University, University of Pennsylvania, Bryn Mawr College, Franklin & Marshall College
Massachusetts: Brandeis University, Harvard University, Wellesley College, Boston University, Tufts University
New York: Colgate University, Cornell University, University of Rochester, Union College, Skidmore College
Ohio: Kenyon College, Oberlin College, Denison University, Case Western Reserve University
The post <a href="https://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/2023/06/30/hisd-emerge-students-spend-summer-visiting-nations-top-colleges/">HISD EMERGE students spend summer visiting nation’s top colleges</a> appeared first on <a href="https://blogs.houstonisd.org/news">News Blog</a>.
]]></content:encoded>
</item>
<item>
<title>HISD students get a jump on college planning with unique summer program at Rice</title>
<link>https://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/2023/06/08/hisd-students-get-a-jump-on-college-planning-with-unique-summer-program-at-rice/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[HISD Communications]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 08 Jun 2023 20:46:08 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[College Readiness]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[EMERGE]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[High Schools]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[College Admissions]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Connectrix]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[high schools]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Jack Yates HS]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Rice University]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/?p=44631</guid>
<description><![CDATA[This summer, HISD sophomores and freshmen are giving college readiness a summer camp spin with Connectrix at Rice University, a program designed to establish comprehensive support for underrepresented early high school students that will prepare them to choose, apply to, and attend college after graduation. Connectrix functions similarly to Rice’s freshman orientation program, O-Week. Participants […]
The post <a href="https://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/2023/06/08/hisd-students-get-a-jump-on-college-planning-with-unique-summer-program-at-rice/">HISD students get a jump on college planning with unique summer program at Rice</a> appeared first on <a href="https://blogs.houstonisd.org/news">News Blog</a>.
]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
This summer, HISD sophomores and freshmen are giving college readiness a summer camp spin with Connectrix at Rice University, a program designed to establish comprehensive support for underrepresented early high school students that will prepare them to choose, apply to, and attend college after graduation.
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Connectrix functions similarly to Rice’s freshman orientation program, O-Week. Participants spend the week staying in dorms and acquainting themselves with college life in between seminars and activities focused on the application process, financial aid, resume building, and more. Students also participate in fun camp-like activities like making s’mores, scavenger hunts, a talent show, and an “Extravagant Evening” out in Houston’s theater district. 
The program acquaints students with Rice student advisors studying a variety of academic disciplines who use their first-hand knowledge to guide participants into comfortable familiarity with the college application process. Students learn about scholarships, crafting effective admissions essays, SAT and ACT prep, and how best to advocate for themselves on their way to the university of their dreams.
“Like it or not, there are other students who have access to these resources much earlier on,” said Connectrix Program Coordinator Jaquelyne Bardales. “There’s a gap within education resources, and that’s what organizations like Connectrix try to do, to close that gap. These students are more than capable, and they definitely want to go to college, they just don’t know how.”
In addition to invaluable information sessions, the students have the opportunity to bond with other participants and advisors with similar goals and backgrounds.
“A lot of [the students] have expressed that it’s the first time that they’ve felt represented,” said Program Coordinator Cole Holladay. “For a lot of them, in their schools, they’re in the minority, and seeing other students who look like them and think like them and seeing advisors that share similar backgrounds helps them realize, ‘Hey, I can do this, I can go to college.’”
Students apply to the Connectrix program by submitting a written application telling coordinators about themselves, their plans for the future, and why they want to take part in the program. This year, Connectrix admitted 135 students to their three summer cohorts, more than twice the largest number of attendees in previous years.
Yates High School rising sophomore Israel Bailey was skeptical about Connectrix when the program’s representatives came to talk at his school but was pleasantly surprised at how much he was able to get out of the experience. The future Business Management student, who wants to use his education to open a fast food restaurant chain, now has a working knowledge of the schools that offer financial aid best suit his goals.
Bradley Hamilton is a Rice alumnus and serves on the Connectrix Board of Directors. Hamilton lauds the benefits of programs like HISD’s <a href="https://www.houstonisd.org/EMERGE">Emerge</a> and has noticed that introducing students to college resources earlier in their high school careers sets them up for success.
“Some of our students do end up at Rice, but a lot of them end up at other colleges and universities that they never would have considered, otherwise,” Hamilton said. “We see a lot of our students taking on leadership opportunities in school and taking their interests more seriously throughout their high school journey.”
This programming is made possible by a partnership between HISD’s Postsecondary Programming team and Discover U. For additional information about programming and initiatives from the Office of College Career & Military Readiness, visit <a href="https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.houstonisd.org%2Fccmr&data=05%7C01%7CEj.Lucas%40houstonisd.org%7Cd75c38ab80da46101b3708db6d1ce16d%7Cf5eb996693364b3388959982425b13ed%7C0%7C0%7C638223743050117066%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=ovJFZXTHHwPXR%2FTh%2FAu1IwBNvR0Bd%2F1mpZ8duU8dnE4%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">their website</a>.
To learn more about Connectrix and apply for next year’s summer program, visit their <a href="https://www.connectrixprogram.org/">website</a>.
The post <a href="https://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/2023/06/08/hisd-students-get-a-jump-on-college-planning-with-unique-summer-program-at-rice/">HISD students get a jump on college planning with unique summer program at Rice</a> appeared first on <a href="https://blogs.houstonisd.org/news">News Blog</a>.
]]></content:encoded>
</item>
<item>
<title>Watch as Chavez HS student learns she’s Stanford-bound</title>
<link>https://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/2023/04/19/watch-as-chavez-hs-student-learns-shes-stanford-bound/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[HISD Communications]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Wed, 19 Apr 2023 14:49:33 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[EMERGE]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Chavez HS]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[HISD]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Houston ISD]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[news]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/?p=44359</guid>
<description><![CDATA[As the HISD Class of 2023 approaches graduation, college acceptance letters are rolling in. In early April, Chavez High School senior Tuong Phung learned she’d be going to her dream school—Stanford University. The heartwarming moment was captured on video. “When I saw the confetti from the Stanford decision letter, I was shocked and amazed that […]
The post <a href="https://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/2023/04/19/watch-as-chavez-hs-student-learns-shes-stanford-bound/">Watch as Chavez HS student learns she’s Stanford-bound</a> appeared first on <a href="https://blogs.houstonisd.org/news">News Blog</a>.
]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
As the HISD Class of 2023 approaches graduation, college acceptance letters are rolling in. In early April, Chavez High School senior Tuong Phung learned she’d be going to her dream school—Stanford University.
The heartwarming moment was captured on <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/posts/emerge-fellowship_collegeacceptance-firstgeneration-activity-7052264174101409792-N0TE?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_ios" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">video</a>.

“When I saw the confetti from the Stanford decision letter, I was shocked and amazed that I got accepted to a school that seems out of reach to me,” said Phung. “I felt grateful because I would have the opportunity to attain higher education that my mother didn’t have.”
With big goals of attending a top university, Phung followed in her big sister’s footsteps and joined EMERGE, a program that empowers and prepares high-performing students to attend the nation’s most prestigious colleges.
“Through EMERGE mentorship, I was able to match with a mentor, Jessica Bressler, who helped me with answering questions I had about colleges and careers,” said Phung. “She offered me valuable advice and insight, not just about careers, but also about family and life lessons.”
In June, Phung will graduate as salutatorian alongside her Chavez High School classmates. Then, it’s off to Stanford where she’ll study chemistry in hopes of becoming a cosmetics chemist to “create efficient, biodegradable products that can enhance the physical appearance of the consumers,” said Phung.
<a href="https://www.houstonisd.org/EMERGE" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EMERGE</a> students have been accepted to more than 250 colleges and universities throughout the nation, many with full scholarships. Nearly 95 percent of EMERGE’s 500+ seniors have been accepted to at least one college or university so far, with more acceptances coming in every day.
For HISD sophomores interested in becoming an EMERGE fellow, <a href="https://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/2023/03/24/emerge-applications-open-for-hisd-sophomores/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">applications for next school year</a> are open until May 15, 2023.
The post <a href="https://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/2023/04/19/watch-as-chavez-hs-student-learns-shes-stanford-bound/">Watch as Chavez HS student learns she’s Stanford-bound</a> appeared first on <a href="https://blogs.houstonisd.org/news">News Blog</a>.
]]></content:encoded>
</item>
<item>
<title>EMERGE applications open for HISD sophomores</title>
<link>https://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/2023/03/24/emerge-applications-open-for-hisd-sophomores/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[HISD Communications]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Fri, 24 Mar 2023 15:50:34 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[EMERGE]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[high schools]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[HISD]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Houston ISD]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/?p=44231</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Tenth graders in Houston Independent School District are encouraged to apply for EMERGE, a program that empowers and prepares high-performing students from underserved communities to attend and graduate from top colleges and universities across the nation that offer substantial financial-aid packages. HISD sophomores who want to explore in-state and out-of-state college options and would like […]
The post <a href="https://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/2023/03/24/emerge-applications-open-for-hisd-sophomores/">EMERGE applications open for HISD sophomores</a> appeared first on <a href="https://blogs.houstonisd.org/news">News Blog</a>.
]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
Tenth graders in Houston Independent School District are encouraged to apply for EMERGE, a program that empowers and prepares high-performing students from underserved communities to attend and graduate from top colleges and universities across the nation that offer substantial financial-aid packages.
HISD sophomores who want to explore in-state and out-of-state college options and would like to work with a mentor to create a competitive college application can apply to be an EMERGE fellow now through May 15, 2023. The application can be found <a href="http://bit.ly/emergeapp25">here</a>.

Recruitment sessions will be offered in April. Please check the <a href="https://www.houstonisd.org/Page/173525" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EMERGE webpage</a> for the schedule.
EMERGE is a nationally recognized program started in HISD that helps economically disadvantaged students who are often times first-generation students and the first in their family to graduate from a four-year college or university. Candidates must have a strong academic profile that includes getting good grades in rigorous courses.
The program has helped hundreds of students receive full scholarships to top colleges such as Yale, Rice, Harvard, and Stanford. More than 95 percent of EMERGE students have either graduated from college within four years or are on track to do so.
If you have any questions about the application, please contact Student Recruiter at Bethany. <a href="mailto:Okezie@HoustonISD.org" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Okezie@HoustonISD.org</a>. For more information on EMERGE, visit: <a href="http://www.houstonisd.org/EMERGE" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">www.HoustonISD.org/EMERGE</a>.
<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img decoding="async" width="652" height="843" src="https://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/03/EMERGE-Flyer.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-44232" srcset="https://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/03/EMERGE-Flyer.jpg 652w, https://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/03/EMERGE-Flyer-232x300.jpg 232w, https://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/03/EMERGE-Flyer-624x807.jpg 624w" sizes="(max-width: 652px) 100vw, 652px" /></figure></div>
The post <a href="https://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/2023/03/24/emerge-applications-open-for-hisd-sophomores/">EMERGE applications open for HISD sophomores</a> appeared first on <a href="https://blogs.houstonisd.org/news">News Blog</a>.
]]></content:encoded>
</item>
<item>
<title>Superintendent House’s State of the Schools address focuses on the road ahead</title>
<link>https://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/2022/03/11/superintendent-houses-state-of-the-schools-address-focuses-on-the-road-ahead/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[HISD Communications]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Fri, 11 Mar 2022 20:37:18 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[EMERGE]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[G-Unity Business Lab]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[HISD]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[HISD Foundation]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[HISD superintendent]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Houston ISD]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[State of the schools]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[strategic plan]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/?p=42520</guid>
<description><![CDATA[During his first State of the Schools at the helm of Houston ISD, Superintendent Millard House II delivered a keynote address focused on his five-year strategic plan and the road ahead for the largest school district in Texas. Public education supporters from the business, academic, advocacy, and faith communities attended the annual HISD Foundation’s fundraising luncheon on […]
The post <a href="https://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/2022/03/11/superintendent-houses-state-of-the-schools-address-focuses-on-the-road-ahead/">Superintendent House’s State of the Schools address focuses on the road ahead</a> appeared first on <a href="https://blogs.houstonisd.org/news">News Blog</a>.
]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
During his first State of the Schools at the helm of Houston ISD, Superintendent Millard House II delivered a keynote address focused on his <a href="https://www.houstonisd.org/StrategicPlan" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">five-year strategic plan</a> and the road ahead for the largest school district in Texas.
Public education supporters from the business, academic, advocacy, and faith communities attended the annual HISD Foundation’s fundraising luncheon on Friday.
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“I see our promise – our potential, but it’s very clear to me that we must choose where we want to go as a district,” said House. “We cannot improve if we do not acknowledge the need for improvement. To see the true state of our schools we must face some hard truths, and we must make some important choices.”
House acknowledged the difficulties HISD has faced in recent years, including decrease in student enrollment, schools persistently underperforming, teacher recruitment and retainment, inequities across campuses, and proper budgeting.
House outlined how the six fundamental priorities in his strategic plan will set HISD on a road to improve student success and rebuild a district that meets the needs of all students, in every school, every day.
“As we listened to our parents, families, students, teachers, and campus leaders we began to shape the path forward for our schools and our district,” said House. “Our plan, created not just for our community but by our community, is built on a set of core values and aspirations that put students first, restore trust, and demand more excellent and innovative educational opportunities for all.”
The six commitments are:
<ol type="1"><li>Building trust and reliability of our families and community</li><li>Providing equitable opportunities and resources at every school</li><li>Ensuring great schools and programs in every community</li><li>Cultivating world-class talent at all levels</li><li>Promoting high-quality teaching and learning</li><li>Delivering effective services and supports to students with exceptional needs</li></ol>
“I believe our five-year plan builds a framework for investing in world-class talent, getting every student at or above grade level, ensuring all families have access to foundational experiences, and will make HISD a destination for students and families,” said House. “The hard work and the important choices to transform this district begin now. It will not be easy, and we cannot do it alone. We need you to stand with us, work with us, and most importantly, hold us accountable.”
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During the address, House also highlighted the <a href="https://www.houstonisd.org/EMERGE" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EMERGE program</a> that helps students with scarce resources receive full scholarships to universities and colleges. In 2021, all EMERGE students were accepted into four-year institutions and collectively received more than $117 million in financial aid offers.
Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson was also in attendance, and House thanked him for choosing HISD as the pilot district for his <a href="https://www.houstonisd.org/domain/53673" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">G-Unity Business Lab</a> that provides students at Worthing, Wheatley, and Kashmere high schools business training and prepare them on the road ahead to success.
The post <a href="https://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/2022/03/11/superintendent-houses-state-of-the-schools-address-focuses-on-the-road-ahead/">Superintendent House’s State of the Schools address focuses on the road ahead</a> appeared first on <a href="https://blogs.houstonisd.org/news">News Blog</a>.
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<item>
<title>Graduating EMERGE seniors to be honored at annual celebration </title>
<link>https://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/2017/04/25/graduating-emerge-seniors-to-be-honored-at-annual-celebration/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[HISD Communications]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Tue, 25 Apr 2017 20:35:24 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Achievement/Recognition]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[College Readiness]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[EMERGE]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Special events]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/?p=28835</guid>
<description><![CDATA[There are 252 EMERGE seniors graduating in May and heading off to colleges and universities around the country, and they’re on track to receive more than $36 million in scholarships and grants. This year, students have been accepted to schools such as Harvard University, Brown University, University of Pennsylvania, Bryn Mawr College, Scripps College, Amherst […]
The post <a href="https://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/2017/04/25/graduating-emerge-seniors-to-be-honored-at-annual-celebration/">Graduating EMERGE seniors to be honored at annual celebration </a> appeared first on <a href="https://blogs.houstonisd.org/news">News Blog</a>.
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<content:encoded><![CDATA[<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignright wp-image-28836" src="https://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2017/04/EMERGE-Senior-Celebrations-676x338.png" alt="" width="400" height="200" srcset="https://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2017/04/EMERGE-Senior-Celebrations-676x338.png 676w, https://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2017/04/EMERGE-Senior-Celebrations-300x150.png 300w, https://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2017/04/EMERGE-Senior-Celebrations-768x384.png 768w, https://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2017/04/EMERGE-Senior-Celebrations-624x312.png 624w, https://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2017/04/EMERGE-Senior-Celebrations.png 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px" />There are 252 EMERGE seniors graduating in May and heading off to colleges and universities around the country, and they’re on track to receive more than $36 million in scholarships and grants.
This year, students have been accepted to schools such as Harvard University, Brown University, University of Pennsylvania, Bryn Mawr College, Scripps College, Amherst College, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Vanderbilt University, St. John’s University-New York, and Johns Hopkins University. 
EMERGE seniors will receive a big send-off beginning with a reception at 5:30 p.m. at Rice University’s Tudor Fieldhouse on Thursday, April 27, when some 900 students, parents, and special guests gather for a celebration that will include statements from graduating seniors and special speakers. The program begins at 6:30 p.m.
“EMERGE really helped me understand the college application process—I was exposed to many opportunities such as college visits and summer programs in addition to test preparation and essay writing workshops,” said Eastwood Academy senior and EMERGE Scholar Josue Sanchez. “I’ll be attending Amherst College in the fall, without needing to take out any loans, and studying political science.”
Keynote speaker Dr. Alexander Byrd, associate professor of history at Rice, will address the seniors. Dr. Byrd is a Houston native who grew up in the Sharpstown area and attended Yates High School. He graduated from Rice University and has a PhD in history from Duke University.
HISD Superintendent Richard Carranza will address the graduating seniors as well. Students, parents, and other attendees will also have a chance to pass the microphone and talk about personal experiences regarding the EMERGE program.
EMERGE program managers will award EMERGE graduation stoles to each senior, who will then be congratulated by EMERGE Fellowship executive director Trisha Cornwell.
“We are so proud to see so many EMERGE students accepted to the nations’ most selective colleges and university again this year,” Cornwell said. “Opportunity changes opportunities” is the motto that drives her work.
The EMERGE Fellowship is a Houston-based nonprofit organization that partners with school districts such as HISD to empower and prepare high performing students from underserved communities to attend and graduate from selective colleges and universities across the nation. This past year, EMERGE-HISD has worked with more than 786 students across 44 HISD high schools, changing lives and futures for both students and their families.
To learn more about EMERGE, visit <a href="http://www.houstonisd.org/EMERGE">www.HoustonISD.org/EMERGE</a>.
The post <a href="https://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/2017/04/25/graduating-emerge-seniors-to-be-honored-at-annual-celebration/">Graduating EMERGE seniors to be honored at annual celebration </a> appeared first on <a href="https://blogs.houstonisd.org/news">News Blog</a>.
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<title>College Readiness wraps up 2015–2016 with resounding success</title>
<link>https://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/2016/07/14/college-readiness-wraps-up-2015-2016-with-resounding-success/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[HISD Communications]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 14 Jul 2016 21:23:51 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Achievement/Recognition]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[College Readiness]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Counseling & Guidance]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Global Education]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[CITGO]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[College Success Advisors]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[EMERGE]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Grandcolas Foundation]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Teach Forward Houston]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[University of Houston]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/?p=26301</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The HISD College Readiness Dept. works closely with HISD high schools to create and maintain a college-bound culture. The district saw a major increase in college applications and FAFSA completions this past school year, with a 23-percentage-point increase in college applications over last year and a 10-percentage-point increase in financial-aid applications. [photoshelter-gallery g_id=”G0000TAfxl1Pr42c” g_name=”20160713-College-Readiness-story” width=”600″ […]
The post <a href="https://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/2016/07/14/college-readiness-wraps-up-2015-2016-with-resounding-success/">College Readiness wraps up 2015–2016 with resounding success</a> appeared first on <a href="https://blogs.houstonisd.org/news">News Blog</a>.
]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[The HISD <a href="http://www.houstonisd.org/Domain/27541">College Readiness Dept.</a> works closely with HISD high schools to create and maintain a college-bound culture. The district saw a major increase in college applications and FAFSA completions this past school year, with a 23-percentage-point increase in college applications over last year and a 10-percentage-point increase in financial-aid applications.
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Twenty-eight new College Success Advisers (CSAs) and 15 new College Success Managers (CSM) were definitely a factor in the increases. Last summer, thanks to a Houston Endowment grant of $3 million, the college advisers and managers were hired and trained to assist district seniors with applying for college and scholarships.

And their work did not end with graduation. The CSAs and CSMs continue to make sure students make it to their first day of college. CSAs implemented summer-bridge programs in partnership with Linked Learning teams at 20 campuses across the district. During these multi-week, boot-camp-style workshops, students prepared for success in college through activities such as college visits to complete enrollment tasks, hearing from speakers about life in college, and engaging in group discussions about being the first in their family to attend college.
“This year’s successes have been phenomenal and entirely dependent upon the quality of the people working with the students,” said College Success Manager Jeremy Tatum. “The CSAs and CSMs are largely responsible, thanks to their deliberate outreach and support. They continue to pour themselves into their work, even during the summer months when many folks in this field are on vacation. Their dedication, passion, and skills continue to amaze me!”
The CSAs are reaching out to students by phone and text to ensure they complete lingering financial aid and enrollment tasks. They are also holding office hours during which students and their parents can get any support they may need.
A new partnership with the <a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwikl7Psx-7NAhXD6yYKHSFbAX8QFggcMAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.uh.edu%2Fuep%2F&usg=AFQjCNEkW30EJ0MtCyr5GhUfRbhWLWv9sA&sig2=wtoLJxveFCN4A3bdXu-73w&bvm=bv.126130881,d.cWw">Urban Experience Program</a> at the University of Houston also served 25 exiting seniors, who attended a four-day, overnight, summer-bridge program on the UH campus. During this program, students formed relationships with peer mentors, attended classes, and met professors, as well as connected with student-support offices to ensure they are equipped to navigate the UH system.
Mounting scholarship offers are also playing a role in helping seniors get to college in the fall. The total is more than $314 million so far this year, up $49 million over last year. Several new sponsors have come forward to help. <a href="http://www.scholarshipsonline.org/2012/07/citgo-petroleum-corporation-scholarship.html#.V4U3L_krL0M">CITGO Petroleum Corp.</a> awarded $1,000 each to 20 HISD seniors pursuing degrees in STEM, selected from more than 300 applicants. Another new sponsor is the <a href="http://lcgfoundation.org/">Laura Catuzzi Grandcolas Foundation</a>, which established a 9/11 memorial scholarship in honor of Grandcolas who perished 15 years ago on United Flight 93. Rising juniors from 15 HISD schools submitted essays on the country’s response to 9/11 and how it has impacted the lives of citizens. Three winners will be announced at a ceremony on Sept. 11, with the first-prize winner receiving $1,500, the second $1,000, and the third $500.
The <a href="http://www.houstonisd.org/Domain/29801">EMERGE</a> college-prep program has had its most successful year ever as well. The program, which prepares talented HISD students from underserved communities to successfully attend the nation’s top colleges at no cost to them, is sending 164 scholars to Ivy League and other tier-one colleges and universities, up 65 students from 2015. EMERGE scholars benefitted from extensive programming, individualized support, and tailored resources throughout grades 10-12. Once students go away to college, EMERGE program managers continue to work closely with them and their families to ensure their success. Since EMERGE began in 2011, more than 600 students have pursued higher education.
In other college news, HISD and University of Houston joined forces to offer a new teacher-preparation program that aims to bring HISD’s brightest students back into the classroom upon college graduation. Through the <a href="http://www.houstonisd.org/teachforwardhouston">Teach Forward Houston</a> program, the first cohort of more than 60 seniors from 31 HISD high schools will pursue a degree in education, thanks to their tuition being paid to the University of Houston in exchange for a commitment to teach for four years in HISD after graduation. It ensures that in the future, many HISD elementary- and middle-school classrooms will be staffed with talented, highly effective teachers who know the district and are driven to make a positive impact on its students.
The post <a href="https://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/2016/07/14/college-readiness-wraps-up-2015-2016-with-resounding-success/">College Readiness wraps up 2015–2016 with resounding success</a> appeared first on <a href="https://blogs.houstonisd.org/news">News Blog</a>.
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<title>HISD, mayor to recognize 100-plus seniors headed to nation’s top tier colleges, universities</title>
<link>https://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/2016/04/27/hisd-mayor-to-recognize-100-plus-seniors-headed-to-nations-top-tier-colleges-universities/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[HISD Communications]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Wed, 27 Apr 2016 15:49:28 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Achievement/Recognition]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[College Readiness]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[High Schools]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[EMERGE]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/?p=25300</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The Houston Independent School District along with Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner will recognize 164 graduating scholars headed to the nation’s top-tier colleges and universities during the third annual EMERGE Senior Celebration on Thursday. Through EMERGE, scholars from 28 high schools have earned the distinction this year of being accepted to colleges and universities including Yale, […]
The post <a href="https://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/2016/04/27/hisd-mayor-to-recognize-100-plus-seniors-headed-to-nations-top-tier-colleges-universities/">HISD, mayor to recognize 100-plus seniors headed to nation’s top tier colleges, universities</a> appeared first on <a href="https://blogs.houstonisd.org/news">News Blog</a>.
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<content:encoded><![CDATA[The Houston Independent School District along with Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner will recognize 164 graduating scholars headed to the nation’s top-tier colleges and universities during the third annual EMERGE Senior Celebration on Thursday.
Through EMERGE, scholars from 28 high schools have earned the distinction this year of being accepted to colleges and universities including Yale, Harvard, Rice, Brown, Stanford, Smith, Dartmouth, Duke, Wake Forest, Northeastern, Pomona, and Boston University.
The EMERGE program aims to help low-income, high-potential students gain admission to and graduate from Ivy League and other top tier colleges and universities across the nation. The EMERGE scholars will be recognized for their dedication and hard work during a banquet scheduled for Thursday, April 28 at 6:30 p.m. at Rice University in the Tudor Fieldhouse. Mayor Turner is scheduled to speak at the program along with HISD Interim Superintendent Ken Huewitt.
“These young people represent a very promising future not only for their families, as they blaze a path for their siblings and children to follow, but also for our nation,” said HISD Board of Education President Manuel Rodriguez Jr. “They represent what this country is all about: that even from the most humble beginnings, greatness can be achieved through perseverance and resolution. All it takes is the right opportunity, and EMERGE is just that.”
Among the students being honored at the event is Lesbia Espinal Rodriguez, valedictorian of Madison High School. A native of Honduras, Rodriguez learned English in HISD and attended Anderson Elementary School and Johnston Middle School. Rodriguez will be the first in her family to attend college. She plans to attend Brandeis University, a private liberal arts college where she received a scholarship that will cover full tuition and fees.
This school year, EMERGE expanded to all high schools in HISD, beginning with the sophomore class. The expansion was funded by a $5.5 million grant from the Houston Endowment. Students in the program participate in college admissions workshops, SAT boot camps and college tours designed to familiarize them with campus life. The previous graduating class of EMERGE received an average of $50,000 in financial aid and scholarship offers per year to attend top tier universities.
“Our students can go to their dream college, especially our first-generation college students,” Huewitt said. “As we motivate our students to set higher expectations for themselves, they see that education is the key to their future success. I’m proud of where these students are today and where they are headed.”
The post <a href="https://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/2016/04/27/hisd-mayor-to-recognize-100-plus-seniors-headed-to-nations-top-tier-colleges-universities/">HISD, mayor to recognize 100-plus seniors headed to nation’s top tier colleges, universities</a> appeared first on <a href="https://blogs.houstonisd.org/news">News Blog</a>.
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<title>Class of 2015 beats previous year’s scholarship offers by $10 million</title>
<link>https://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/2015/07/14/class-of-2015-beats-previous-years-scholarship-offers-by-10-million/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[HISD Communications]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Tue, 14 Jul 2015 15:34:22 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[College Readiness]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[EMERGE]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[High Schools]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[financial aid]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[HAIS]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[scholarship]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Washington HS]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/?p=20830</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The numbers are in, and HISD’s Class of 2015 has received almost $265 million in scholarship and financial aid offers. At $10 million more than the Class of 2014, Director of College Readiness David Johnston called the figure “a testament to the district’s college readiness efforts.” A handful of campuses have also seen significant increases […]
The post <a href="https://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/2015/07/14/class-of-2015-beats-previous-years-scholarship-offers-by-10-million/">Class of 2015 beats previous year’s scholarship offers by $10 million</a> appeared first on <a href="https://blogs.houstonisd.org/news">News Blog</a>.
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<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div id="attachment_20831" style="width: 256px" class="wp-caption alignright"><a href="https://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2015/07/HAIS_BigBucksDuo_400.png"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-20831" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class=" wp-image-20831" src="https://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2015/07/HAIS_BigBucksDuo_400-248x300.png" alt="Several HISD schools saw significant increases in the amount of scholarship and financial aid offers their seniors received this year. Recent HAIS graduates Karina Barbosa (left) and Rynique Lucas received more than $1.7M between them." width="246" height="298" /></a>Several HISD schools saw significant increases in the amount of scholarship and financial aid offers their seniors received this year. Recent HAIS graduates Karina Barbosa (left) and Rynique Lucas received more than $1.7M in scholarship and financial aid offers between them.</div>
The numbers are in, and HISD’s Class of 2015 has received almost <a href="http://www.splusdata.com/year2year.cfm">$265 million in scholarship and financial aid offers</a>.
At $10 million more than the Class of 2014, Director of College Readiness David Johnston called the figure “a testament to the district’s college readiness efforts.” A handful of campuses have also seen significant increases in the amount of money their seniors have been offered from last year to this one.
College Success Manager Pamela Joyce Williams attributes Washington High School’s jump from about $2,360,000 in 2014 to more than $7,223,000 in 2015 to a year-long outreach campaign, in which she sent students and their parents regular progress reports and email reminders about deadlines through Naviance.
“Seniors turned in their applications when I began showcasing how much money they could receive for college,” said Williams. “Forming relationships with the students and parents was key, because they knew I had their best interests at heart.”
Whitney Casey Griffin, the college access coordinator at the Houston Academy for International Studies, said that her own hiring last fall likely contributed to the school’s jump from about $1,453,000 in 2014 to more than $5,104,000 in 2015.
“Last year, it was all on the counselor, and she was having to manage testing, counseling, and scheduling, too,” said Griffin. “Then they hired me, and I started thinking about what I would have wanted when I was a senior. So I began offering workshops on applications, recommendations, and essay writing.”
Clearly, Griffin’s techniques are effective, as two students alone (Karina Barbosa and Rynique Lucas) netted more than $1.7 million in offers between them.
“Rynique is a real go-getter and an EMERGE scholar, and she graduated with her associate’s degree in the top 10 percent of her class while taking AP courses and working at Kroger almost every night,” said Griffin. “She got a full ride to study genetics at the University of Rochester. Karina applied for every scholarship she could — even one given out by the Greater Houston Black Chamber of Commerce. She’s Hispanic, but she was the only HAIS student who applied for it, and she was one of only five seniors in Houston who got it.”
The post <a href="https://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/2015/07/14/class-of-2015-beats-previous-years-scholarship-offers-by-10-million/">Class of 2015 beats previous year’s scholarship offers by $10 million</a> appeared first on <a href="https://blogs.houstonisd.org/news">News Blog</a>.
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<title>Upcoming EMERGE college tours include Brandeis, Claremont colleges</title>
<link>https://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/2015/05/21/upcoming-emerge-college-tours-includes-brandeis-claremont-colleges/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[HISD Communications]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 21 May 2015 21:27:11 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[EMERGE]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Brandeis College]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[campus tour]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Claremont College]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/?p=20040</guid>
<description><![CDATA[In the next few months, some of HISD’s brightest young scholars will be visiting the nation’s top colleges and universities as part of the EMERGE program’s summer college tours. The EMERGE program was designed to help low-income, first-generation minority students get into top-notch colleges. Last year, EMERGE helped launch 99 scholars from 24 high schools to […]
The post <a href="https://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/2015/05/21/upcoming-emerge-college-tours-includes-brandeis-claremont-colleges/">Upcoming EMERGE college tours include Brandeis, Claremont colleges</a> appeared first on <a href="https://blogs.houstonisd.org/news">News Blog</a>.
]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[In the next few months, some of HISD’s brightest young scholars will be visiting the nation’s top colleges and universities as part of the EMERGE program’s summer college tours. The EMERGE program was designed to help low-income, first-generation minority students get into top-notch colleges. Last year, EMERGE helped launch 99 scholars from 24 high schools to colleges and universities such as Stanford, Harvard, and MIT. Five were accepted to Yale University, while three chose to attend Tufts. This summer, students will get to participate in discussions, tour the campuses, and check out dorm rooms and cafeterias as part of the following EMERGE tours:
<ul>
<li>Brandeis College tour (78 students)</li>
<li>Claremont College tour (76 students)</li>
</ul>
Graduating EMERGE scholars have been awarded more than $20 million in scholarships and financial aid this past year, with the majority of students receiving individual financial packages totaling upwards of $40,000 per year.
The post <a href="https://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/2015/05/21/upcoming-emerge-college-tours-includes-brandeis-claremont-colleges/">Upcoming EMERGE college tours include Brandeis, Claremont colleges</a> appeared first on <a href="https://blogs.houstonisd.org/news">News Blog</a>.
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<title>HISD to recognize 99 seniors headed to nation’s top tier colleges and universities</title>
<link>https://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/2015/04/28/hisd-to-recognize-99-seniors-headed-to-nations-top-tier-colleges-and-universities/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[HISD Communications]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Tue, 28 Apr 2015 16:29:45 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Achievement/Recognition]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[College Readiness]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[District III - Daniela Hernandez]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Chavez High School]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[EMERGE]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/?p=19426</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The Houston Independent School District will pay tribute Tuesday to 99 graduating scholars from 24 high schools during the second annual EMERGE Senior Awards Ceremony. Through EMERGE, the scholars have earned the distinction this year of being accepted to colleges and universities such as MIT, Harvard, Princeton, Rice, Smith, Stanford, Tufts, and Yale. As a […]
The post <a href="https://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/2015/04/28/hisd-to-recognize-99-seniors-headed-to-nations-top-tier-colleges-and-universities/">HISD to recognize 99 seniors headed to nation’s top tier colleges and universities</a> appeared first on <a href="https://blogs.houstonisd.org/news">News Blog</a>.
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<content:encoded><![CDATA[The Houston Independent School District will pay tribute Tuesday to 99 graduating scholars from 24 high schools during the second annual EMERGE Senior Awards Ceremony.
Through EMERGE, the scholars have earned the distinction this year of being accepted to colleges and universities such as MIT, Harvard, Princeton, Rice, Smith, Stanford, Tufts, and Yale. As a whole, the group has been awarded more than $20 million in scholarships and financial aid, with the majority of students receiving individual financial packages totaling upwards of $40,000 per year.
“This program is simply extraordinary because it grooms students, particularly first-generation college students, for success by setting high expectations,” said HISD Superintendent Terry Grier, who will speak at the awards ceremony. “As we lead these students to success, we are creating a cycle of excellence that allows others students to believe that they, too, can attend their dream college.”
The EMERGE program aims to helps low-income, high-potential students gain admission to and graduate from Ivy League and other top tier colleges and universities across the nation. The EMERGE scholars will be recognized for their dedication and hard work during a banquet scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday at The Westin Oaks Galleria, 5011 Westheimer Road.
Among the students being honored at the event is Leticia Ortega, valedictorian at Chavez High School. Raised by parents who have an elementary school education, Ortega knew she wanted more for her life.
Ortega joined EMERGE when the program first launched in 2013, and she went on to earn top marks in all of her Advanced Placement courses and a high SAT score of 2170. She now has the distinction of becoming the first Chavez student to be accepted to Harvard, where she plans to study engineering.
“I am extremely proud to see the seniors in EMERGE accomplish exactly what they set out to do,” said HISD Assistant Superintendent of College Readiness Rick Cruz, who created and oversees the EMERGE program. “Our college coordinators and program managers were a tremendous resource to these students when applying to top colleges, but the students truly put in the work needed to reach their goals.”
The post <a href="https://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/2015/04/28/hisd-to-recognize-99-seniors-headed-to-nations-top-tier-colleges-and-universities/">HISD to recognize 99 seniors headed to nation’s top tier colleges and universities</a> appeared first on <a href="https://blogs.houstonisd.org/news">News Blog</a>.
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<title>HISD Superintendent Terry Grier focuses on global education, higher education in 2015 State of the Schools address</title>
<link>https://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/2015/02/11/hisd-superintendent-terry-grier-focuses-on-global-education-higher-education-in-2015-state-of-the-schools-address/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[HISD Communications]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Wed, 11 Feb 2015 18:26:05 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[College Readiness]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[EMERGE]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[State of the Schools]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[dual language]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Global Education]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[linked learning]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[State of the schools]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Student equity]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/?p=18182</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Placing a strong emphasis on college attendance and completion, Houston Independent School District Superintendent Terry Grier on Wednesday unveiled plans to expand the district’s successful EMERGE program and double the number of college counselors available to high school students. The district plans to use a $5.5 million grant provided by the Houston Endowment to expand […]
The post <a href="https://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/2015/02/11/hisd-superintendent-terry-grier-focuses-on-global-education-higher-education-in-2015-state-of-the-schools-address/">HISD Superintendent Terry Grier focuses on global education, higher education in 2015 State of the Schools address</a> appeared first on <a href="https://blogs.houstonisd.org/news">News Blog</a>.
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<content:encoded><![CDATA[Placing a strong emphasis on college attendance and completion, Houston Independent School District Superintendent Terry Grier on Wednesday unveiled plans to expand the district’s successful EMERGE program and double the number of college counselors available to high school students.
The district plans to use a $5.5 million grant provided by the Houston Endowment to expand EMERGE, which now serves 25 high schools, to all 45 high schools. A $3 million matching grant from the Houston Endowment will be used to deploy 28 new college counselors to campuses across the district as part of efforts to boost college attendance rates by 20 percent over the next three years.
Dr. Grier announced the grants while speaking to a sold-out crowd at the Hilton Americas Hotel during his sixth annual State of the Schools address. Hundreds of educators, administrators, community members and public school supporters attended the event.
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“HISD has been awarded a pair of truly generous grants from the Houston Endowment that will transform the lives of scores of children who may not have attended college otherwise,” Dr. Grier said.
The EMERGE expansion will nearly double the size of the program, which aims to identify low-income, high potential students and help them gain admission to and graduate from Tier 1 and Ivy League colleges and universities. Students in the program participate in college admissions workshops, SAT boot camps and college tours designed to familiarize them with campus life.
“They’re real trailblazers, setting a tangible example for others in our under-served communities to follow,” Dr. Grier said, touting EMERGE students in his address. “They remind all of us that our children’s ability to succeed is driven by expectations. And those expectations are shaped by the adults who matter in their lives.”
The grant will fully fund EMERGE for the next three years, allowing HISD to dedicate district money to a 15-person team of college readiness experts tasked with providing direct support to all high school campuses with college-going efforts.
As a result, program officials will be able to work closely each year with 750 sophomores, juniors and seniors and support an additional 1,000 HISD EMERGE alumni in college. The expansion is expected to increase the number of HISD graduates who go on to attend top colleges from 100 this year to 250 annually over the next two years.
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Among the many students that EMERGE has helped is Chavez High School graduate Felipe Guillén, who is now in his freshman year at Stanford University. Speaking to the packed ballroom on Wednesday, Guillén described his enrollment at the prestigious school as an achievement he never would have dreamed possible without EMERGE.
“I didn’t get to this place all on my own. It wasn’t just through hard work, or focusing on academics,” Guillén said, praising the support system provided by EMERGE. “This dream became my reality because of those who believed in me — people in my family, fellow classmates, and a lot of you in this room. You supported me in this journey, and you believed I could attend a prestigious university like Stanford.”
Like the EMERGE grant, the college counselor grant also will dramatically increase the district’s capacity to focus on ensuring students are ready for college. It would more than double the number of dedicated, full-time college counselors available to high school students.
In addition to increasing college enrollment rates by 20 percent, the college counselor grant also is designed to increase overall college completion rates by 20 percent. The district also hopes to increase the number of HISD graduates attending a four-year college, the number of college students who complete their freshman year and return for their sophomore year, and the number of scholarship and financial aid applications and awards — all by the same percentage.
“Our focus this year is plain and simple. Boosting student academic achievement and being accountable in that task,” HISD Board of Education President Rhonda Skillern-Jones said, stressing the importance of student success as she addressed the crowd. “We must ensure all students are learning. We must ensure all students are maximizing their academic potential. We must ensure all students are graduating with the skills they need to succeed in whichever options they choose in life.”
Global Education & Dual Language
Throughout his speech, Dr. Grier focused on a recurring theme — the importance of increasing academic achievement for all students. Providing students with a global education not only ensures academic success, but also readies them to compete globally, he said.
To be truly successful in a 21st century global market, HISD graduates must be responsible decision makers, skilled communicators, strong leaders and critical thinkers. They also must be adaptable, productive and ready for college.
“In HISD, we have global expectations for our graduates,” Dr. Grier said. “These are not your grandparents’ schools. These are schools in which students are being placed on a path toward bilingualism and life skills.”
Bilingualism is a key component in a global education, the superintendent said, following up on a pledge he made last year to expand the district’s dual language program. By fall 2015, dual language programs will be offered at 52 schools, which is nearly double the current number.
Among the new dual language schools opening this fall will be the Arabic Immersion Magnet School, Dr. Grier said, noting that it was the first public school of its kind in Texas. And, he said, a Hindi dual language immersion school isn’t far off.
“Global education is about more than just being able to speak another language,” Dr. Grier said. “It’s about understanding and appreciating other cultures so that we can successfully work alongside those from different backgrounds.”
Student Equity
Despite the strong progress made throughout the district, there are still areas that must be addressed, Dr. Grier noted, pointing specifically to equitable representation in HISD’s gifted and talented program. In HISD, more than one-third of white students are labeled as gifted and talented, while just 14 percent of Hispanic students and seven percent of African American students receive the same designation.
Similarly, Dr. Grier said, students from wealthier families are more than twice as likely to be labeled as gifted and talented than their peers from poor families. The average number of gifted and talented students across the state is just eight percent, compared to 15 percent in HISD.
A gifted and talented label gives students — and the schools they attend — a clear financial advantage, which is why ensuring equity in the process is so important, the superintendent said. HISD’s gifted and talented students receive an extra $416 in annual funding, and those who attend Vanguard Magnet schools for gifted students receive another $410 on top of that. Dr. Grier called upon the district’s newly formed Equity Council to identify a solution that would ensure equitable access for all students.
“Fortunately, we know what it takes to make up for this inequity. With our school board’s help and support, we are doing something about it,” said Dr. Grier, who was recently named by the Council of the Great City Schools as its 2014 Urban Educator of the Year. “We will not rest until we can say that ZIP codes do not determine the quality of education a Houston child receives.”
Linked Learning
During his speech, Dr. Grier also pointed to the district’s efforts to implement Linked Learning — a philosophy that combines rigorous academics with exposure to real-world professions. Currently offered at eight of HISD’s high school feeder patterns, the Linked Learning approach aims to make classes more relevant and personalized for students while at the same time providing them with valuable training in high-demand, high-wage fields.
Dr. Grier announced Wednesday that the Linked Learning concept would be expanded to an additional 10 high schools next year, with the remaining balance of high schools coming on aboard the following year.
“I believe that the Houston Independent School District is on the verge of greatness. We are already the best urban school district in America,” Grier said, closing out his speech as he noted that students who had previously left for area charter and private schools were already returning to HISD. “With your help and our board and staff’s commitment, we can become the best school district in America.”
Other achievements highlighted include:
<ul>
<li>Last spring, more than 300 HISD students graduated having already earned an associate’s degree through the district’s community college partnership.</li>
<li>Last year, HISD students passed 8,248 college-level Advanced Placement exams, an 80 percent increase from 2007. That’s the equivalent of 25,000 college credits and a savings of $7.3 million in tuition.</li>
<li>Since 2007, HISD has doubled the number of students taking the SAT, resulting in an increase of 600 students — most of them Hispanic or African American — scoring at the college-ready level in math and an increase of 300 students scoring at the college-ready level in reading.</li>
<li>Last year, HISD seniors were offered $255 million in scholarships. That’s up from $51 million in 2009.</li>
<li>This year, North Early College High School was one of just 26 Texas schools nominated for a prestigious federal Blue Ribbon award.</li>
</ul>
The post <a href="https://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/2015/02/11/hisd-superintendent-terry-grier-focuses-on-global-education-higher-education-in-2015-state-of-the-schools-address/">HISD Superintendent Terry Grier focuses on global education, higher education in 2015 State of the Schools address</a> appeared first on <a href="https://blogs.houstonisd.org/news">News Blog</a>.
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