Best schools in Houston
Education in Houston
There are now several schools which, while not strictly international schools, offer the IB programmes.
The first thing to remember is that the UK and the US systems are slightly out of sync. So while compulsory schooling in the UK starts at reception (age 4), children in Texas usually start school the following year in kindergarten (but are not required by law to start until they are 6 – 1st grade).
In the younger years, American schools emphasise play and social development and are not nearly as academic as British schools. This can come as a jolt to parents but rest assured, in good schools (state or private), students do catch up with each other fairly quickly (certainly by age 8).
Public (state) schools are made up of elementary school (up to grade 4 or 5), intermediate school (grade 5 and 6), middle school or junior high school (either grade 6 or 7 and grade 8) and high school (grade 9 to 12). Many public schools also run an advanced learning programme called a Magnet Program. Places are limited so entry exams, references and interviews are conducted to determine entry. A full list of public schools can be found at www.txschools.gov/schools.
Private schools usually don’t have a waiting list so once you have made your decision, the only thing stopping you will be the entry requirements.
The US Department of Education requires both public and private schools to submit National Assessment of Education Progress testing every four years. Schooling culminates in the High School Diploma, which is awarded at the end of four years of high school if the student has a passing grade point average. The exception are IB schools, where they aim for the IB Diploma.
The State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) tests are taken at every grade in all public and charter schools (but not necessarily in private schools). As soon as the student passes a test, that mark will contribute towards their High School Diploma. On completion of 12th grade, most students in state schools will graduate with a High School Diploma.
The Advanced Placement (AP) Program is designed to give students a head start on their college level work. Through AP courses, high school students can explore a full range of college level subjects. Many high schools will have an AP teacher or coordinator who will guide students on which AP courses can best suit their abilities and current workload. If the student is home-schooled or attends a school that doesn’t offer AP, courses can still be studied through independent online study.
Not to be confused with the Standard Assessment Tests (SATs) of the British Curriculum, the SAT is an essential part of College entry in the US. The three-hour exam (made up of writing, critical reading and maths) is widely considered a measure of a high school student’s chance of academic success in the first year of college, making that all-important SAT score of critical importance in the application process. The American College Testing (ACT) assessment is an alternative to the SAT, and both are accepted by virtually all colleges and universities. To find out more, go to www.collegeboard.com.
Choosing a school in Houston
If you’re going for the public school option, it matters where you live. This is because all public schools are organised into Independent School Districts (ISDs) and you are allocated a school within your zone of ISD. You can transfer to another school within your ISD but both the sending and receiving schools have to agree.
Private schools, on the other hand, will take students from any school district as long as they meet the entrance requirements. Rating and ranking the private schools is a more difficult task as they are not required to be included in the STAAR testing system (upon which the Accountability Rating is determined). But most private schools participate in some form of standardised testing of their students and results of those can be discussed directly with each school.
International schools (including overseas British Schools) tend to offer the IB curriculum to students completing their final two years of high school, culminating in the IB Diploma. IGCSEs are only available at The British School. This is something to consider if you think you might be moving back to the UK at any time during your child’s secondary school years. By the same token, students applying to British universities from good US high schools will find that UK universities are very up to speed on US curricula and exams.
Special education needs in Houston
Gateway Academy is a very small special needs school serving 6th to 12th graders with learning and social difficulties.
Pre-schools, kindergarten and nurseries in Houston
Children who attend some form of childcare before they reach school age (must be 6 on September 1st to start 1st grade) will either attend a preschool or a day care centre. The age of acceptance varies but some take children as young as 9 months for their part-time Mother’s Day Out programs (MDO). Usually following the school calendar (some are closed during school holidays), most are four to five hours a day and two or three days a week.
Preschools will often only take children up to pre-K or kindergarten, but some are part of a school making the transition to elementary school and beyond that much easier. Most schools, and some preschools, also provide before and after (school) care which effectively makes them a day care option for parents who work full-time outside the home. The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services provide their inspection findings online, where you can look up a childcare facility and read their inspection report, warts and all.
