Spring Branch Independent School District

Spring Branch Independent School District
Spring Branch ISD
Houston, Texas, Harris
District information
Grades PreK-12
Superintendent Dr. Scott R. Muri
Students and staff
Students 35,000
Other information
Website springbranchisd.com

Spring Branch Independent School District is a school district headquartered in Hedwig Village, Texas, United States in Greater Houston. The district serves portions of western Houston,[1] including most of Spring Branch.[2] It also serves several small municipalities known as the Memorial Villages in its jurisdiction, such as Hedwig Village and Spring Valley Village. A majority of the district lies within Houston city limits.[3]

The school district's boundaries include Hempstead Road to the northeast (formerly US 290), Interstate 610 to the east, Clay Road to the north, the Addicks Dam to the west, and Buffalo Bayou to the south. Spring Branch serves 35,000 kindergarten through 12th grade students and includes a region with 188,000 residents.

The Spring Branch ISD area is served by the Houston Community College System, but it is not within the tax base.

SBISD is not to be confused with the Spring Independent School District, also located in the Greater Houston area (the latter is located in the northern portion of the region).

There are currently four traditional high schools (grades 9-12), one of which is 6A, and three 5A high schools, eight middle schools (grades 6-8), and twenty-six elementary schools (grades K-5), and six early education Pre-K centers in the district. Three more high school centers serve students in grades 9-12 with various purposes, including one public charter school.

In 2009, the school district was rated "academically acceptable" by the Texas Education Agency.[4]

History

Spring Branch Education Center

The school district originated from the Spring Branch School Society, which was sponsored by the St. Peter's Church in 1856. The first school opened in 1889. By 1905, the white school had one teacher with 49 pupils and the black school had one teacher with 29 pupils.[5]

The area did not become urban until the expansion of Houston city limits in the 1950s, which followed a failed attempt by the entire Spring Branch region to incorporate into a single entity, leading to the establishment of the Memorial Villages. [5] The schools desegregated.

In 1979, The New York Times said that the district was "highly regarded".[6]

Hal Guthrie became superintendent in 1986 and retired in 2001. During Guthrie's term, an influx of Hispanic and low income students entered the district. By 2001, SBISD established free preschool for all students at all income levels. Melanie Markley of the Houston Chronicle wrote that Guthrie "not only guided the district back to health, but his retirement this year caps the end of a career that many say has earned Spring Branch a reputation as a trailblazer."[7]

In 2009, SBISD began a partnership with Houston Community College Northwest, allowing students to take community college credit. Each student may earn up to 30 credits while enrolled at an SBISD school.[8]

Governance

Spring Branch ISD is led by a Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Scott R. Muri, chosen by the Board of Trustees, headed by President Karen Peck. The Board of Trustees is elected by voters living in Spring Branch ISD.

Student body

Tully Stadium, viewed by air

In 2001 SBISD had 32,000 students. SBISD's student body was 48% Hispanic, 39% White, 7% Asian, and 6% African American.[1] By 2002 over half of the district's student body consisted of Hispanic and Latino Americans.[9]

As of 2001, most students north of Interstate 10 are Hispanic and lower to middle income, while most students south of Interstate 10 are White and middle to upper income.[7]

In 2008 it had 32,000 students.[10]

In 2009 55% of SBISD students qualified for free or reduced lunch.[11]

SBISD cities

The Guthrie Center

SBISD covers all of the following cities:

SBISD covers portions of the following cities:

Schools

Secondary schools

6-12 schools

Westchester Academy for International Studies

High schools

Memorial High School
Stratford High School

AAAAAA (Zoned)

Other

Middle schools

Spring Branch Middle School
Memorial Middle School

Zoned

Other

Primary schools

Bunker Hill Elementary School
Frostwood Elementary School
Hunters Creek Elementary School
Memorial Drive Elementary School
Valley Oaks Elementary School

Zoned

Other

Pre-kindergarten schools

The Bear Boulevard School
The Wildcat Way School

Former schools

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Morales, Katherine. "Residents working to retain superintendent of C-FB ISD Parents want board to counter Houston district's offer." The Dallas Morning News. Sunday December 30, 2001. Second Irving 3V. Retrieved on November 28, 2011.
  2. ↑ "Spring Branch Schools" (Archive). Spring Branch Management District. Retrieved on May 18, 2014.
  3. ↑ "Districtmap.pdf" (Archive) Spring Branch Independent School District. Retrieved on March 22, 2014.
  4. ↑ "2009 Accountability Rating System". Texas Education Agency.
  5. 1 2 Spring Branch, Texas from the Handbook of Texas Online
  6. ↑ "Alien Pays in Loneliness for a Living Wage; Four Returns to Mexico." The New York Times. February 12, 1979. Section Metropolitan Report, B10. Retrieved on November 28, 2011.
  7. 1 2 Markley, Melanie. "Leaving the helm at Spring Branch ISD, Guthrie praised for 'cutting-edge' reform." Houston Chronicle. December 19, 2001. Retrieved on March 22, 2014.
  8. ↑ Baird, Annette. "Spring Branch ISD unveils early college program." Houston Chronicle. March 3, 2009. Retrieved on May 12, 2014.
  9. ↑ Mrozowski, Jennifer. "In surprise move, CPS picks leader." Cincinnati Enquirer. September 7, 2002. A1 News. Retrieved on November 28, 2011. "[...]Spring Branch District where more than half the students are Hispanic."
  10. 1 2 Baird, Annette. "SPRING BRANCH ISD: School loses ‘unacceptable’ status." Houston Chronicle. Monday July 21, 2008. Retrieved on November 28, 2011.
  11. ↑ Memorial Assist. "Kids going hungry in Spring Branch?" Ultimate Memorial at Houston Chronicle. March 7, 2010. Retrieved on March 7, 2010.
  12. ↑ Microsoft Word - list-2003.doc
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
  14. 1 2 Blue Ribbon Schools Program, Schools Recognized 1982-1983 Through 1999-2002 (PDF)
  15. ↑ Microsoft Word - list-2003.doc
  16. ↑ Rummel Creek Elementary School
  17. ↑ "Exemptions linked to high TAAS scores Houston schools' practice criticized." Associated Press at The Dallas Morning News. Monday February 23, 1998. News 15A. Retrieved on November 28, 2011.

See also

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