| The Houston Independent School District (HISD) wants | | | | scholarly essay writing and reading. A regular class |
| to increase the amount of students that attend college. | | | | might integrate more activities but an Advanced |
| In order to do this, they are providing students, as well | | | | Placement course is more like a college-class than |
| as parents, all the information they need in order to | | | | anything else. If they pass the standardized Advanced |
| make college happen. Houston Schools believes that | | | | Placement test at the end of the year, it will apply as |
| college is the best way for a student to succeed in the | | | | college credit when they do enroll at a college or |
| world. How are Houston Schools Helping Students | | | | University. As part of the college preparedness effort, |
| Attend College? The schools in Houston Independent | | | | the Houston Schools are also offering dual-credit |
| School District, are dedicated to the focus of providing | | | | courses. Dual-credit courses allow the student to take |
| a quality education for all of its students. As part of this | | | | a class that applies both to his high-school diploma as |
| focus, the high schools within the district are | | | | well as counting toward college credit requirements. It |
| implementing several "college readiness" programs to | | | | is conceivable that a student in the dual-enrollment |
| expose students to the benefits of a college education | | | | program can graduate high-school with nearly an |
| and help them understand that college is the way to | | | | Associates Degree, or much of the general education |
| go to further their success later in life. The Houston | | | | requirement of college accounted for and be in a |
| Schools are emphasizing to all of their students the | | | | position to go to the University level and stay there for |
| idea that every single one of them can go to college | | | | as little as two years. Overall, Houston Schools are |
| regardless of financial ability. Each student has the | | | | dedicated in their pursuit for most children to attend |
| potential for college according to Houston Schools and | | | | college. In our growing society, a college education is |
| they are gearing themselves toward providing the | | | | becoming increasingly more important. It is getting |
| guidance and advice necessary to prepare their | | | | harder and harder for those without a college |
| students for college. Such guidance includes early | | | | education to live above the poverty line simply |
| parent and student classes encouraging a college | | | | because they are unable to make as much money as |
| education at the elementary level. These classes, | | | | a college graduate. Encouraging your child to attend |
| sponsored by the schools of the Houston Independent | | | | college from an early age will ensure that his future in |
| School District encourage parents to make college a | | | | the world will be secure. Houston Schools recommend |
| priority in their children's lives. It also encourages children | | | | starting early and taking an active role in your child's |
| to start succeeding early. The Houston High Schools | | | | education in order to maximize their achievement. |
| are also offering more Advanced Placement courses | | | | Patricia Hawke is a staff writer for Schools K-12, |
| to their students as such Advanced Placement work | | | | providing free, in-depth reports on all U.S. public and |
| prepare and acclimate students to the college class | | | | private K-12 schools. For more information please visit |
| demands by increasing the work load and changing | | | | Houston Independent School District. |
| the curriculum in order to provide more time for | | | | |