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