| The Houston Independent School District (HISD) is | | | | of college classes your child has to complete. |
| the seventh largest district in the nation and is | | | | Houston Schools believe that all children should be |
| working toward making all of their students | | | | given the opportunity to take AP classes in order |
| college ready in the future by creating a | | | | to help them eventually succeed at the college |
| "college-bound culture" in all of Houston schools. | | | | level. In order to make this happen, the HISD is |
| Essentially, all a college-bound culture consists of is | | | | increasing the number of students allowed to take |
| sending students and parents the message that | | | | pre-AP courses in middle and high school. For |
| college is possible for their children from a very | | | | those not eligible to take pre-AP courses, Houston |
| early standpoint in their educational career and | | | | Schools are offering tutoring to help prepare |
| reinforcing those ideas through in-school programs. | | | | students for the work-load. |
| How Do Houston Schools Create a College-Bound | | | | - Dual-Credit Courses: Dual-credit courses allow |
| Culture? | | | | students in Houston Schools to take college-level |
| It's easy enough to what Houston Schools are | | | | classes that apply toward their High School |
| doing to create this culture if it's broken down into | | | | diploma and toward receiving an Associate's |
| its main components: | | | | Degree by the time they graduate high school. |
| - Making College Accessible: Houston Schools are | | | | This significantly lowers the amount of money |
| making this idea their top priority in creating the | | | | dual-credit students have to pay for their college |
| college-bound culture in all their schools. Teachers | | | | education, thus making college more accessible to |
| are sending very early messages to students and | | | | many students in the HISD. |
| parents that college is a possibility and that | | | | Overall, Houston Schools have created a plan to |
| Houston Schools will do everything possible to | | | | enhance the college experience in the eyes of |
| make it happen for their children. Beginning at the | | | | both parents and students by creating a |
| elementary level, HISD counselors are holding | | | | college-bound culture in all of their schools. As |
| special college-awareness seminars for both | | | | parents, we should take part in helping our children |
| parents and students. They are also creating | | | | develop a strong desire for a college education. In |
| career development activities for children of all | | | | a world where a high school diploma doesn't get |
| ages to help them understand that their work in | | | | you very far anymore, college is necessary for |
| Houston Schools will directly relate to their career | | | | our children in order for them to lead healthy and |
| someday. For older school-age students, HISD is | | | | successful lives. This college-bound culture in |
| developing a mentoring program to help students | | | | Houston Schools allows us to see and monitor our |
| with their weakest subjects. | | | | children's desire for college and allows us to help |
| - Advanced Placement Courses: Advanced | | | | and encourage them in any way we can. |
| Placement (AP) courses can reduce the number | | | | |