Harvard Elementary School (Texas) Explained

29.7862°N -95.3959°WHarvard Elementary School is a public primary school in the Houston Heights neighborhood of Houston, Texas, United States. Harvard, a part of the Houston Independent School District, serves grades Pre-Kindergarten through 5.

Harvard Elementary School, in Houston Heights block 248,[1] serves a section of that community.[2] [3]

Harvard, as of 2013, is the oldest school in Houston that has been continually in operation.[4]

History

Harvard opened as Harvard Street School on September 18, 1898, serving the South-End area of the Houston Heights.[5] The school received a main brick structure when it was constructed in 1911; at that time it was renamed to its current name, without the word "Street".[6]

In 1921 the school became a part of the Houston Independent School District.[7]

Harvard was previously reserved for white children but it desegregated by 1970.

In 1980 the original brick structure was demolished and the school received a new addition.[7]

In 2004 the school's attendance boundary, along with that of Travis Elementary School of Woodland Heights, was modified due to a vehicular traffic increase on Studewood Street, affecting 20 children. The adjustment was done so children would not have to cross the street.[8]

Prior to 2006 the Harvard building was under-utilized. In 2006 a group of area parents asked Harvard principal Kevin Beringer to help them improve the school. By 2008 Harvard became in-demand and had parents requesting to have houses zoned to Harvard; because of its popularity it developed a waiting list for prospective students and area property values increased.[9]

The school was named a National Blue Ribbon School in 2008.[10] [11]

Demographics

In 2004 80% of the students were classified as low income, and 80% of the students were Hispanic or Latino. Kevin Beringer, the principal, established an International Baccalaureate program after several area parents made requests to see improvements at the school. By 2014 the percentage of low income students declined to 30%, and 40% of the students were non-Hispanic white.[12] By 2016, 45% of the students were non-Hispanic white, 41% were Hispanic or Latino, and 21% were low income.[13]

School uniforms

Harvard Elementary School requires its students to wear school uniforms.[14] The Texas Education Agency specified that the parents and/or guardians of students zoned to a school with uniforms may apply for a waiver to opt out of the uniform policy so their children do not have to wear the uniform; parents must specify "bona fide" reasons, such as religious reasons or philosophical objections.[15] [16]

Feeder patterns

People zoned to Harvard Elementary School are also zoned to Hogg Middle School and Heights High School (formerly Reagan High School).[2] [17] [18]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Harris County Block Book Maps. Volume 20: Houston Heights Index Map. Version 1 (PDF and JPG) and Version 2 (PDF and JPG). Also Volume 20, Page 244: Houston Heights Block 248: JPG and PDF. Marked as the Harvard School.
  2. "Harvard Elementary Attendance Boundary." Houston Independent School District. Retrieved on April 8, 2019.
  3. "Map ." Houston Heights. Accessed October 7, 2008. Also see Harris County Block Book Maps. Volume 20: Houston Heights Index Map. Version 1 (PDF and JPG) and Version 2 (PDF and JPG).
  4. News: Hajovsky, Martin. The Heights stands apart in Houston. Houston Chronicle. 2013-05-23. 2017-02-28.
  5. "Harvard School History ." Harvard Elementary School. Accessed October 7, 2008.
  6. Sloan, Anne. Houston Heights (Images of America). Arcadia Publishing, 2009., 9780738571188. p. 30.
  7. "School Histories: the Stories Behind the Names ." Houston Independent School District. Accessed September 24, 2008.
  8. News: HISD redraws boundaries for 11 schools. Houston Chronicle. 2004-05-27. 2017-02-28. - Compare boundary maps: as of early 2004 and as of 2009
  9. Web site: Mullins, Cynthia (Boulevard Realty). Heights leads the way: Quality schools = higher home values + neighborhood desirability. The Leader. 2013-03-22. 2017-03-02.
  10. "Twenty-six Texas public schools named NCLB- Blue Ribbons Schools." Texas Education Agency. September 9, 2008.
  11. "Feds award 26 Texas schools with 'blue ribbon' ." Houston Chronicle. September 9, 2008.
  12. News: Radcliffe, Jennifer. White enrollment inches up in HISD. Houston Chronicle. 2014-02-10. 2017-01-09. bot: unknown. https://archive.today/20140215095215/http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/education/article/White-enrollment-inches-up-in-HISD-5222215.php. 2014-02-15.
  13. Web site: White, Tara. Parents petition to make Love a magnet. Heights Examiner. Houston Chronicle. 2016-05-25. 2017-02-28.
  14. "Dress Code | Uniform Dress Code ." Harvard Elementary School. Accessed October 7, 2008.
  15. "DOCKET NO. 008-R5-901." Texas Education Agency. Accessed October 13, 2008.
  16. "School Uniforms", Texas Education Agency. June 2, 2008. Retrieved on June 20, 2017. "(c) A parent or guardian of a student assigned to attend a school at which students are required to wear school uniforms may choose for the student to be exempted from the requirement or to transfer to a school at which students are not required to wear uniforms and at which space is available if the parent or guardian provides a written statement that, as determined by the board of trustees, states a bona fide religious or philosophical objection to the requirement."
  17. "Hogg Middle Attendance Boundary." Houston Independent School District. Retrieved on April 8, 2019.
  18. "Heights High School Attendance Boundary." Houston Independent School District. Retrieved on April 8, 2019.

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