The mission of Ed White Elementary is to provide the best of educational opportunities for all children by holding high expectations and promoting high standards in both academic achievement and well-being.
* Texas Educational Agency Recognized School for 2005-2006 & 2006-2007
* Named one of the top 69 schools in Texas by the Texas Business & Education Coalition for 2006-2007
* Texas Educational Agency Gold Performance Acknowledgements of 2006: Reading, Math, Writing, Science and Attendance
* Texas Education Excellence Award 2006-2007
* Texas Monthly Five-Star School for 2006
Thuy M. Le-Thai, Principal
Paulette Caston, Vice-Principal
9001 Triola, 77036
(713) 778-3490
http://es.houstonisd.org/WhiteES
Hours: 7:45 AM – 2:45 PM
Uniforms: Navy bottoms, white tops
School Mascot: The Gemini
School Publication: The Explorer
School Colors: Navy/white
Registration dates for 2006-2007 school year:
August 14, 15 & 16: 8:00 AM – Noon
August 21 & 22 : 8:00 AM – Noon
From the December 2006 SCAN:
SCHOOL SPOTLIGHT: ED WHITE ELEMENTARY
On Halloween day, we had the pleasure of visiting Ed White Elementary. Costumes were the order of the day – not just any costumes: book character costumes with the book to back it up! The office staff were dressed as characters from Alice in Wonderland.
When Mrs. Le-Thai came to the United States in 1980, her family settled in Sharpstown, and she graduated from Sharpstown High School in 1983. When the position as principal at Ed White became available, she jumped at the chance to “come home” and give back to the community that welcomed her. She was also eager to continue in a tradition of excellence built by prior principals Mrs. Dimmit and Mrs. Fontenot. She feels fortunate to have quality teachers and staff who are committed to the students and the school and have high expectations.
Ed White is a neighborhood school, and they serve our neighborhood. The school believes in whole child development and filling the needs of their students. And it is a successful school - in fact, they earned another "gold stamp" for their hard work: TEA Gold Performance Acknowledgments for 2006! They received 5 "gold stamps": COMMENDED SCIENCE, COMMENDED MATH, COMMENDED READING, COMMENDED WRITING, and COMMENDED ATTENDANCE.
The school faces many challenges but has clearly risen to and above them. Ed White, like many HISD schools, faces space challenges but has found creative ways to enhance their campuses. This year, they’ve added a beautiful pond and nature center, including boardwalk, landscaping and herbs. This was free – donated by Lowe’s in Sugar Land. They also have a covered space that they are working to fill with picnic tables to allow outdoor instruction and enjoyment. They also have a playground as a Spark Park – HISD equipment on city land.
Ed White receives many students who arrive at the school speaking no English at all (14 languages are represented there). Their bilingual classes are truly bilingual. They work hard to transition students to English, and in 4th Grade they receive 100% English instruction and take the TAKS in English. We saw English writing samples and were truly impressed at their mastery. They put great emphasis on students learning English because students who are have strong English skills tend to be more successful and less likely to drop out later on. It’s clear that language alone is not a barrier to excellence because Ed White is, and has been, an HISD “Recognized” school. Mrs. Le-Thai again gives credit to the effectiveness of her teachers, their hard work and tenacity.
To further assist students with their education, Ed White has a 26-computer lab, with a special area for 5th Graders to do research. All classrooms have computers and a reading area. To help reach “Exemplary” status, they are placing extra emphasis on Science. There are also two science labs, one for lower grades to build a foundation for learning science and one for upper grades to enhance their knowledge.
We cannot come close to expressing how impressed we were with Ed White – the bright and engaging rooms filled with students eagerly learning, walls covered with writing samples, the friendliness of the teachers and staff, and most of all Mrs. Le-Thai. As we left, I turned to my companion and said “I want to go to this school!”