Sharpstown High School (Grades 9-12)
SCA Associate Member
Note: We request updated information for our August issue; however, we did not receive corrected information in response to our request; this information may or may not be correct as of July 2007.
Sharpstown High School offers the Leadership Academy as an HISD Magnet program. By offering courses designed to assist students in becoming productive and responsible leaders for today and the future, the Sharpstown High School Leadership Academy develops committed young people prepared to assume positions of leadership as they address challenges and concerns of the 21st century.
John Allen , Principal
7504 Bissonnet, 77074
(713) 771-7215
http://hs.houstonisd.org/sharpstownhs
Hours: 7:30 AM – 3:00 PM (We have been advised that the hours will change for the 2007-2008 school year)
Uniforms: We have been advised there will be uniforms the 2007-2008 school year
School Mascot: The Apollo
School Publication: The Torch
School Colors: Green/gold
From the January 2007 SCAN:
SPOTLIGHT ON: SHARPSTOWN HIGH SCHOOL
In December, we met with David Kendler and Jane Lozano to find out what’s good at Sharpstown High School. The answer was “Everything!”
Sharpstown High School has made a great deal of progress. Scores in all subjects have improved – in fact, their improvement rate is faster and higher than the vast majority of schools in HISD and the state. Not only have test scores improved, but they are improving while the state keeps raising the bar. In the TEA “Gold Performance Acknowledgement” rankings, they have been rated a “Q1 school” in reading and math – in the top quarter of the State’s grading system (they were Q3-Q4 when Mr. Kendler arrived 3-1/2 years ago).
While a great deal of attention is given to test scores, Sharpstown High School believes in a balanced approach to programs: everything is a priority and no one thing is more important than another. While test scores are important, they are on equal footing with other priorities.
Like climate. Sharpstown High has worked very hard to create a safe environment for the students and has placed emphasis on creating ownership in the school. The faculty and staff walk the halls and know the students. There are also security cameras and they are working to expand and improve “attendance recovery”. When we were there, we could not help notice how clean the campus is. Garbage is put into garbage cans – not just left around. For extra emphasis on reading, students are required to bring a novel to every class – if work is finished early: read! They strive to have pupil/teacher ratios of 25:1 or better, have added another counselor, assistant principal and teacher coach to improve delivery of instruction and services. It’s all about the climate.
And when parents are looking for a school to send their own children to, they are not looking for math, science, English, and social studies – all schools have those. Parents are looking for the “other stuff” - the extras that make a school stand out. Sharpstown has worked to improve the extras as well. They offer a full range of sports including football, volleyball, baseball, softball, track, soccer, and they are trying to re-start the golf team. There is a school newspaper (“The Torch”). New band uniforms have recently been purchased and they are investing more into their music programs. The policy is that if students want a program of club, all they need is interest and a sponsor.
New classes have been added including Vietnamese and Chinese, AP and pre-AP classes in all areas. They have partnered with HCC to offer dual credit classes (high school and college credit) and are currently developing a partnership with HBU. Sharpstown has also upgraded their technology and hope to offer wireless internet access campuswide by the end of the year.
Sharpstown High School is striving to be a school of choice – a desire -- not the “default.” They are a neighborhood school and fans of neighborhood schools. Everyone must support, encourage and build schools. The foundation of every community is its schools because they have the children who will carry on our communities. Strong schools mean strong communities. The Sharpstown PTO meets monthly and community members are encouraged to attend.
We learned shortly after our meeting that Mr. Kendler has accepted a position in Katy ISD and will be leaving soon. Jane Lozano, who has worked closely with Mr. Kendler for the past 3-1/2 years, will be named Interim Principal. She plans to continue on the course they have set, ever mindful of their motto: “Hard Work – High Expectations – Excellence Every Day.”