Bellaire High School (Texas)

From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
Jump to: navigation, search
Bellaire High School
Bellaire HS.jpg
Address
5100 Maple Street
Bellaire, Texas 77401
United States
Coordinates Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Information
Type Public Secondary
Established 1955
School district Houston Independent School District
Principal Michael McDonough
Grades 9-12
Enrollment 3,671 (2014-15)[1]
Campus Urban
Color(s)           Red & White
Mascot Cardinals
Newspaper Three Penny Press
Yearbook Carillon
Website School website

Bellaire High School is a secondary school of the Houston Independent School District, and its campus is located in Bellaire, Texas (USA) in Greater Houston.

The high school serves the incorporated city of Bellaire and the Houston community of Meyerland, as well as other Houston neighborhoods. It has a racially and socioeconomically diverse student body.

History

The school opened in 1955.[2] It was originally an all-White high school. Because of the large number of Jewish students, the school had the nickname "Hebrew High."[3]

Bellaire introduced International Baccalaureate programs in 1980.[4]

In the mid-to-late 1980s families began moving into Bellaire and Meyerland. They would tear down many older houses and build new ones. This gave Bellaire High School a population of wealthier students. At the same time apartments formerly housing White singles began to house low income immigrants. Bellaire added Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate programs to encourage White parents to send their children to Bellaire. Parents strove to get their children into the classes. Mimi Swartz of the Texas Monthly said "But these outstanding academic programs created, over time, a school within a school, in which the smartest kids with the most advantages took the IB and AP tracks, while everyone else was relegated to classes that, for various reasons--discipline problems, less talented teachers, lower standards--just weren't as good."[3]

In January 1987, Bellaire was offering the Arabic language for the second year.[5] In 1987 the school also offered Chinese, French, German, Hebrew, Latin, Russian, and Spanish.[4]

In September 1991 Bellaire was one of 32 HISD schools that had capped enrollments; in other words the school was filled to capacity and excess students had to attend other schools.[6]

By the 2000s Bellaire placed on the lists of the top performing high schools in the United States. Athletic and academic programs won national and international awards. Many graduates headed for prestigious American universities. At the same time, disciplinary infractions increased. Swartz said "The case could be made that the school has triumphed despite being under enormous social pressures. But success has not come without pain."[3] From the 1999-2000 school year to the 2003-2004 school year, the total number of disciplinary actions increased from 441 to 1,082 and the number of in-school suspensions increased from 336 to 855.[3] In February 2006, a stabbing involving two male freshmen occurred in a school stairwell. The victim survived the stabbing while the perpetrator was arrested and prosecuted.[7]

During the same year Todd Spivak of the Houston Press reported about the magazine's feature "These Kids Go to the Best Public High School in Houston." Spivak said that Bellaire High School had "strong, consistent leadership and a diverse student population" but that it received a lower rating due to a "surprisingly high dropout rate." Spivak said that the survey indicated that Bellaire graduated two thirds of its students. Dr. Robert Sanborn, president and CEO of the Children at Risk organization, said that at Bellaire an achievement gap existed between the top-performing students and the lowest-performing students.[8]

In 2007 13 percent of high school-aged children zoned to Bellaire chose to attend a different Houston ISD school.[9]

In 2010 Magnet Schools of America, a nonprofit, released a report recommending that Bellaire's magnet program be abolished, due to overcrowding of the school.[10]

In 2011 the Brays Oaks district expanded.[11] A small portion of Bellaire High School attendance zone became a part of the district.[12]

In 2014 Terry Grier stated that Bellaire should reduce its enrollment to around 3,000 students.[13]

Academic programs

Mimi Swartz of Texas Monthly said in 2006 that Bellaire was "arguably the city's best public school" and "prestigious."[3] Lynwood Abram of the Houston Chronicle said in 2006 that Bellaire is "academically acclaimed".[14] Jason Spencer of the Houston Chronicle said that the current principal and formal principal said that Bellaire has "reputation for academic excellence" because, in the words of former principal Hilbert Bludau, "Parents felt ownership of that school."[15] Cathy Mincberg, an HISD trustee, said in 1993 that "There isn't a private school in Houston that can beat Bellaire High School."[16]

Each year the school has about thirty National Merit Scholars.[14] In 2005 it had 40 National Merit Scholars. Of 3,400 students, 323 were AP Scholars in 2005.[3] Colleges and universities which accepted Bellaire high school graduates included Columbia University, Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Princeton University, Stanford University, and Yale University.[3] Programs which won national and international awards included baseball, debate, orchestra, and science programs.[3] As of 2008 Bellaire's yearbook, the Carillion, frequently wins high school yearbook awards.[17] The school typically has the highest SAT scores in the district. In 2005 the average score was almost 1200. Bludau said that some parents tried to use political connections to ensure that their children entered Bellaire.[15]

With over 20,000 high schools in the United States, the school ranked number 80,[18] 86,[19] 112,[20] 109th,[21] 100th,[22] 439th,[23] and 1,721st[24] in Newsweek's 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2012, and 2013 respectively, lists of the top high schools. The Challenge Index ranks schools by the number of AP and IB tests taken by students at a school in 2002 divided by the number of graduating seniors. 323 students at Bellaire High School in the 2004–2005 academic year earned the designation of AP Scholar by the College Board in recognition of their achievement on the college-level Advanced Placement Program Exams.

Bellaire also has a wide variety of music, and fine arts programs. The debate team has a long history of success, with at least one (and usually many) national qualifiers every year since 1957.[25] In 2008 and 2009, Bellaire won first place in the National Public Policy Forum Debate and in 2010, Bellaire won first place in the National Congressional Debate Tournament. The Bellaire Theatre Department won 1st place at the state UIL One-Act Play Competition in 2004.

Bellaire led the Houston Independent School District in number of National Merit Program Finalists.[26]

The Bellaire economics challenge team won first place at the 2004 National Economics Challenge in the West Region.

Athletics

Bellaire's main athletic rival is Lamar High School.[27][28]

The school's baseball program won the Texas High School Baseball championship seven times with several former or current Major League Baseball players.

Special programs

Bellaire High School is denoted as a Magnet school for foreign languages, offering a wide array of languages taught from Spanish, French, German, Chinese, Arabic, Russian, Hindi, Japanese, Hebrew, Italian, and Latin. All languages are available at the IB level; and AP courses are taught in Spanish, French, German, Chinese, Japanese, and Latin.

In 2005, over 900 students tested for a space in the Magnet program; Bellaire had only 150 available spots. In the 2004–2005 school year, the TAKS passing percentages for all Magnet students in reading, math, science, and social studies were 100%, 99%, 96%, and 100% respectively.

Bellaire High School has Advanced Placement and IB Diploma Programme (International Baccalaureate) programs. Bellaire High School has been an IB World School since September 1979. In the last examination session, students completed the following exams (in both standard and higher levels): Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Economics, English A1, French B, Geography, German B, Hindi B, Italian B, Latin, Mandarin B, Mathematics, Music, Physics, Psychology, Russian B, Spanish Ab., Spanish B, Theory of Knowledge, and Visual Arts. In the 2005–2006 school year, there were 24 students who successfully received their IB Diplomas.[29]

In the spring BHS hosts an open house for incoming students. Previously the open house emphasized the school's difficulty. In 2013 it was changed to a "jamboree" format that emphasized the school's social life.[30]

School culture

According to an October 2004 Whatkidscando.org report called "Students as Allies in Improving Their High Schools," in many of Houston ISD's top high schools, including Bellaire, over one half of students are enrolled in high-level courses. According to the surveys given by the organization, many of the students at the schools cited academic pressure issues. 82 percent stated that they do not miss school during illnesses, stating that the makeup work would be too difficult.[31]

Many parents volunteer at Bellaire. The parent-teacher organization has multiple committees. In 2005 the parents opened a "college information center."[15]

In 2006 Mimi Swartz said in Texas Monthly that the school was socially stratified. She said because drugs were "plentiful" in Meyerland, one community zoned to Bellaire, the drug culture among students "would surprise no one. Drugs were everywhere, as socially segmented and niche marketed--bars (Xanax) for the rich kids, weed for the gang bangers, meth for the goths--as the designer sneakers and expensive handbags the students coveted."[3]

Location and campus

Bellaire High School is located within the city of Bellaire, an enclave of the southwest area of Houston. Bellaire City Hall, the Bellaire Police Station, and the Bellaire water tower are nearby. Several parks and playgrounds are in proximity.[3]

Mimi Swartz of Texas Monthly said that Bellaire "still looks like the only high school in a small town. The architecture is blocky and unexceptional."[3]

A new wing was recently added to the school, made possible through government grants. the wing is to include mostly science based classes. with a special lab that cost nearly $300,000 designed specifically for the biology department.[citation needed]

Demographics

Mimi Swartz of Texas Monthly said "in the halls you see whites, blacks, Hispanics, and East and Central Asians."[3] Bellaire also has disparate income gaps between students from wealthier families and students from poorer families.[3]

Many students in other parts of Houston ISD transfer to Bellaire to escape home schools that do not have good academic performance, causing the attendance figures of those schools to suffer.[32]

Clubs and organizations

There are somewhere around 90 (and growing) clubs at Bellaire High School. The clubs include: Alzheimer's Awareness Association, Academic Challenge Team, Academic Decathlon, African American Association, African Culture Club, American Field Service Club, American Veteran Association, American Red Cross, Amnesty International, Anime Club, Antares, Arabic Club, Art Club, Army JROTC, Avid Readers Society, Bellaire Astronomy Club, Bellaire Badminton Club, Baking Club, Bellaire Beating Hearts, Bellaire International Students Association (BISA), Bellaire Medical Club, Bellaire Men's Lacrosse, Bellaire Technical Theatre Club, Best Buddies, Birdkeepers, Booster Club, Breast Cancer Awareness Club, Business Professionals of America (BPA), Carillion Crew, Bellaire Chess Club, Chinese Club (BCC), Chinese Honor Society, Chinese Language Club, Christian Student Union (CSU), Coding Club, Culinary Club, Bellaire Film Society, Bellaire Interfaith Club, Bellaire Color Guard and Marching Band, Bellaire LULAC Youth, Bellaire Korean Club, Bellaire MS-150 Club, Bellaire Mock Trial, Bellaire Sewing Arts Club, Bellaire Thai Club, Bellaire Women's Lacrosse, Cancer Awareness Club, Chinese Chess Club, DECA, Do-It-Yourself Club (DIY), Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA), Feed Houston, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Filipino–American Student Association, Foreign Film Club, French National Honor Society, National FFA Organization, Gay Straight Alliance, German Club, German National Honor Society, Go Club, Habitat for Humanity, Hebrew Club, Hindi National Honor Society, Hindu Student Council, Interact, Investors Business Daily, Italian Club, Japanese Club, Japanese National Honor Society, Jewish Student Union, Junior Achievement, Junior Classical League (JCL), Kid's Way, Knitting and Crochet Club, Latin Language Club, Leo Club, Literature Club, Live Music Club, Magic Club, Math Club, Math Masters (formed by David and Brian), Model United Nations Club, Music Uniting Societies Everywhere (MUSE), Muslim Student Association, Name That Book, National Honor Society, Odyssey of the Mind, Origami Club, Photography Club, Photoshop Club, Poetry Club, Quidditch Club, Red Cross, Reach Out, Ritmo Latino, Robotics Club, Russian Club, S2S Club, Science Bowl Team, Science Connection, Science Fair Club, Slavic Honor Society, Societa’ Onoraria Italica Giuseppe Tornatore Chapter, SOS Club, Spanish Club, Spanish National Honor Society, Students To Foreign Universities Bellaire Integration of Listening and Language, Student Government, Students for Environmental Awareness & Animal Rights Knowledge (SEA-ARK), Students Without Borders, Table Tennis Club, Tai Chi Club, Taiwanese American Student Association (TASA), Texas Association of Future Educators (TAFE), Ultimate Frisbee Club, UNICEF Club, Vietnamese Student Association, West Asian Student Association (WASA), Yoga Club, Young Democrats, and Young Republicans.[33]

Neighborhoods served

All pupils in the city of Bellaire are zoned to Bellaire High School.[34][35] Several parts of Houston that are around the city of Bellaire, including Meyerland,[36] Braesmont, parts of Braeswood Place that are west of Stella Link and parts that are south of South Braeswood (including the subdivisions of Ayrshire and Braes Terrace), Linkwood, Knollwood Village, Woodshire, Woodside, Westridge, Maplewood, Maplewood North, about half of Westwood, Flack Estates, and a small portion of Willow Meadows, are zoned to Bellaire High School.[37] A small portion of Southside Place is zoned to Bellaire High School.[38]

Transportation

Houston ISD provides school buses for students who live more than two miles away from the school or who have major obstacles between their houses and the school. Students are eligible if they are zoned to Bellaire or are in the Bellaire magnet program. A METRO bus stop (Maple at South Rice) is located at the school's entrance. Bus line 33 (Post Oak Crosstown) stops at Maple at South Rice.

Feeder patterns

Elementary schools that feed into Bellaire[35] include:

Partial:

Middle schools that feed into Bellaire include parts of Cullen,[52][53] Fondren,[54] Johnston,[55] Long,[56] and Pershing,[57] All pupils zoned to Johnston, Long, and Pershing Middle Schools may apply to Pin Oak Middle School's regular program;[58] therefore Pin Oak also feeds into Bellaire High School.

Many pupils who are in the Vanguard program and attend middle school at Lanier or T.H. Rogers choose to go to Bellaire High School. Some students who are enrolled in private schools in the 8th grade choose to go to Bellaire for high school.[59][60][61]

Feeding from private schools

Some private schools, such as Presbyterian School and River Oaks Baptist School, have students that matriculate into Bellaire.[62][63]

Notable alumni

<templatestyles src="Div col/styles.css"/>

References

  1. ↑ https://rptsvr1.tea.texas.gov/cgi/sas/broker?_service=marykay&year4=2015&year2=15&_debug=0&single=N&title=2015+Texas+Academic+Performance+Reports&_program=perfrept.perfmast.sas&prgopt=2015%2Ftapr%2Ftapr.sas&ptype=P&level=campus&search=campname&namenum=Bellaire+&campus=101912002
  2. ↑ "Bellaire High School official account." Twitter. Retrieved on March 28, 2013.
  3. ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 Swartz, Mimi. "The Gangstas of Godwin Park" (Archive). Texas Monthly. June 1, 2006. Jun2006, Vol. 34 Issue 6, p132. Retrieved on November 2, 2011. See profile at EBSCOHost
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Peterson, Alexander Duncan Campbell. Schools Across Frontiers: The Story of the International Baccalaureate and the United World Colleges. Open Court Publishing, 2003. (First edition: 1987) ISBN 0812695054, 9780812695052. p. 159.
  5. ↑ "LANGUAGES DRAWING STUDENTS Houston schools increase offerings to meet demands." Associated Press at The Dallas Morning News. Wednesday January 7, 1987. News 11B. Retrieved on November 28, 2011.
  6. ↑ Markley, Melanie. "32 schools hit enrollment cap." Houston Chronicle. Thursday September 26, 1991. A17. Retrieved on April 24, 2009.
  7. ↑ Bellaire High School stabbing suspect gets plea deal, KHOU-TV.com - March 16, 2006
  8. ↑ Spivak, Todd. "The Also-Rans." Houston Press. March 2, 2006. Retrieved on April 20, 2009.
  9. ↑ Radcliffe, Jennifer. "Critics: In HISD, too many don't go where zoned / Black leaders argue bond has no fix to get kids back to schools in their neighborhoods." Houston Chronicle. Sunday October 14, 2007. B1 MetFront.
  10. ↑ Mellon, Ericka. "Report: HISD should drop 55 magnet programs." Houston Chronicle. January 7, 2011. Retrieved on January 7, 2011.
  11. ↑ "Parks & Recreation." Brays Oaks. Retrieved on October 23, 2011.
  12. ↑ "Enroll_Expansion.pdf." Brays Oaks Management District. Retrieved on October 23, 2011.
  13. ↑ Mellon, Ericka. "Grier: 3 popular HISD high schools must reduce enrollment." Houston Chronicle. October 16, 2014. Retrieved on October 17, 2014.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Abram, Lynwood. "Former Bellaire High principal David McLure dies of cancer." Houston Chronicle. Sunday August 6, 2008. Retrieved on November 23, 2011.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 Spencer, Jason. "50 years of caring for Bellaire High." Houston Chronicle. Sunday October 8, 2005. Retrieved on December 3, 2011.
  16. ↑ Asin, Stephanie. "GOING BY DIFFERENT BOOKS/More private institutions get the call". Houston Chronicle. August 8, 1993. Section C, Page 1. Retrieved July 21, 2011.
  17. ↑ Viren, Sarah. "Yearbooks vanish from Houston schools in Facebook era." Houston Chronicle. Tuesday May 13, 2008. Retrieved on October 25, 2011.
  18. ↑ "The Top High Schools"[dead link] Newsweek via Cold Spring Harbor High School. 2002
  19. ↑ "2003 List: The Top High Schools"[dead link] Newsweek. 24 May 2003
  20. ↑ "The Complete List of the 1,000 Top U.S. Schools" Newsweek. 5 August 2005 Archived November 15, 2006 at the Wayback Machine
  21. ↑ "The Complete List of the 1,200 Top U.S. Schools"[dead link] Newsweek. 23 May 2006
  22. ↑ "The Top of the Class: The Complete list of the 1300 top U.S. high schools"[dead link] Newsweek. 19 May 2008
  23. ↑ America's Top Public High Schools 2012 at Newsweek.com Retrieved on June 7, 2013
  24. ↑ America's Top Public High Schools 2013 at Newsweek.com Retrieved on June 7, 2013
  25. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  26. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  27. ↑ Jenkins, Jeff. "Bellaire, Lamar in fight for an edge" (Archive). Houston Chronicle. Thursday October 20, 2005. Retrieved on September 26, 2015.
  28. ↑ Jenkins, Jeff. "Surging Bellaire to pose daunting task for Lamar in battle for 21-5A title" (Archive). Houston Chronicle. Thursday October 21, 2004. Retrieved on September 26, 2015.
  29. ↑ "Bellaire High School" International Baccalaureate Organization. 2005
  30. ↑ Foster, Robin. "Jamboree shows the lighter side of Bellaire High." (Archive) West University Examiner. Monday February 25, 2013. Retrieved on March 7, 2013.
  31. ↑ "Students as Allies in Improving Their High Schools" Whatkidscando.org October 2004 Archived February 21, 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  32. ↑ "Transfer policy hinders schools," Houston Chronicle, September 4, 2005
  33. ↑ "Clubs and Groups." Bellaire High School. Retrieved on July 27, 2009.
  34. ↑ "Bellaire City." United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on March 1, 2009.
  35. ↑ 35.0 35.1 "Bellaire High School Attendance Zone." Houston Independent School District. Retrieved on February 27, 2009. Archived February 28, 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  36. ↑ Meyerland Section Map. Meyerland. Accessed September 20, 2008.
  37. ↑ "Block Book Map Search[dead link]." Harris County Tax Office. Retrieved on February 27, 2009.
  38. ↑ "Southside Place City." United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on February 27, 2009.
  39. ↑ "Lovett Elementary Attendance Zone[dead link]." Houston Independent School District.
  40. ↑ "Braeburn Elementary Attendance Zone[dead link]." Houston Independent School District.
  41. ↑ "Condit Elementary Attendance Zone[dead link]." Houston Independent School District.
  42. ↑ "Cunningham Elementary Attendance Zone[dead link]." Houston Independent School District.
  43. ↑ "Herod Elementary Attendance Zone[dead link]." Houston Independent School District.
  44. ↑ "Horn Elementary Attendance Zone[dead link]." Houston Independent School District.
  45. ↑ "Kolter Elementary Attendance Zone[dead link]." Houston Independent School District.
  46. ↑ "Longfellow Elementary Attendance Zone." Houston Independent School District. Archived February 16, 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  47. ↑ "Red Elementary Attendance Zone[dead link]." Houston Independent School District.
  48. ↑ "Roberts Elementary Attendance Zone." Houston Independent School District. Archived February 16, 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  49. ↑ "Shearn Elementary Attendance Zone[dead link]." Houston Independent School District.
  50. ↑ "Mark Twain Elementary Attendance Zone[dead link]." Houston Independent School District.
  51. ↑ "Whidby Elementary Attendance Zone[dead link]." Houston Independent School District.
  52. ↑ Cullen Middle Attendance Zone[dead link]." Houston Independent School District.
  53. ↑ Ryan Middle Attendance Zone[dead link]." Houston Independent School District.
  54. ↑ Fondren Middle Attendance Zone[dead link]." Houston Independent School District.
  55. ↑ Johnston Middle Attendance Zone[dead link]." Houston Independent School District.
  56. ↑ Long Middle Attendance Zone." Houston Independent School District. Archived February 16, 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  57. ↑ Pershing Middle Attendance Zone[dead link]." Houston Independent School District.
  58. ↑ "Pin Oak Middle School." The Southwest District. Houston Independent School District.
  59. ↑ "About Us"[dead link] St. Mark's Episcopal School. Accessed 18 July 2006
  60. ↑ "Class of 2004 - Presbyterian School"[dead link]. Presbyterian School. Accessed 18 July 2006
  61. ↑ "River Oaks Baptist School ~ Where Do Our Students Go From Here?" River Oaks Baptist School. Accessed 25 August 2006
  62. ↑ "Beyond PS," Presbyterian School
  63. ↑ "Where Do Our Students Go From Here?," River Oaks Baptist School
  64. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  65. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  66. ↑ 66.00 66.01 66.02 66.03 66.04 66.05 66.06 66.07 66.08 66.09 66.10 66.11 66.12 66.13 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  67. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  68. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  69. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  70. ↑ Lucas O'Neill, "Profile: Jai Lucas (Bellaire, Texas)", Sports Illustrated, December 5, 2006.
  71. ↑ Mohr, Cole. "[1][dead link]." Alumni High School. Updated January 20, 2011. Retrieved on March 24, 2011.
  72. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.[dead link]
  73. ↑ Professor Bios, Oklahoma State University School of Journalism and Broadcasting: Sports Media (accessed March 17, 2010).
  74. ↑ Kelly Wunsch Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 19, 2014.
  75. ↑ "Raising Arizona[dead link]." Sports Illustrated. March 12, 2008.
  76. ↑ Gomez Dong, Alana. "Houstonian Next Asian Superstar?[dead link]." KPRC-TV. Friday July 24, 2009. Updated July 25, 2009. Retrieved on December 13, 2010.

External links

Retrieved from "https://infogalactic.com/w/index.php?title=Bellaire_High_School_(Texas)&oldid=1476868"