Did you know...

• In August 2007, under the state's higher standards, the Texas Education Agency awarded HEB ISD a rating of  "Academically Acceptable," for student performance during the 2006-2007 school year.  The district has 18 "Recognized" schools, seven "Academically Acceptable" schools, and for the second time under the more rigorous standards, two "Exemplary" schools.
• The District's fourth International Baccalaureate candidates graduated from LD Bell and Trinity high schools in May 2007. Of the 101 candidates who completed the rigorous two-year program, 69 received the prestigious IB diploma, awarded by the IBO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. This is a significant increase over the first class that graduated in 2004, where 38 diplomas were awarded out of 79 candidates.
• In addition, thanks to the efforts of State Representative Todd Smith, who worked with HEB ISD administration, the Texas Legislature passed SB 111. This law means "…an institution of higher education shall grant at least 24 semester credit hours or equivalent course credit in appropriate subject areas to an entering freshman student for successful completion of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program." The legislation became effective during the fall of 2006.

• HEB ISD has three Pre-K programs to provide early childhood education: Early Start, which combines Head Start with traditional Pre-K; Core Knowledge Pre-Kindergarten, a tuition-based program that uses the Core Knowledge curriculum; and the state-mandated program designed to enrich language development.

• HEB ISD offers Schools of Choice, where certain campuses offer Suzuki Strings, Core Knowledge and Foreign Language Immersion. Parents can inquire about transferring their children to schools that offer these special classes.

• HEB ISD now offers the International Business Initiative, which provides Hindi and Mandarin Chinese languages in junior high school, in order to help prepare students for life in a global economy when they graduate from high school.

• All 19 elementary schools will offer Dancing Classrooms during 2007-2008 to fifth grade students. The district had six schools pilot the program the previous school year, and research conducted by the University of Texas at Arlington demonstrated the positive impact the program had on students' self confidence. Students will learn merengue, foxtrot, rumba, tango, and swing during the 10-week program.

• The HEB ISD has been named in the top 15 percent of school systems nationwide as a recipient of the national School Match What Parents Want Award. An outstanding curriculum, academic test scores, class size and an above average expenditure on pupil instruction are the criteria for this prestigious award.

• For the fourth year in a row, the District has received a "Superior" Rating in the state FIRST program, the financial accountability rating system. "Superior" is the highest possible in this assessment and reflects the District's low spending on administrative costs and its focus on instructional spending; low student-teacher ratios; and low ratios of students to total staff. The rating was based on the 2004-2005 fiscal year.

• HEB ISD has nationally recognized visual and performing arts programs, including band, choir, art, and theatre.

• HEB ISD has innovative PTA, Adopt-A-School and Volunteers In Public Schools (VIPS) programs which promote school and community partnerships to positively impact student achievement. More than 5,000 volunteers donated more than 431,000 hours during the 2006-2007 school year.

New to the area or thinking about moving to HEB ISD? Be sure to visit the "Newcomers" section on the district home page. There are colored tabs which have information on special programs, advanced academics, athletics, fine arts, and more.