Preparing Students for Tomorrow — Caring for Them Today
Alief Independent School District 2016-2017 Calendar & Annual Report
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21 28 Alief-Clodine C 35 I A 6 7 31 F G H 20 38 46 40 24 D E 9 17 44
Winkleman 39 45 41 32 B 29 4 34 18 5 43 16 42
11 District Facilities 1 30 15 36 1 Alexander Elementary School 29 owens Intermediate School 30 Youngblood Intermediate School 2 Best Elementary School Bissonnet 3 3 Boone Elementary School 31 Albright Middle School Ft. Bend County 27 13 4 Bush Elementary School 32 Alief Middle School HWY 59 5 Chambers Elementary School 33 Holub Middle School 33 2 6 Chancellor Elementary School 34 Killough Middle School 7 Collins Elementary School 35 o’Donnell Middle School Line 14 8 Cummings Elementary School 36 olle Middle School 8 9 Hearne Elementary School 37 Alief Early College High School 22 SW FWY 10 Heflin Elementary School 38 elsik High School Leawood 26 11 Hicks Elementary School 39 elsik Ninth Grade Center Map Key 12 Holmquist Elementary School 40 Hastings High School Huntington Stancliff 13 Horn Elementary School 41 Hastings Ninth Grade Center Elementary Schools Place Dr 14 Kennedy Elementary School 42 Kerr High School W. Bellfort 15 Landis Elementary School 43 taylor High School Intermediate Schools 16 Liestman Elementary School 44 Alief Learning Center 17 Mahanay Elementary School 45 Crossroads Middle Schools 18 Martin Elementary School 46 SOAR/LINC/Night High School 19 outley Elementary School A Administration Building High Schools & Programs 20 Petrosky Elementary School B Alief Support Facility/Tax Office 21 Rees Elementary School C Crump Stadium & Athletic Facilities 22 Smith Elementary School D Maintenance Dept. Support Facilities 23 Sneed Elementary School E MIS/Police Dept. Note: Map Not To Scale 24 Youens Elementary School F ness Natatorium 25 Budewig Intermediate School G Printing Services/Warehouse 26 Klentzman Intermediate School H Purchasing Map of the Alief Independent School District 27 Mata Intermediate School I Transportation 28 Miller Intermediate School Proudly located in Houston, Texas To Our Alief Proud Community:
I am pleased to present this Alief ISD Annual Report Calendar. The achievements highlighted in the following pages give a snapshot of the programs, successes and
plans that are being made every day in Superintendent HD Chambers pictured with Alief ISD Valedictorians & Salutatorians Alief ISD to advance excellence in public education. You will learn of the student and staff accomplishments at the local, state and national level. It is with great pride that I have the opportunity to share with you the information in this report. With 46 campuses, more than 6,500 staff members and approximately 47,000 students, Alief ISD takes every opportunity to build a learning environment while staying true to our mission of Preparing Students for Tomorrow – Caring for Them Today. We continue to work on a daily basis providing our students with the skills that they need to thrive in a rapidly changing, diverse, global society. While we celebrate these accomplishments, we continue to focus on improving learning experiences and planning for the future. We are well aware that our sustained success relies Stay Connected!
on the investment, support and partnership with all of our stakeholders, including students, Phone: 281-498-8110 staff, parents, business partners, community members and taxpayers. Website: www.aliefisd.net On behalf of myself, the Board of Trustees, students and staff, I encourage you to continue to be engaged in our district by remaining informed and active in supporting the education of Twitter: @AliefISD Alief ISD Mobile App: youth. My aspiration is that you find this Annual Report Calendar both informative and useful. Available through iTunes and Thank you for being Alief Proud! Google Play Store Sign up through the district website to receive regular updates through the Key Communicator e-newsletter from Sincerely, Superintendent HD Chambers.
HD Chambers Superintendent of Schools Alief Independent School District
Alief Community At A Glance Alief ISD serves the residents of 36.6 square miles in Harris County. Approximately 75 percent of this area is within the City of Houston. A large portion of the school district is located in the Westchase District and International Management District. Alief ISD consists of an educated and diverse population and is home to a number of international companies.
Our Alief Proud Students Our Alief Proud Staff African American 29.59% Alief ISD is Asian/Pacifichome Islanderto one of12.27% the most diverse student Alief ISD staff members are highly trained, committed Hispanic 52.65% bodies in AmericanTexas. Indian/Alaskan Our students1.14% are continuously employees who put students first. Our teachers are dedicated recognized onWhite/Anglo the local, state3.10% and national levels for their Other 1.25% to their craft, and about a third of our teachers have achievements and advanced degrees. Many Alief ISD employees choose to accomplishments. Diversity in Alief ISD send their children to Alief schools for the quality education White/Anglo American Other we provide. In addition, hundreds 3% Indian/Alaskan 1% 1% of Alief ISD staff members are proud district graduates or former $46 million students who have chosen to return Graduating Senior home to serve the Alief community. Scholarships 10.8 years African American Average Number of Years of 30% Teaching Experience Highly Qualified Alief ISD 7.9 years 98% Average Number of Years Teachers Teaching in Alief ISD
93.2% Hispanic Alief ISD 53% Graduation Rate Asian/Pacific Islander Exceeds State 12% Graduation Rate Our Alief Proud Families 88.3% Out of those surveyed, 85% of parents said... 80+ • Their children are learning what they Languages 80.3% 39.8% need to be successful in the next Economically Limited English grade level or after graduation. Spoken by Disadvantaged Proficiency • Staff members care about students. Alief ISD Students • Children generally feel safe at school. Alief ISD Board of Trustees
The Alief ISD Board of Trustees is responsible for establishing the policies in which our school district operates within the framework of state and federal laws. Our elected trustees serve four-year terms and must live within the district attendance Dr. Lily Truong boundaries. Position 1 All Alief ISD Board of Trustees meetings are open to the public. Board Workshops are typically scheduled for every first Tuesday of the month, while Regular Board Meetings typically take place every third Tuesday of the month. Each meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. in the Board Room, which is located within the Rick Moreno Administration Building at 4250 Position 2 Cook Road. Preparing Students for Tomorrow — Caring for Them Today
Ann Williams Dedré Jefferson Nghi T. Ho Sarah B. Winkler Tiffany D. Thomas Position 3 Position 4 Position 5 Position 6 Position 7
Did you know? Alief ISD Board Trustees Dr. Lily Truong, Dedré Jefferson, Nghi T. Ho and Tiffany D. Thomas are proud Alief ISD alumni. August 2016
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28 29 30 31 Notes Community and Student Engagement
The Community and Student Engagement (CASE) accountability system is designed to highlight the variety of ways schools prepare students for graduation and beyond. Schools are rated Unacceptable to Exemplary. Our results on the indicators are below. We are pleased to see all schools dedicated to growing in each area and exceeding standards each year. We will continue to raise the bar in all areas to strengthen the educational experience for our students. Alief ISD is amongst the most progressive and forward thinking school districts in the state. Our goal is to keep students engaged in education and provide opportunities that lead to success after graduation.
CASE For Success
Family and Community Second Language Digital Involvement Acquisition Learning Exemplary Exemplary Recognized
Dropout Fine 21st Century Prevention Arts Workforce Exemplary Exemplary Recognized
Gifted & Wellness and Reporting and Talented Physical Education Compliance Exemplary Exemplary Compliant
Did you know? Alief ISD is an exemplary school district in the Community and Student Engagement (CASE) accountability system. September 2016
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25 26 27 28 29 30 School Choice
Alief Early College High School (AECHS) is a partnership with Houston Community College and provides a seamless opportunity for students to simultaneously receive a distinguished achievement high school diploma and an associate’s degree in a supportive, yet rigorous educational environment. Career and Technical Education Early College High School offers opportunities for students to take course work both at their traditional high school campus and at the Houston Community College’s Alief Construction Technology Center. Students are provided the opportunity to earn a high school diploma and an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) Degree in Construction Technology with a specialization in Construction Technology; Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC); Electrical and Plumbing or Welding and Electrical. Alief Kerr High School (KHS) is continuously recognized at the local, state and national level as a high performing school. The Kerr way is a non-traditional system releasing the responsibility for learning to the students through choice and self-management. KHS was named a 2010 National Blue Ribbon School by the United States Department of Education. Alief Institute of Math and Science (AIMS) classrooms group gifted peers in a rigorous environment and provide differentiated content from the four core academic subjects. Students in the AIMS program have a unique opportunity to interact daily with their gifted peers, in and across grade levels, focusing on instructionally motivating and complex studies. In Alief ISD, we believe parents are partners in Dual Language classes the education of our students. We understand the are offered for students beginning in Kindergarten and need for parents to have choices in the educational are designed to encourage English and Spanish speaking opportunities provided for their students. students to become bilingual, biliterate and bicultural while attaining high academic achievement.
Did you know? Alief Early College High School and Kerr High School are among 26 public schools in the state of Texas to be nominated for national Blue Ribbon Schools recognition. October 2016
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30 31 Family Engagement
Alief ISD’s Family and Community Engagement Program Over 60% of Alief students’ establishes meaningful and families have engaged in their child’s school at least once during effective partnerships with all the school year. stakeholders including our families and volunteers. Our goal is to build a strong bridge between Alief The Alief community and Alief ISD schools and our Alief community families love our schools! by providing opportunities that
lead to improved student success, Alief welcomes Family Centers on average provide 30 free stronger and equipped families and informed and healthier 34,000 family courses per members communities. year. annually. Monthly, over 400 career professionals, retired community members, veterans and parents volunteer a total of 2,600+ hours in our Alief schools. Our Alief families partner with teachers and staff in the education of their children and understand that family engagement Bush Elementary and Liestman and empowerment are essential at Elementary are two of only 10 all levels. schools recognized across the nation as National Family Friendly Schools. Each Alief campus houses a Family Learning Center staffed by a full-time, trained Family Liaison. Alief ISD offers more than 1,700 family events throughout the district each year.
Alief ISD: Exemplary in Family & Community Involvement
Did you know? Research shows that family engagement has a positive effect on student success. That is very evident in Alief ISD. November 2016
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27 28 29 30 Notes College & Career Ready
In Alief, post-secondary readiness is more than a concept; it is a reality that we pursue for every student. Alief ISD has collaborated with institutions of higher education, local industry leaders, parents, students and other local stakeholders to identify and develop coherent sequences of study that will provide students with opportunities upon graduating from Alief ISD. The goal is to create seamless transition between high school and post-secondary options. As you can see, Alief ISD students are prepared for their future!
Alief ISD: Exemplary in Alief ISD: Exemplary in Alief ISD: Exemplary in Gifted & Talented Second Language Acquisition Dropout Prevention
95.6% 93.2% 91.6% 83.0% Points of Pride Alief ISD has an Alief ISD seniors Alief ISD has an The majority Approximately extraordinary outperformed exceptional rate of seniors plan 60 Alief graduates attendance rate. their peers of Recommended to attend a enlist into the By attending with a higher High School community college military annually. school, Alief ISD graduation rate, Program or university students are compared to Graduates and upon graduation. Seniors receive active, engaged 88.3% across the Distinguished Others transition an estimated learners. state of Texas. Academic Plan into the workforce $46 million in Graduates. or armed forces. scholarships.
Did you know? More than 90 percent of Alief ISD high school seniors thought the college and career guidance received from Alief has been helpful. December 2016
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Student/Staff Holiday Student/Staff Holiday Student/Staff Holiday Student/Staff Holiday Student/Staff Holiday Alief ISD Fine Arts
Alief ISD offers a comprehensive and rigorous fine arts curriculum in the areas of Art, Music, Band, Choir, Orchestra, Theatre, Cheer, Speech & Debate, Journalism and Dance. There are over 10,600 students enrolled in fine arts courses at intermediate, middle and Alief ISD: high school level. All elementary students are Exemplary in Fine Arts provided with art and music education. Each school year, a multitude of Alief ISD fine arts students compete and receive local, regional and national awards, scholarships and other recognition in all areas including the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo art competition, the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, the University Interscholastic League (UIL) competitions and awards from other prestigious competitions in Theatre, Speech & Debate, Cheer and Dance. Students who participate in fine arts organizations in Alief ISD annually win numerous scholarships to major colleges, conservatories and universities for studies in everything from fine arts to medicine. Research shows that students who are in a rigorous fine arts program during their school-age years tend to succeed in all areas of learning. Alief fine arts provide 21st century skills and content for students, making them workplace-ready through excellence in arts experiences.
Alief ISD seniors in the district’s fine arts programs have received scholarships to continue to pursue the arts in college or to attend prestigious fine arts and dance academies.
Did you know? Alief ISD students and staff continue to earn top district, local, state and national fine arts awards and recognitions. January 2017
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29 30 31 Notes Alief ISD Athletics
Alief ISD Athletics has a rich tradition of success. The Alief ISD Athletic programs provide some of the best life-long lessons including leadership skills, time management, goal setting, team building, coping with adversity, proper work ethic and character development. Alief ISD Athletics places a strong emphasis on the academic achievements of student-athletes. Athletics promotes being a true “student-athlete” through the scholar athlete program, which recognizes students for excelling in the classroom and on the fields or courts. Our athletes play an intricate role in their schools by participating in numerous organizations Alief ISD alumni and and extracurricular activities. Many student-athletes receive not only athletic former students are... scholarships, but academic scholarships as well, to pursue higher education. Good sportsmanship, team spirit, pride, Current and former National Football healthy habits and citizenship are traits League (NFL) and collegiate football players
that one will see in Alief ISD students. The Professional athletes who have participated development of the whole student-athlete in the Olympic Games is and will continue to be the goal of Current and former Alief ISD Athletics. National Basketball Association (NBA) and Many former Alief ISD athletes have international basketball club players gone off to pursue their education and have returned to become employees of Alief ISD. Those who return often choose to serve as Alief ISD Athletics coaches to assist the next generation of Alief ISD athletes.
Did you know? Many Alief ISD graduates are accomplished collegiate and professional athletes in the United States and across the globe. February 2017
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Alief ISD: Recognized in Approximately 8,500 students 21st Century Workforce participate annually in our Career and Technical Education (CTE) program. For the past three years, more than 2,000 industry certifications have been earned by Alief ISD CTE students in the following programs: Automotive Technology; Marketing; Architecture; Construction; Health Sciences; Business Management; Welding; Hotel Management and Culinary Arts. In our partnership with Houston Community College, students have the opportunity to earn college credit and learn industry skills in the areas of Health Science, Construction, Manufacturing and Entrepreneurship. Student organizations supporting our CTE programs include: Future Farmers of America (FFA); Business Leaders of America (BPA); Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA); Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA); Skills USA; Health Occupations Student Association (HOSA) and Texas Association of Future Educators (TAFE). CTE students also work and intern in and around the Alief community as a part of their work-based learning programs called Career Preparation and Practicums.
In addition to dual credit opportunities through Houston Community College, Alief ISD Career & Technical Education (CTE) students also receive articulated technical credit in more than 83 courses in 37 Plans of Study.
Did you know? As a result of Alief’s partnerships with area businesses and colleges, Alief ISD CTE students receive work-relevant training and free industry certification opportunities. March 2017
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26 27 28 29 30 31 A recent survey of greater Houston area school districts Financial Success showed that Alief ISD had the second lowest tax rate in the area. Alief ISD: Compliant in Reporting and Compliance
Alief ISD is committed to being good stewards of your tax dollars. We work tirelessly to ensure every tax dollar is used to fulfill Alief ISD’s motto of Preparing Students for Tomorrow — Caring for Them Today. The numerous Alief ISD spends more per financial recognitions the school district has received student than the average further illustrate our commitment. Texas school district. Alief ISD has received the Meritorious Budget Award (MBA) for excellence in budget presentation from the Association of School Business Officials International (ASBO) and the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA). Alief ISD has also received the Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting from ASBO and the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence Budget & Expenditures in Financial Reporting from GFOA for its Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for more than 25 years. Alief ISD Per Pupil Budget...... $10,020 The District has also received the highest award level for six Tax Rate (Tax Year 2015)...... $1.280 Maintenance & Operations...... $1.125 years from the Texas Comptroller Leadership Circle program which Interest & Sinking...... $0.155 highlights annually those entities that are setting the bar with their Figures from 2015-2016: transparency efforts. Budgeted Revenues...... $481,054,748 Alief has received the highest possible rating each year in the Local...... $180,774,663 State...... $265,870,634 Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas since the program was Federal...... $34,409,451 implemented in 2001. Budgeted Expenditures...... $478,448,248 Alief’s outstanding debt carries the high rating of Aa1 from Salaries and Benefits...... $381,560,339 Others...... $96,887,909 Moody’s Investor Services due in part to the district’s sound fiscal practices and strong financial performance.
Did you know? Alief ISD’s combination of salary adjustments and a great benefits package makes the district a proud market leader in the greater Houston area. April 2017
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Alief ISD voters overwhelmingly approved the $341 million bond referendum in May 2015. The projects include safety and security upgrades for several campuses, renovations and upgrades across the district and new student buses. The referendum also consists of plans for classroom expansions in preparation for a district-wide, full-day Pre-Kindergarten program, a career center, a professional learning center with performance space and an addition of fine arts classrooms and an auditorium at Kerr High School. You will begin to see this development in our community as plans are underway for the Alief Career Center, the Kerr High School Fine Arts Addition, the additions at Outley Elementary and the additional gymnasiums at each middle school. The gyms at Holub, Killough, Olle and O’Donnell are expected to be open in August 2017, while the gyms at Albright and Alief Middle are expected to be ready in January 2017. The classroom addition and gymnasium at Outley Elementary are expected to be completed by the end of 2016. The Career Center is expected to be open in the spring of 2018.
Did you know? Thanks to the support of Alief community members and residents, the bond referendum passed with an exceptional 72.3 percent approval rating. May 2017
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Alief ISD’s business and community partners are dedicated to the students and staff of the school district. Alief ISD has numerous business partner groups consisting of dedicated community members who serve as mentors to Alief ISD students at all grade levels. Thanks to the generosity of the Alief community, donations from business and community partners often exceed $3 million dollars annually. These funds go directly toward enhancing student achievement.
Did you know? Alief ISD business and community partners frequently give back by reading to students, providing work study opportunities and presenting on Career Day. June 2017
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25 26 27 28 29 30 Alief ISD Education Foundation
The Alief ISD Education Foundation was established in 1993 to support the education of students in Alief ISD. It is comprised of local business and community members who contribute numerous hours of fundraising endeavors to benefit the students of Alief ISD. The Education Foundation awards scholarships to Alief ISD high school seniors on an annual basis. The Foundation also awards mini grants to teachers annually for developing innovative projects they would like to pursue in their classrooms. These projects further the education of Alief ISD students. The Uniform Effort Clothing and Supply Pantry offers support to Alief students needing financial assistance to obtain school supplies and uniforms. The pantry relies on volunteers and outside donations, including the annual Stuff-A-Bus campaign, to provide uniforms and school supplies. An annual golf tournament is also held to raise funds to support the academic success of Alief ISD students. The Alief ISD Education Foundation accepts donations, which are tax-deductible. In total, more than $125,000 was given to support the education of students in Alief ISD this past year.
Did you know? Staff members contribute approximately $54,696 annually through the Education Foundation’s Pay It Forward campaign. The funds are used for student scholarships and teacher mini grants. July 2017
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30 31 Alief Proud
Alief ISD is in constant communication with many stakeholder groups who are active in the Alief community and beyond. Many district alumni donate time and resources back to Alief, including serving as guest speakers on Career Days and volunteering or mentoring our students. In addition, hundreds of Alief ISD employees are district graduates and are proud to call themselves Alief Employee Alumni Association members. This district organization supports Alief ISD students, staff and alumni. Alief ISD Superintendent HD Chambers has advisory groups to discuss various topics that affect the day-to-day district operations. The Superintendent’s Student Advisory and the Teacher Advisory Councils both meet with the superintendent regularly to ensure the needs of students and staff are addressed. The superintendent also meets regularly with the Alief Pastoral Network, local legislative leaders and a group of Alief community members and parents. Alief’s Key Communicator Network keeps community members, citizens, business members, parents and employees informed about key issues as well as upcoming district events in Alief ISD. These email blasts from Superintendent HD Chambers are sent periodically to thousands of individuals who signed up on our website to receive these updates. This is one of the many communication tools in place to keep citizens engaged in Alief ISD.
Did you know? To show our pride, Alief ISD hosts the annual Alief Proud Day to showcase district and campus programs and student groups as well as community partners. August 2017
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27 28 29 30 31 We are Alief Proud!