Carnegie Vanguard High School

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Carnegie Vanguard High School
CVHSFourthWard.JPG
Carnegie Vanguard High School
Address
1501 Taft Street
Houston, Texas 77019
USA
Information
Type Public
Opened 2002
School district Houston Independent School District
CEEB Code 443541
Grades 9-12
Website

Andrew Carnegie Vanguard High School[1] is a public high school with a new location in Fourth Ward, Houston, Texas.[2][3] The high school was formerly located in Sunnyside, Houston,.[4]

Carnegie Vanguard High School serves grades 9-12 and is part of the Houston Independent School District. It is the only Vanguard Program high school in Houston ISD and offers all Advanced Placement core classes.

Carnegie is the only Vanguard high school in the Houston ISD with 100% of the students gifted and talented in academics. The students come from a wide range of cultural and socio-economic backgrounds. Each student has been identified as having intellectual, creative, and leadership abilities beyond those typically seen in their age and grade levels. The school encourages students to use their gifts, talents, and leadership to contribute to the betterment of their community.

Some Houston ISD students transfer to Carnegie Vanguard to escape their neighborhood schools which do not have good academic performance, causing the attendance figures of those schools to suffer.[5] Ericka Mellon of the Houston Chronicle said that Carnegie is "prestigious."[6] CVHS is rated Exemplary by the Texas Education Agency (Highest Rating by TEA), ranked 11th in the nation by Newsweek in 2011, ranked #13 in the Nation by Washington Post in 2011, and ranked #2 in the Houston Area by Children at Risk in 2012. It is also a National Blue Ribbon School.

The school is named after Andrew Carnegie.[7] The principal administrator is, as of 2013, Ramón Moss. Carnegie's mascot is the rhinoceros. The school was named a National Blue Ribbon School in 2008.[8][9]

History

Jones High School, the former home of the HISD Vanguard program

The Houston ISD Vanguard program was designed to serve the needs of gifted and talented students. From fall 1977 to spring 2002 the Houston ISD High School Vanguard Program was a separate program located at Jesse Jones High School.[10]

It is one of the many "Magnet" schools in Houston ISD designed to attract a diverse ethnicity of students without forced bussing that were created by former HISD Superintendent Billy Regan. To that end, for a few years, students outside of HISD were allowed to attend its Magnet schools beginning in 1981. That year, the high school magnet programs began teaching 9th grade; the comprehensive programs at all the high schools were still 10th-12th grade (until 1983).[citation needed]

The move that prompted the program's separation from Jones High School was the reinstatement of Lawrence Allen, a fired Jones principal who was reinstated several days later, when he was in charge only of the comprehensive program at Jones.[11]

Parents and staff members decided to move the Vanguard Program to a new campus, so Carnegie Vanguard High School opened in August 2002 in the former Carnegie Elementary School building off of Scott Street and Airport Boulevard near the Sunnyside neighborhood.[12] The elementary school students who attended Carnegie Elementary were moved to Woodson Middle School, which became the Woodson K-8 School.[13]

Carnegie Vanguard High School old campus

Carnegie began its first year as a separate school (2002–2003) with 173 students. This increased to 238 students in 2003-2004 and 254 students in 2004-2005.[14]

In November 2008 Houston ISD proposed to rebuild Carnegie on a site adjacent to Worthing, rebuild Worthing, and have the two schools share the same cafeteria. School board member Larry Marshall, whose jurisdiction includes Carnegie and Worthing, expressed support for this proposal or otherwise to house Carnegie and Worthing on the same plot of land.[15] Parents at Worthing accepted the proposal while parents at Carnegie rejected the proposal and asked for it to be discontinued.[16] The Carnegie parents said that the higher violence levels at Worthing and the parents' fears of backlash against Carnegie students at Worthing cause them to be opposed to HISD's proposal.[17] Peter Brown, the Houston City Council At-Large Position 1, opposed the idea. Brown said that the renovation of Worthing would be less costly than the consolidation. Brown also cited a Gates Foundation study to support his point.[18] On December 4, 2008 Abelardo Saavedra, the HISD superintendent, said that he would for now shelve plans since the plans had insufficient support from the board of trustees. School board trustee Paula M. Harris expressed support for the consolidation plan, arguing that magnet schools and small neighborhood schools, many of which were closed by the district, should be treated in the same manner.[19] Margaret Downing of the Houston Press added that Worthing parents did not like how the controversy "denigrated" the school.[20]

In 2009 the HISD administration proposed relocating Carnegie to the Fourth Ward. District administrators favored the move because students come from across the school district, and the central location would make transportation easier.[21] During that year the school board approved of the plan.[22] The former school grounds, have since been used for tactical training by multiple agencies, including the United States Army.[23]

Houston Airport System established an aviation club at Carnegie and Sterling High School in the fall of 2012.[24]

Campus

The current campus is located in the Fourth Ward, Houston.[3] It is in proximity to Downtown,[21] and to Midtown.[25] The new campus is located on a 6-acre (2.4 ha) plot at the northeast corner of West Gray Street and Taft Street. The new building houses around 600 students. Parents, staff members, and students provided input for the design of the new CVHS campus. The building committee lobbied for a central courtyard, which is a part of the school's culture.[26] The new building shares its site with the Gregory Lincoln Education Center.[27] The district had initially intended for a new campus of the High School for Performing and Visual Arts to be built at the site that is occupied by the new Carnegie.[28] Rey de la Reza Architects, Inc. developed the current Carnegie campus. The theater building is a former Orange Crush bottling plant and is one of the few remaining Art Deco buildings in Houston.[25]

The previous Carnegie campus was located in the former Carnegie Elementary School building off of Scott Street and Airport Boulevard near the Sunnyside neighborhood.[12] The former Carnegie Elementary building has about 42,500 square feet (3,950 m2) of space, including the exterior corridors.[29] The old campus was located adjacent to a horse pasture. Lisa Gray of the Houston Chronicle said that the "shabby" campus was "far not only from most of its students' homes, but also from most Houstonians' consciousness."[25] Gray also said that "By accident, the old elementary school's layout promoted the kind of effortless mixing that the latest designs for offices and research facilities strive to encourage."[25]

Student body

As of 2011 Carnegie Vanguard had a total student body of 524. A Senior class of 84, Junior class of 119, Sophomore Class of 124, and a Freshman Class of 197.

Class of 2011 - National Merit and AP Honors

6 National Merit Scholars 9 AP National Scholars 9 National Merit Commended Scholars 30 AP Scholars with Distinction 3 National Achievement Scholars 13 AP Scholars with Honors 3 National Hispanic Scholars 61 AP Scholar

Gender

Female 53% Male 47%

Race/Ethnicity

African American 21% Hispanic 24% American Indian 0% White 44% Asian/Pac. Islander 10% Two or More 2%

Athletics

As of 2015 Carnegie Vanguard competes in the University Interscholastic League (UIL), the public school athletic league in Texas. Students may play cross country, girls' volleyball, boys' tennis, and girls' tennis at Carnegie. In November 2015 over 730 individuals signed an online petition asking the HISD athletics director, Marmion Dambrino, to have Carnegie remain in the UIL.[30]

Rankings

Newsweek 2011 Ranked 11th in the nation.

Washington Post, #13 in the Nation, 2011, #11 in the Nation, 2014

Ranked #2 high school in the Houston Area and #5 in the state of Texas by Children at Risk[31]

As of December 2008, US News and World Report has ranked Carnegie Vanguard as #79 out of the more than 18,000 participating, public high schools in the United States.[32]

In 2007, US News and World Report ranked Carnegie Vanguard # 96 out of more than 18,000 public high schools in the United States.[33]

In 2008 Carnegie Vanguard was chosen as a National Blue Ribbon School.[34]

In 2009 Carnegie was named the top public high school in Greater Houston by the organization "Children At Risk."[35][36]

In 2010, Carnegie Vanguard High School was awarded #13 (Gold Ranking) by Newsweek

In 2013, Carnegie ranked #17 (Gold Ranking) in the Nation by U.S. News & World Report.

In 2014, Carnegie Vanguard High School was awarded #11 of the Best High Schools in the Nation by the Washington Post

In 2015, U.S. News & World Report named Carnegie Vanguard High School #6 out of the more than 21,000 public high schools in the country.

Transportation

Houston ISD provides school bus transportation to students who live more than two miles away from the school.[37]

Before Carnegie

Carnegie has no formal feeder patterns as it is a magnet school and serves students from all over the Houston ISD area. Some students who are enrolled in private schools in the 8th grade, such as students from Presbyterian School, choose to go to Carnegie for high school [38]

Notable teachers

  • Gail Bromiley-McGee, who taught at CVHS from fall 2003 to spring 2006, received the Presidential Award for Mathematics and Science Teaching[39][40] in Spring 2003.
  • Dr. Paula Brown, who taught at CVHS until the spring 2006, was honored as Secondary Teacher of the Year for Houston ISD in 2006.[41] She served as the TPSP Instructor until the end of the 2011-2012 school year. [42]
  • Andrew Dewey, as of 2014, teaches at Carnegie and is the vice president of the Houston Federation of Teachers[43][44] He currently teaches AP U.S. History, "1968," and "World Wars"[42]

Notable alumni

See also

References

  1. "[1]." Houston Independent School District. June 4, 2007. Retrieved on November 26, 2008.
  2. http://www.vanguardian.org/01-00Overviewx/Default.htm
  3. 3.0 3.1 https://maps.google.com/maps?q=fourth+ward+houston&hl=en&sll=40.697488,-73.979681&sspn=0.73819,1.454315&t=h&hnear=Fourth+Ward,+Houston,+Harris,+Texas&z=15
  4. http://www.houstontx.gov/houstonhope/sunnyside.html
  5. Spencer, Jason. "Transfer policy hinders schools / `Talent drain' makes it hard for some campuses to meet standards." Houston Chronicle. Sunday September 4, 2005. B1 MetFront. Retrieved on December 22, 2009.
  6. Mellon, Ericka. "POOR RATINGS, TROUBLED FINANCES." Houston Chronicle. Sunday March 25, 2007. B1 MetFront. Retrieved on November 26, 2011.
  7. "School Histories: the Stories Behind the Names." Houston Independent School District. Retrieved on September 24, 2008. "It is named for Andrew Carnegie, the famous Scottish immigrant who rose to become a steel tycoon and philanthropist."
  8. "Twenty-six Texas public schools named NCLB- Blue Ribbons Schools." Texas Education Agency. September 9, 2008. Retrieved on December 22, 2009.
  9. Mellon, Ericka. "Feds award 26 Texas schools with 'blue ribbon'." Houston Chronicle. September 9, 2008. Retrieved on December 22, 2009.
  10. Carnegie Vanguard — School Information
  11. Downing, Margaret. "The Great Divide." Houston Press. March 7, 2002. 1. Retrieved on December 22, 2009.
  12. 12.0 12.1 Martin, Betty L. "HOUSTON ISD / Bond benefits Carnegie Vanguard." Houston Chronicle. Thursday December 20, 2007. ThisWeek 4.
  13. Downing, Margaret. "A Split Decision." Houston Press. April 18, 2002. 1. Retrieved on December 22, 2009.
  14. "Carnegie Vanguard High School." SchoolDigger. Retrieved on November 26, 2008.
  15. Mellon, Ericka. "Plan for Carnegie-Worthing shared campus raises concern -- UPDATED." Houston Chronicle. November 11, 2008.
  16. Mellon, Ericka. "School plan seen as win-lose proposition." Houston Chronicle. November 12, 2008. Retrieved on January 19, 2010.
  17. Downing, Margaret. "Backlash Upon Backlash at HISD." Houston Press. December 2, 2008. 1. Retrieved on November 16, 2010.
  18. "Letters: Lingering worries after Ike." Houston Chronicle. November 30, 2008.
  19. Mellon, Ericka. "Carnegie-Worthing shared campus on hold for now." Houston Chronicle. Retrieved on December 4, 2008. Retrieved on December 22, 2009.
  20. Downing, Margaret. "Carnegie Parents Can Breathe A Sigh Of Relief -- For Now." Houston Press. Thursday December 4, 2008. Retrieved on December 22, 2009.
  21. 21.0 21.1 Mellon, Ericka. "Fourth Ward site likely for new Carnegie Vanguard High School." Houston Chronicle. November 17, 2009. Retrieved on November 24, 2009.
  22. Mark, Steve. "Exit for 2 HISD trustees, new campus for Carnegie Vanguard." West University Examiner. December 11, 2009. Retrieved on December 17, 2009.
  23. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  24. Haydon, David. "City hopes new club puts youths on a flight path" (Archive). Houston Chronicle. Wednesday October 24, 2012. Retrieved on December 6, 2015.
  25. 25.0 25.1 25.2 25.3 Gray, Lisa. "Gray: Praise for Carnegie." Houston Chronicle. Thursday September 13, 2012. Retrieved on September 17, 2012.
  26. Morris, Mike. "Carnegie Vanguard ‘investors' plan its move." Houston Chronicle. February 26, 2010. Retrieved on March 4, 2010.
  27. "Houston Planning Commission Agenda." Houston Planning Commission. 93/101. September 16, 2010.
  28. Downing, Margaret. "Carnegie Vanguard May Finally (And Happily) Move To A New Home." Houston Press. Thursday December 10, 2009. Retrieved on September 8, 2011.
  29. "Plans ready for Carnegie Vanguard High School." Ultimate Montrose at the Houston Chronicle. December 8, 2010. Retrieved on December 21, 2010.
  30. Mellon, Ericka. "Carnegie Vanguard parents want teams to stay in UIL" (Archive). Houston Chronicle. Monday November 9, 2015. Retrieved on December 2, 2016.
  31. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  32. "Carnegie Vanguard High School (Top 100, #96)." US News and World Report. Retrieved on December 4, 2008.
  33. "Carnegie Vanguard High School (Top 100, #96)." US News and World Report. Retrieved on November 26, 2008.
  34. "2008 No Child Left Behind – Blue Ribbon Schools All Public and Private Schools by State." United States Department of Education. Retrieved on November 26, 2008.
  35. "2009 GREATER HOUSTON HIGH SCHOOL RANKINGS REPORT." Children at Risk. Retrieved on May 20, 2009.
  36. "Group unveils ranking of local schools." KTRK-TV. Monday April 13, 2009. Retrieved on May 20, 2009.
  37. "Student Eligibility." Houston Independent School District. Accessed July 14, 2008.
  38. "Presbyterian School Class of 2004." Presbyterian School. Retrieved on November 26, 2008.
  39. "A Few Achievements." Carnegie Vanguard High School. Retrieved on November 26, 2008.
  40. "K-12 Newsletter April 2004. ASEE. Volume 1, No. 4. April 2004. Retrieved on November 26, 2008.
  41. "2006 Teacher of the Year Banquet: Now With Photo Gallery!" Houston Independent School District. May 19, 2006.
  42. 42.0 42.1 "Staff." Carnegie Vanguard High School. Retrieved on February 6, 2012.
  43. "Faculty." Carnegie Vanguard High School. Retrieved on November 26, 2008.
  44. "Houston Federation of Teachers." American Federation of Teachers. Retrieved on November 26, 2008.
  45. Grant, Clyde (interviewer). "Artist Spotlight Love Life." Drench Magazine. Retrieved on July 4, 2010.
  46. "Carnegie’s Community Service Requirement." Carnegie Vanguard High School. Retrieved on November 13, 2010. "Anthony Obi, who was a member of the 2005-2006 senior class, volunteers at his church by helping out around the building and assisting those in need of a few extra hands."

External links

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