News
Wheatley High School Students “Preparing to Dream” Big
This article has been updated to reflect the HISD Board of Education's approval of this plan on February 12.
The Houston A+ Challenge and the Houston Endowment is donating $225,000 to Phillis Wheatley High School to increase the number of students going to college through the Preparing to Dream Initiative. The goal of the program is to strengthen math instruction starting in the ninth grade, and to get students to take “higher level” math courses, such as calculus and geometry, by their senior year.
“Getting students across the stage at high-school graduation is crucial, but it's not the end goal. Preparing students for success in college, career, and life is the vision," said Scott Van Beck, executive director for Houston A+ Challenge. “Through Preparing to Dream, principals and teachers in the Wheatley feeder pattern are taking a hard look at their student data and current programs, and zeroing in on the best ways to move the needle on this goal.”
The Preparing to Dream Initiative will focus on the progress of this year’s ninth-grade class and it will follow them as a cohort for the next three years. The teachers will get additional training in higher-level math courses and strategies, while the students will receive web-based tutoring and more math classes.
“The ninth-grade students will receive a ‘double-dose’ of algebra, which means that they have two math periods with a different teacher. The second teacher now has the opportunity to challenge them in a different manner than the homeroom math teacher,” said HISD’s North Region Executive Principal Lupita Hinojosa. “The goal is for us to strengthen our ninth-grade math students and have at least 100 students take the geometry class for “credit” this summer paid for by the grant.”
“With our focus on transitioning students to college, we are striving to ensure that our ninth-graders have a successful high school experience,” said Wheatley Principal Wiley Johnson. “Our ultimate goal is to transition the students from high school to college. With the assistance of A+ Challenge and Preparing the Dream grant, Wheatley High School is taking a step in the right direction.”
The board also approved the acceptance of a $10,000 donation from the Houston A+ Challenge and the Houston Endowment to fund the second component of the Preparing to Dream Initiative, which will consist of parental involvement.
“It’s very important for parents to be involved. I’m a parent and if I have to be here every day, I will be,” said parent Patrice Rawls. “When we are involved, that shows our kids that we support them—and I want my daughter to get all the support she needs to go to college.”
Ninth-grade student Tierra Rawls is taking algebra as part of the Preparing to Dream Initiative.
“I used to have trouble in math, but now it’s easy” said Tierra. “My math teacher really works closely with us, tutors us if we need to, and makes math look simple. I like my math class. I’ll be ready for college.”
