PBS ‘Frontline’ Episode Highlights HISD’s Dropout Prevention Efforts

Watch Dropout Nation on PBS. See more from FRONTLINE.

HISD’s efforts to get dropouts back in class—and keep at-risk students from leaving school in the first place—was the focus of a special report on Tuesday night (Sept. 25) by the award-winning Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) television show Frontline.

The “Dropout Nation” episode documented the challenges and obstacles four students face in their quest to earn a diploma from HISD’s Sharpstown High School. If you didn’t catch the episode, you can watch it in its entirety here. Here is just some of the reaction from viewers who wrote in and posted on Twitter:

• “Just wanted to say I am proud that you guys are working so hard for at risk kids. … I wanted to thank you guys for trying so hard to help the future of our country. God bless you. Please pass this on to your teachers and counselors. I am proud of you.” —Mark Froehlke, Chugiak, Alaska
• “Hats off to Brandi @houstonISD #sharpstown high. Can’t take my eyes off this show—these kids are in my heart” — Kim Mullaney “momofrazorsam”
• “Don’t take today and make it what your life is permanently.’ Powerful. #Frontline #AmGrad —Brandi Brevard
• “HoustonISD @frontlinepbs Thanks for giving us the access and the opportunity.” —Frank Koughan, “Dropout Nation” producer

On Monday night (Sept. 24), HISD Superintendent Terry Grier and Sharpstown High School Principal Rob Gasparello were featured on this Houston PBS program to discuss HISD’s innovative approach to the national dropout crisis. Today, HISD schools graduate 2,000 more students annually than they did in 2007, even though the overall number of students attending Houston schools is unchanged. Read more about HISD’s latest dropout data here.