Energy Institute High School

Energy Institute High School, the former Dodson Elementary School
The HISD Central Region Office, the former Holden Elementary, initially housed Energy Institute (it is now the Arabic Immersion Magnet School)

Energy Institute High School is a magnet high school in East Downtown in Houston, Texas. It is a part of the Houston Independent School District. It is the first high school in the United States that has a focus on the energy industry.[1]

The district announced that the school would be created in the northern hemisphere spring of 2013. It opened in the former Holden Elementary School in the Houston Heights. There was 650 applicants for about 217 slots in the 2014-2015 9th grade class. In 2014 many area corporations offered assistance to the Energy Institute.[1] The Independent Petroleum Association of America is one such organization that has partnered with the school to provide mentors, field trips and monthly speakers.[2] The school is currently located in the former Dodson Elementary School in East Downtown.[3] It had moved there in the summer of 2014.[4] The Arabic Immersion Magnet School opened in the former Holden/Energy Institute facility in the fall of 2015.[5]

Operations

Students are permitted to use smartphones during class time. This practice differs from most high schools. The school also permits students to listen to music during class as long as it does not impair the learning environment.The school focuses on project based learning. This basically means that the learning style is all based on projects. Students practice their presentation skills, leadership skills and team-working skills.[1]

Campus

In order to emulate a corporate setting, the school district arranged for the school-style desks at Holden to be replaced with tables, and the regular walls were replaced with glass. Each classroom has a 70-inch (1,800 mm) television that is connected to the internet.[1]

Curriculum

All students are required to take one engineering class during each school year. Students are required to take advanced mathematics classes. Students may specialize in either alternative energy, geosciences, or offshore technology. Every subject taught in the school includes topics related to energy. The school is a project based learning school meaning that it does not rely on standard school testing but instead, it relies more heavily on the use of group work projects. Each student has a laptop for his or her use.[1]

Student body

As of the 2013-2014 school year, 25% of the students are female. As of February 2014 there were about 200 first year students (freshmen) attending.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Radcliffe, Jennifer. "Energy Institute thrives in inaugural year." Houston Chronicle. February 24, 2014. Retrieved on March 16, 2014. Available in The Indiana Gazette
  2. ↑ Abrahams, Tom. "New magnet school hopes to foster interest in energy industry at young age" (Archive). KTRK-TV. May 15, 2013. Retrieved on August 13, 2014.
  3. ↑ "Home." Energy Institute High School. Retrieved on March 19, 2015. "1808 Sampson Houston, TX 77003-5434"
  4. ↑ Blum, Jordan. "Debate over where to build Houston's energy high school flares up" (Archive). Houston Business Journal. July 3, 2014. Retrieved on March 19, 2015.
  5. ↑ "HISD Board of Education approves creation of Arabic Language Immersion Magnet School" (Archive). Houston Independent School District. November 13, 2014. Retrieved on March 19, 2015.

External links

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