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As the largest public school system in Texas and the seventh-largest school district in the country, Houston Independent School District faces a monumental task. The district serves a widely diverse student population of more than 203,000 in the district’s 279 schools. To meet the needs of so many students, the district provides a range of educational opportunities, including an alternative learning center and online learning options. The district also boasts charter schools, college prep high schools, and a school for the visual and performing arts.

History of Houston Independent School District

states the Houston Independent School District was first established in the 1920s, during a time of exponential growth and change in the state’s school system. Houston ISD replaced the Harrisburg School System after the state legislature voted to separate governance of schools from municipal government responsibilities. The school district boasted a student population of just over 1,800 in 1899 to more than 8,800 by 1927.

During the middle years of the 20^th century, discrimination became an issue for Houston schools. In addition to the separation of African-Americans from white students that was common in southern schools at this time, Mexican Americans that resided in the Houston area also complained of discrimination. The Mexican American community launched a series of protests and boycotts to voice their displeasure with the discrimination practices, particularly in light of the Supreme Court ruling in Brown v. Board of Education in 1954. Eventually, the district successfully integrated

Broward County Public Schools is the second-largest school district in Florida and the sixth-largest in the United States. Broward also boasts the largest, fully-accredited school district in the country. Serving more than 260,000 students in 260 schools, this district has implemented numerous programs to address the needs of all students. From magnet schools to a brand new military academy, this district strives to provide for a diverse student body, preparing them for life after their Broward County Public Schools experience.

The History of Broward County

According to the Broward County Public Schools , the first two public schools in the county opened in 1899. The first teacher for the county, Ivy Cromartie, taught nine students at one small schoolhouse while Mary Butler greeted another nine students in another. The school was only in session for around six months a year at that time since their parents needed students to help on family farms for the rest of the years.

Schools in the area continued to grow by leaps and bounds over the next few years. By 1914, Fort Lauderdale High School, which was created in 1910, boasted a study population of 325 and a full nine-month school year. Broward County was officially established in 1915, offering firm boundaries for the region. The county was named for the former governor of the state, Napoleon B. Broward. The new county was established, and the official Broward County School System followed, complete with a superintendent, board

Chicago Public Schools is planning to close as many as 100 of its schools, citing poor attendance, as well as poor academic performance, as the reason for the closures. However, in the midst of massive closures, the city is also advertising the opening of new schools – different types of schools that promise to meet the need of Chicago’s youth and improve academic performance in the Windy City. Does Chicago need new schools or are there more schools than students right now? The answer to that question may depend on who you ask.

Concern over Low Capacities

According to the , Chicago Public Schools has plans to close the schools that do not have enough students to warrant keeping them open. Schools slated for closure are currently operating at enrollment limits of less than 50 percent, according to district officials. At the current rate, the district is paying more on utilities and resources than they are receiving in tax revenues, based on their current student count. District officials tell WBEZ that money saved by consolidation could be better spent on upgrading current school buildings.

However, in the midst of school closures, the district also has plans to open as many as 60 charter schools over the next five years. In fact, 11 of those new contract and charter schools would open as early as the beginning of the 2013 school year. The addition of the proposed new schools, in addition to

Dismal test scores have been released for Detroit public schools. The numbers show that not only are a few Detroit students considered proficient in math and reading, but the improvement has also been nearly non-existent over the past decade in the city. While the schools continue to struggle in Detroit, and throughout the state of Michigan, many proposals have been placed on the table in an effort to bring some of that long-awaited improvement. Unfortunately, few of those proposals come without controversy, and while educators and lawmakers continue to set battle lines, the students continue to suffer.

Proficiency Ratings Dismal in Detroit and Statewide

reports that according to the U.S. Department of Education, only seven percent of the eighth-graders in Detroit are considered proficient in reading. This figure comes from recent scores on the National Assessment of Educational Progress test from 2011. To make matters worse, math scores for Detroit were even lower, with just four percent of Detroit eighth-graders scoring proficient on the national math examinations.

While statewide scores are considerably higher than Detroit’s, they still fail to wow any Michigan educators or parents. On a statewide level, only 32 percent of eighth-graders in public schools tested proficient in reading. Thirty-one percent scored proficient in math. This means that more than two-thirds of all public school students in the state are reading and performing math below grade level.

Another concerning fact for educators, lawmakers, and residents of Michigan is that little

At a time when schools are examining standardized test scores for math, reading, and writing, schools in the District of Columbia are assessing their students’ aptitude in another subject – health. Last year, students in D.C. completed the first-ever standardized test on subjects like health, nutrition, and sex education. While some are touting the decision by D.C. to include this assessment, others are wondering why the focus has shifted to health when math and reading scores are still lagging in this school district.

What Was Tested?

The new standardized test was comprised of 50 questions developed by the Office of the State Superintendent of Education. The test was created in response to a provision in the Healthy Schools Act of 2010, which lawmakers want to use to raise awareness of health-related subjects among D.C. youth. According to , subjects varied somewhat based on the grade level, but included:

• Health and Wellness
• Disease Prevention
• Physical Education
• Safety Skills
• Healthy Decision Making
• Sexuality and Contraception
• Drugs

Parents were allowed to opt-out of allowing their students to answer the questions on sex, contraception, and drugs if they chose. Around five percent of fifth-graders opted out of sex-related questions, while approximately two percent of eighth-graders and high school students did so. The rest of the questions were administered in a similar fashion to any other standardized examination on reading, mathematics, writing, or science. Questions might include subjects like what physical activities are best for improving heart health or how to put out