Sign up for Latest News, Upcoming Events and Builder Incentives!
Parents know that a strong school district gives children an advantage. Good districts provide students with the teachers, materials and opportunities they need for success now and in the future. That’s why parents choose communities zoned to schools in the Lamar Consolidated Independent School District (CISD).
Lamar CISD is one of the largest and fastest-growing school districts in the Houston area. More than 39,000 K-12 students are served by 2,299 teachers across 45 campuses throughout Fort Bend County. Teachers average 10 years experience and 25 percent have achieved a master’s degree or higher. Students score above average on state-mandated tests. A high percentage of high school students take honors and Advanced Placement classes, and the graduation rate is 95 percent. The district receives approximately $330.6 million in revenue from federal, state and local sources.
What is a ‘Consolidated’ District?
A “consolidated” district is an amalgamation of two or more school districts. Consolidation allows districts to offer more services, expand extracurricular opportunities and provide additional resources. In 1947, Richmond ISD, Rosenberg ISD and Beasley ISD along with Rice Farm, Thompsons, Booth, Simonton, Fulshear, Foster, Brandt, George, Cottonwood and Pleak “common districts” united to become the Lamar Consolidated Independent School District. In 1985, Kendleton ISD merged with Lamar CISD.
Lamar CISD received an overall A rating from the Texas Education Agency (TEA) in 2019 — the last year the agency reported ratings due to the pandemic. Out of the more than 1,200 school districts and charter schools in Texas, Lamar CISD was one of only 301 districts to receive the "A" rating — a distinction it shares with another highly regarded school district, Katy ISD.
District ratings are based on performance in three areas – Student Achievement, School Progress and Closing the Gaps. Districts earn an “A” for exemplary performance when they serve most students well and encourage high academic achievement and/or appropriate academic growth for students.
Additionally, Lamar CISD campuses earned a total of 86 distinctions in 2019. The seven categories in which campuses can earn a distinction are English Language Arts/Reading, Math, Science, Social Studies, Academic Growth, Closing Performance Gaps and Post-Secondary Readiness. At the campus level, 28 campuses earned one or more distinction designations.
More Awards and Accolades
The motto for Lamar CISD is “a proud tradition, a brighter future” — a motto punctuated by the numerous awards and accolades the district has received over the years.
Niche.com routinely awards Lamar CISD an overall A rating on its list of top school districts in Texas. In 2021, the district garnered A’s for academics, diversity, college prep, sports and teachers. Out of 1,018 school districts reviewed in Texas, Lamar CISD ranked No. 106.
Lamar CISD is an H-E-B Excellence in Education Large District winner and home to National Principals of the Years, Gates Millennium Scholars, National Blue Ribbon Schools, Rodeo Art Grand Champions and state athletic champions. Recently, the district was named a member of the comptroller’s Honors Circle for financial and academic excellence.
One of the reasons Lamar CISD has won so many awards is the district’s philosophy of putting students first. The district recognizes that students have different needs at different stages of their educational journey.
This is nowhere more evident than the district’s policy of building sixth grade-only middle schools. Lamar CISD is one of the few school districts in Texas to build these campuses, which focus on meeting the specific academic, social and emotional needs of young adolescents.
Roberts Middle School, which opened in 2020 in Fulshear, is an example. The school is staffed by teachers specially trained to address the physical and emotional changes that these students are going through as they transition into their teen years.
Some of the benefits include smaller classroom sizes to facilitate learning, a focus on building self-confidence and teamwork, eliminating the social influences of older students and making age-appropriate activities available to students who would not typically be eligible to participate in middle school athletics.
Principals are encouraged to develop programs that meet the needs of their students’ population. Huggins Elementary in Fulshear implemented a house system in which all students from Kindergarten through fifth grade are assigned to one of five houses. The houses are a mix of all grades, creating an environment in which older students can help younger ones.
At Taylor Ray Elementary in Rosenberg, Principal Benjamin Perez has created a comprehensive support system for students that includes an afterschool program called Power Hour to help students who struggle with homework and the Intensive Reading Program designed to reduce the number of students retained in the first and second grade.
All campuses offer gifted and talented programs and special education services. The district also offers college facilitators on every high school campus to assist students in learning about college scholarships, applications, information and more.
Strong Teachers
Teachers at Lamar CISD come to classrooms well prepared. The district recruits outstanding teachers and ensures their needs are met. All first-year teachers are assigned a mentor to provide them with support. The Lamar CISD’s INTERACT Academy provides training for more than 150 teachers, focused on powerful teaching techniques and providing $10,000 of technology for each campus team. Teachers are also eligible to receive innovative classroom grants through the Lamar Educational Awards Foundation (L.E.A.F.).
As classrooms become more and more focused on helping students navigate technology, Lamar CISD provides a team of technology leaders and technicians focused on helping teachers use technology in their classrooms.
Many campuses are part of the Holdsworth Campus Leadership Program. The two-year program is designed for sitting principals and their teams. Participants learn how to identify and foster teacher leadership in schools through individual growth plans, feedback and coaching. An emphasis is placed on cultivating a continuous improvement mindset and culture of collaboration.
In 2021, Adolphus Elementary, Beasley Elementary, Bowie Elementary, Huggins Elementary, Lindsey Elementary, Navarro Middle School, Reading Junior High and Wertheimer Middle School joined 11 other Lamar CISD schools participating in the program.
State-of-the-Art Schools
Lamar CISD campuses are state-of-the-art. Nearly all of them sport interactive whiteboards and all have digital projectors. Wireless and video-conferencing capabilities are available. Many allow students to bring their own devices.
In Fulshear, Leaman Junior High and Fulshear High schools established in 2016 boast access to the latest technology, including smartboards in every classroom and multiple computer labs, as well as laptop and iPad carts.
The campus band halls encompass orchestra space, a percussion room, several ensemble rooms, a band library, office space and a large uniform storage room. Fulshear High also has a dance studio and 850-seat theater equipped with high-performance sound and lighting equipment.
The newest schools in the district aren’t the only ones that benefit from state-of-the-art technology. The district has successfully passed five bond elections totaling more than $1.3 billion — money that is used to both build and renovate schools.
With student enrollment skyrocketing, the district called for a bond referendum in 2020. Fort Bend communities approved the largest bond referendum in the district's history — $666,810,864 — to be used to build a new high school, junior high school, middle school and three elementary schools as well as renovate more than 30 campuses and providing support for students and staff through technology devices.
Parents are Partners
No school or school district can succeed without active buy-in from parents. Lamar CISD schools boast strong Parent Teacher Organizations that work with teachers to get the supplies they need, plan celebrations and host fundraisers. Many parents volunteer in the classroom.
The district communicates with parents in a variety of award-winning ways, including a printed newsletter, e-newsletters and videos as well as social media such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. In 2021, the Lamar CISD community relations department earned 16 state awards from the Texas School Public Relations Association (TSPRA).
Academics, Athletics and the Arts
Academics are important and Lamar CISD’s reputation for creating life-long learners prepared to meet the challenges of the 2021 century is strong. Students perform well above the state average on state-mandated tests with well over 77 percent of high school students proficient in reading and 87 percent proficient in math.
The district also supports strong athletic programs in its schools. Overall, Niche ranked Lamar CISD No. 65 out of 1,018 on its 2022 list of Best Districts for Athletes in Texas. In the Houston area, it ranks among the top 10. At most junior high and high school campuses, students have the opportunity to participate in football, baseball, wrestling, volleyball, basketball, track, cross country, swimming, diving, golf, soccer, tennis and softball.
In 2021, the district received a second consecutive Best Communities for Music Education designation from The NAMM Foundation for its outstanding commitment to music education. Campus bands often take state honors. Students win medals for their art at the Houston Rodeo. Thespians are nominated for Tommy Tune awards and earn exemplary ratings at UIL theater competitions.
All of this points to the district’s commitment to creating well-rounded students as well as nurturing the individual talents of all students.
With a reputation for putting students first, high test scores and award-winning programs, it is no wonder families are flocking to communities such as Cross Creek Ranch located within Lamar CISD. They know that Lamar CISD is the right choice for their children. Is it time for your family to make the move? Find your new home in Cross Creek Ranch today.
©2024 Cross Creek Ranch. All Rights Reserved.
|
|
|
|
|
