Hurst-Euless-Bedford Independent School District
Encyclopedia
Hurst-Euless-Bedford Independent School District (HEB ISD) is a K-12
public school district
based in Bedford
, Texas
(USA
).
The district serves the city of Bedford, most of the cities of Euless
and Hurst
, and small parts of North Richland Hills
, Colleyville
, Fort Worth, and Arlington. The district operates nineteen elementary school
s, five junior high schools
, and two high school
s.
HEB ISD offers "Edge" programs, which provide unique opportunities for students to develop skills beyond standard primary and secondary school
curriculum
. The district was named by Education Resource Group in 2008 and 2009 as the top district in the state and has been recognized for achievements in academics and student performance, music education
, public relations
practices, operating efficiency
, and teacher salaries.
In the 2009-2010 school year, the school district was rated "recognized
" by the Texas Education Agency
.
In 1957, Lawrence D. Bell High School also known as L.D. Bell was founded.
In 1958, the residents of the Bedford School District voted to merge with the Hurst-Euless School District by 212 to 189. (Similar attempts to combine the cities themselves have not succeeded.) The tri-city district served 3,116 students during its first year, including 68 high school seniors
, at seven schools:
Later that school year, North Euless Elementary opened and Pennington Field
was completed. The next decade brought Oakwood Terrace Elementary (1962) Wilshire Elementary (1964), the current L.D. Bell High School campus (1965), Donna Park Elementary (1966), Midway Park Elementary (1967), Bell's Driver's Education Facility (1968), and in 1969 Trinity High School, Bell Manor Elementary and Hurst Hills Elementary. Racial integration
began in the summer of 1965 in a Head Start class. HEB ISD desegregated
in 1968.
of $170 million, the largest bond package that the district has ever proposed. The package included nearly $50 million for technology alone, allowed major renovations at nearly all campuses, and funded the construction of the Pat May Center administration building. The District called River Trails Elementary (opened August 2002) a "bonus" from the bond; the school's $7.5 million construction was paid for entirely by interest and investment of the bond fund.
HEB-ISD's grade configuration of elementary (K-6), junior high (7-9), and high school (10-12) differs from the most common alignment among school districts in Texas (K-5, 6-8, 9-12). In September 2006, a task force of parents, teachers, and other district staff was created to study 10 possible grade configurations in anticipation of future growth. Their scientific opinion poll
found that 80% of parents were either very satisfied or satisfied with the district's configuration; however, 68% of parents would support a district decision to change the configuration if the district believed it was best for students. On June 19, 2007, the board of trustees unanimously approved the Grade Alignment Task Force's recommendation to keep the established grade configuration.
On May 14, 2011, voters approved two bond proposals for a total of $136.5 million. Proposition 1 outlined $112.8 million for building repairs, classroom technology upgrades, and relocation of two buildings due to expansion of Texas State Highway 183. Proposition 2 allowed for the construction of activity centers to house extracurricular programs at L.D Bell and Trinity High Schools, and for renovations to re-purpose the spaces those extracurricular programs are currently using, at a cost of $23.7 million.
Students in HEB ISD, as in all public schools in the state, take Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS)
tests each year, which are used to compare Texas schools and districts and record the quality of their educational output. In 2008-2009, the District's percentages of students who met standards for each subject (including all grade levels) were higher than the regional average, higher than the state average, and higher than or equal to the District's 2007-2008 percentages.
programs offered are generally uniform throughout district schools. Core classes are increasingly being supplemented by "Edge" programs, which focus on providing unique opportunities for students to develop their skills to compete in the global job market. These internationally-oriented electives have been recognized for the unique opportunities they offer to students.
at both its high schools since fall 2002, graduating the first class of IB students in spring 2004. The program is the highest academic curriculum offered; students study six subjects in college-level classes that culminate in comprehensive exams or artistic portfolio
assessments. HEB ISD was the first district in Tarrant County to offer the program and is the only multi-high school district in Texas where all high schools have an IB program.
for high enough test scores. Each student in an AP class is required to take a qualifying exam, and if the student meets the standard in that subject, the district pays the test fee.
-based curriculum has been offered at every elementary school in the district since 2005. Core Knowledge curriculum covers a broad and consistent range of topics that include large amounts of culturally significant works, people, events, and concepts. Students in grades 7-8 at Central Junior High and Harwood Junior High also participate in Core Knowledge-based classes. Hurst Hills, Spring Garden, and Meadow Creek elementary schools offer full-day tuition
-based Core Knowledge Pre-Kindergarten
.
and Mandarin Chinese language classes are offered at Central Junior High. HEB ISD was the second school district in the nation to offer Hindi, and the first in Northeast Tarrant County to offer Mandarin Chinese.
students entering first grade at Bedford Heights and Meadow Creek elementary schools with the goal of fluency
in Spanish by completion of sixth grade. Classes attended by participants in the program – including math, science, and social studies – are taught in Spanish; English is studied and read at home. Students continue in the program throughout elementary school, and in the 2007-2008 school year, the first Spanish Immersion class will continue their studies in seventh grade.
. Beginning in the 2005-2006 school year, students could continue the program at Central Junior High and, starting in the 2008-2009 school year, at L.D. Bell High School.
of a ballroom dance
program called "Dancing Classrooms". A survey conducted by the University of Texas at Arlington
kinesiology
program and the comments of staff at the elementary schools indicate that students who participated in the program experienced major improvements in self-esteem and social skills. The following school year, the District began to offer Dancing Classrooms during physical education
classes at all elementary schools.
HEB ISD and nearby Fort Worth Independent School District
are among eight cities in the nation that offer the program, begun by Pierre Dulaine
in New York City
and made famous in the movies Mad Hot Ballroom
and Take the Lead
.
. On May 10, 2009, the Automotive Collision Repair program's first entry in the Houston Art Car Parade
won the parade's People's Choice Award, one of three grand trophies that are the parade's highest honors, by earning more votes than the parade's 263 other entries.
.
HEB ISD schools have been recognized four times by the Blue Ribbon Schools Program
: Harwood Junior High was recognized in 1986-1987, L. D. Bell High School in 1994-1996, and both Central and Hurst Junior High Schools in 2010.
The school district also owns and operates Pennington Field
, a stadium used by both of the district's high schools, the DFW Tornados
PDL soccer team, and the Dallas Diamonds
football team.
chosen by the Board of Trustees
. The current Superintendent, Dr. Gene Buinger, joined HEB ISD in June 1999, after almost twenty years of previous experience as a superintendent.
On January 27, 1964, the Board of Trustees replaced at-large
elections with elections for designated district-wide positions. The seven members of the Board of Trustees are elected in May to serve staggered three-year terms. They meet at least twice each month to discuss policy, bond elections and tax rates, approving district personnel, and governing the management of the District. During at least one board meeting each month, an Open Forum session is held, which invites public participation and comments similar to a town hall meeting
.
Board of Trustees
Both of HEB ISD's high schools are ranked on Newsweek's
2007 list of the top 1,200 high schools in the country: L.D. Bell High School is listed 210th (4th highest in Tarrant County) and Trinity High School is listed 304th (6th highest in Tarrant County). The rankings are based on the number of Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate tests taken by graduating seniors.
SchoolMatch named HEB ISD a What Parents Want Award-winner for the first time in 1992 and again every year from 1994 through 2009. The honor is given to the top 16% of the 15,571 public school districts that SchoolMatch monitors, based on criteria compiled through over 97,000 parent questionnaires: academics, instructional expenditures, secondary-level programs, and more.
After being named a "Best Practices" district in March 2007 and a top four district in August 2007, HEB ISD was named the top school district in the state in 2008, 2009, and 2010 by the Education Resource Group (ERG).
The awards are based on a combination of student performance and operating efficiency.
In 2007 through 2010, the American Music Conference (sponsored by NAMM) named HEB ISD one of the "Best Communities for Music Education". Applicant districts provided information about funding, enrollment, student-teacher ratio
s, music class participation, instruction time, facilities, support for the music program, private music lesson participation, and more.
The Texas Education Agency
(TEA) has awarded the District "Superior" ratings in the Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas (FIRST) for eight years in a row (2003–2010). These ratings are based on criteria including low administrative spending, low student-teacher ratios, and more.
In October 2006, United Educators Association of Texas (UEA) presented to the HEB ISD Board of Trustees a special proclamation in honor of the Board's history of support for teacher salaries at all levels. Out of 32 school districts in the western Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex
area, HEB ISD ranked in the top three in every category compared (including teachers with a bachelor's
or master's degree
, and years of experience varying from none to 30).
In March 2005, the District received the Lone Star Award for best public relations
practices in the state from the Texas Public Relations Association, recognizing outstanding ethics
and business operations
when communicating with stakeholders.
K-12
K–12 is a designation for the sum of primary and secondary education. It is used in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand where P–12 is also commonly used...
public school district
School district
School districts are a form of special-purpose district which serves to operate the local public primary and secondary schools.-United States:...
based in Bedford
Bedford, Texas
Bedford is a suburban city located in northeast Tarrant County, Texas, in the "Mid-Cities" area between Dallas and Fort Worth. It is a suburb of Fort Worth. The population was 46,979 at the 2010 census...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
(USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
).
The district serves the city of Bedford, most of the cities of Euless
Euless, Texas
Euless, known as "Tree City USA," is a city in Tarrant County, Texas, United States, and a suburb of Fort Worth. Euless is part of the Mid-Cities between Dallas and Fort Worth...
and Hurst
Hurst, Texas
Hurst is a city in Tarrant County, Texas, United States. Hurst is one of the Mid-Cities between Fort Worth and Dallas, but is a suburb of Fort Worth. The city was founded by William Letchworth Hurst...
, and small parts of North Richland Hills
North Richland Hills, Texas
North Richland Hills is a city in Tarrant County, Texas, United States, and a suburb of Fort Worth. The population was 63,343 at the 2010 census, making it the fourth largest city in Tarrant County. In 2006, North Richland Hills was selected as one of the "Top 100 Best Places to live in America"...
, Colleyville
Colleyville, Texas
Colleyville is a city in northeast Tarrant County, Texas, United States. Located roughly from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, the population was 22,807 at the 2010 census. Emerging from a number of small, rural settlements along the Cotton Belt Route, Colleyville was established in the...
, Fort Worth, and Arlington. The district operates nineteen elementary school
Elementary school
An elementary school or primary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as elementary or primary education. Elementary school is the preferred term in some countries, particularly those in North America, where the terms grade school and grammar...
s, five junior high schools
Middle school
Middle School and Junior High School are levels of schooling between elementary and high schools. Most school systems use one term or the other, not both. The terms are not interchangeable...
, and two high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
s.
HEB ISD offers "Edge" programs, which provide unique opportunities for students to develop skills beyond standard primary and secondary school
Secondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
curriculum
Curriculum
See also Syllabus.In formal education, a curriculum is the set of courses, and their content, offered at a school or university. As an idea, curriculum stems from the Latin word for race course, referring to the course of deeds and experiences through which children grow to become mature adults...
. The district was named by Education Resource Group in 2008 and 2009 as the top district in the state and has been recognized for achievements in academics and student performance, music education
Music education
Music education is a field of study associated with the teaching and learning of music. It touches on all domains of learning, including the psychomotor domain , the cognitive domain , and, in particular and significant ways,the affective domain, including music appreciation and sensitivity...
, public relations
Public relations
Public relations is the actions of a corporation, store, government, individual, etc., in promoting goodwill between itself and the public, the community, employees, customers, etc....
practices, operating efficiency
Business operations
Business operations are those ongoing recurring activities involved in the running of a business for the purpose of producing value for the stakeholders...
, and teacher salaries.
In the 2009-2010 school year, the school district was rated "recognized
Texas Education Agency accountability ratings system
The Texas Education Agency accountability ratings system rates all public schools, charter schools, and school districts in the State of Texas.The criteria are the same for schools and districts, and are discussed below...
" by the Texas Education Agency
Texas Education Agency
The Texas Education Agency is a branch of the state government of Texas in the United States responsible for public education. The agency is headquartered in the William B...
.
History
Before the creation of the Hurst-Euless-Bedford school district, many schools and school districts served the area's education needs. Notable early schools included:- Bedford College (1882–1893) A private combined high school and junior collegeJunior collegeThe term junior college refers to different educational institutions in different countries.-India:In India, most states provide schooling through 12th grade...
that attracted students from out of state. The quality of education dwindled and became more like a public elementary and secondary school before it burned down in 1893 amidst rumors of arsonArsonArson is the crime of intentionally or maliciously setting fire to structures or wildland areas. It may be distinguished from other causes such as spontaneous combustion and natural wildfires...
. - Bedford School (1912-current) This two-story brick building was restoredBuilding restorationBuilding restoration describes a particular treatment approach and philosophy within the field of architectural conservation. According the U.S...
after a fire in January 1991 and houses the Bedford School Museum. - Euless School (1913–1970) Another two-story brick schoolhouse, the cornerstoneCornerstoneThe cornerstone concept is derived from the first stone set in the construction of a masonry foundation, important since all other stones will be set in reference to this stone, thus determining the position of the entire structure.Over time a cornerstone became a ceremonial masonry stone, or...
was laid for Euless School in 1913 (on the site of present-day South Euless Elementary). Beginning in 1934 the school served as a high school, until 1955 when a new high school was built and Euless School was renamed South Euless Elementary. In 1970, the original building was demolished and replaced by the current building. In 2010, a historical markerHistorical markerA historical marker or historic marker is an indicator such as a plaque or sign to commemorate an event or person of historic interest and to associate that point of interest with a specific locale one can visit.-Description:...
was placed at South Euless Elementary. - Mosier Valley School (1883-?) In 1949-1950, a local crisis centered on Mosier Valley School, as parents and school employees struggled against state law requiring racial segregationRacial segregationRacial segregation is the separation of humans into racial groups in daily life. It may apply to activities such as eating in a restaurant, drinking from a water fountain, using a public toilet, attending school, going to the movies, or in the rental or purchase of a home...
. Mosier Valley School was organized in 1883 as part of Evatt School District and met in buildings shared with Oak Grove BaptistBaptistBaptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
Church. In 1918, the school moved into its own schoolhouse. The school was closed in 1949; the wooden frameFraming (construction)Framing, in construction known as light-frame construction, is a building technique based around structural members, usually called studs, which provide a stable frame to which interior and exterior wall coverings are attached, and covered by a roof comprising horizontal ceiling joists and sloping...
building was in poor condition and still had no heating, lighting, or sanitary facilities. In June 1950, a federal judge ordered the Euless School District to provide a separate school for African AmericanAfrican AmericanAfrican Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
children. To comply, the district temporarily re-opened Mosier Valley School. By September 1951, classes were moved into a new brick building. In 1984, a historical markerHistorical markerA historical marker or historic marker is an indicator such as a plaque or sign to commemorate an event or person of historic interest and to associate that point of interest with a specific locale one can visit.-Description:...
was dedicated at the original location of the school.
Combined districts
The Euless and Hurst school districts merged in 1955. The combined district served 1,418 students and grew to almost 2,300 students in the next two years.In 1957, Lawrence D. Bell High School also known as L.D. Bell was founded.
In 1958, the residents of the Bedford School District voted to merge with the Hurst-Euless School District by 212 to 189. (Similar attempts to combine the cities themselves have not succeeded.) The tri-city district served 3,116 students during its first year, including 68 high school seniors
Twelfth grade
Twelfth grade or Senior year, or Grade Twelve, are the North American names for the final year of secondary school. In most countries students then graduate at age 17 or 18. In some countries, there is a thirteenth grade, while other countries do not have a 12th grade/year at all...
, at seven schools:
- Bell High School (at the current site of Central Junior High)
- Bedford Elementary (the afore-mentioned Bedford School, now City of Bedford property)
- South Hurst (no longer district property)
- North Hurst (now Hurst Junior High)
- Mosier Valley Elementary (now a community building)
- Euless Elementary (now South Euless Elementary)
- West Elementary (now West Hurst Elementary).
Pennington Field
Pennington Field is a multi-purpose stadium located in Bedford, Texas. The 12,000-capacity facility is primarily used for local high school football teams Trinity High School and L.D. Bell High School. It is owned by the Hurst-Euless-Bedford Independent School District. The stadium is also used...
was completed. The next decade brought Oakwood Terrace Elementary (1962) Wilshire Elementary (1964), the current L.D. Bell High School campus (1965), Donna Park Elementary (1966), Midway Park Elementary (1967), Bell's Driver's Education Facility (1968), and in 1969 Trinity High School, Bell Manor Elementary and Hurst Hills Elementary. Racial integration
Racial integration
Racial integration, or simply integration includes desegregation . In addition to desegregation, integration includes goals such as leveling barriers to association, creating equal opportunity regardless of race, and the development of a culture that draws on diverse traditions, rather than merely...
began in the summer of 1965 in a Head Start class. HEB ISD desegregated
Desegregation
Desegregation is the process of ending the separation of two groups usually referring to races. This is most commonly used in reference to the United States. Desegregation was long a focus of the American Civil Rights Movement, both before and after the United States Supreme Court's decision in...
in 1968.
Events since 1997
In 1997, voters approved a municipal bondMunicipal bond
A municipal bond is a bond issued by a city or other local government, or their agencies. Potential issuers of municipal bonds includes cities, counties, redevelopment agencies, special-purpose districts, school districts, public utility districts, publicly owned airports and seaports, and any...
of $170 million, the largest bond package that the district has ever proposed. The package included nearly $50 million for technology alone, allowed major renovations at nearly all campuses, and funded the construction of the Pat May Center administration building. The District called River Trails Elementary (opened August 2002) a "bonus" from the bond; the school's $7.5 million construction was paid for entirely by interest and investment of the bond fund.
HEB-ISD's grade configuration of elementary (K-6), junior high (7-9), and high school (10-12) differs from the most common alignment among school districts in Texas (K-5, 6-8, 9-12). In September 2006, a task force of parents, teachers, and other district staff was created to study 10 possible grade configurations in anticipation of future growth. Their scientific opinion poll
Opinion poll
An opinion poll, sometimes simply referred to as a poll is a survey of public opinion from a particular sample. Opinion polls are usually designed to represent the opinions of a population by conducting a series of questions and then extrapolating generalities in ratio or within confidence...
found that 80% of parents were either very satisfied or satisfied with the district's configuration; however, 68% of parents would support a district decision to change the configuration if the district believed it was best for students. On June 19, 2007, the board of trustees unanimously approved the Grade Alignment Task Force's recommendation to keep the established grade configuration.
On May 14, 2011, voters approved two bond proposals for a total of $136.5 million. Proposition 1 outlined $112.8 million for building repairs, classroom technology upgrades, and relocation of two buildings due to expansion of Texas State Highway 183. Proposition 2 allowed for the construction of activity centers to house extracurricular programs at L.D Bell and Trinity High Schools, and for renovations to re-purpose the spaces those extracurricular programs are currently using, at a cost of $23.7 million.
Students
| Subject | 2008 District |
2009 District |
2009 Region |
2009 State |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reading/ELA | 96% | 96% | 92% | 91% |
| Mathematics | 90% | 91% | 83% | 82% |
| Writing | 96% | 96% | 93% | 93% |
| Science | 87% | 88% | 80% | 78% |
| Soc. Studies | 97% | 98% | 94% | 93% |
| All Tests | 85% | 86% | 77% | 74% |
Students in HEB ISD, as in all public schools in the state, take Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS)
Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills
The Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills is a standardized test used in Texas primary and secondary schools to assess students' attainment of reading, writing, math, science, and social studies skills required under Texas education standards. It is developed and scored by Pearson Educational...
tests each year, which are used to compare Texas schools and districts and record the quality of their educational output. In 2008-2009, the District's percentages of students who met standards for each subject (including all grade levels) were higher than the regional average, higher than the state average, and higher than or equal to the District's 2007-2008 percentages.
Ethnicity
Students during the 2008-2009 school year:- Total: 20,499 (100.0%)
- White: 10,153 (49.5%)
- Hispanic: 4,937 (24.1%)
- African American: 3,219 (15.7%)
- Asian/Pacific Islander: 2,001 (9.8%)
- Native American: 189 (0.9%)
Grade level
Students during the 2008-2009 school year:- Early Childhood Education and Pre-Kindergarten: 722 (3.5%)
- Elementary (K-6): 10,919 (53.3%)
- Junior High (7-9): 4,550 (22.2%)
- High School (10-12): 4,308 (21.0%)
- Class of 2008 Graduates: 1,304
Other statistics
- Economically Disadvantaged (2008–2009): 45.7% (9,362)
- Annual Dropout Rate, Grades 7-12 (2008–2009): 0.7%
- National Merit FinalistsNational Merit Scholarship ProgramThe National Merit Scholarship Program is a United States academic scholarship competition for recognition and college scholarships administered by National Merit Scholarship Corporation , a privately funded, not-for-profit organization. The program began in 1955...
(2008): 8 - Average SATSATThe SAT Reasoning Test is a standardized test for college admissions in the United States. The SAT is owned, published, and developed by the College Board, a nonprofit organization in the United States. It was formerly developed, published, and scored by the Educational Testing Service which still...
Score (Class of 2008): 1038 - Average ACTACT (examination)The ACT is a standardized test for high school achievement and college admissions in the United States produced by ACT, Inc. It was first administered in November 1959 by Everett Franklin Lindquist as a competitor to the College Board's Scholastic Aptitude Test, now the SAT Reasoning Test...
Score (Class of 2008): 21.3
Programs
CurriculumCurriculum
See also Syllabus.In formal education, a curriculum is the set of courses, and their content, offered at a school or university. As an idea, curriculum stems from the Latin word for race course, referring to the course of deeds and experiences through which children grow to become mature adults...
programs offered are generally uniform throughout district schools. Core classes are increasingly being supplemented by "Edge" programs, which focus on providing unique opportunities for students to develop their skills to compete in the global job market. These internationally-oriented electives have been recognized for the unique opportunities they offer to students.
International Baccalaureate
The District has offered the International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma programIB Diploma Programme
The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme is a two-year educational programme for students aged 16–19that provides an internationally accepted qualification for entry into higher education, and is recognised by universities worldwide. It was developed in the early to mid-1960s in Geneva by...
at both its high schools since fall 2002, graduating the first class of IB students in spring 2004. The program is the highest academic curriculum offered; students study six subjects in college-level classes that culminate in comprehensive exams or artistic portfolio
Career portfolio
Career portfolios are used to plan, organize and document education, work samples and skills. People use career portfolios to apply to jobs, apply to college or training programs, get a higher salary, show transferable skills, and to track personal development. They are more in-depth than a resume,...
assessments. HEB ISD was the first district in Tarrant County to offer the program and is the only multi-high school district in Texas where all high schools have an IB program.
Advanced Placement
Advanced Placement (AP) classes are offered at both high school campuses, with a Pre-AP curriculum available at the junior high school level. Students in AP courses, like IB, complete college-level work throughout the year and take tests in May; many universities will award college creditCredit (education)
A course credit is a unit that gives weighting to the value, level or time requirements of an academic course taken at a school or other educational institution.- United States :...
for high enough test scores. Each student in an AP class is required to take a qualifying exam, and if the student meets the standard in that subject, the district pays the test fee.
Core Knowledge
A Core KnowledgeCore Knowledge Foundation
The Core Knowledge Foundation is an independent, non-profit, non-partisan educational foundation founded in 1986 by E. D. Hirsch, Jr. The Foundation is dedicated to excellence and fairness in early education.-Ideals of Core Knowledge:...
-based curriculum has been offered at every elementary school in the district since 2005. Core Knowledge curriculum covers a broad and consistent range of topics that include large amounts of culturally significant works, people, events, and concepts. Students in grades 7-8 at Central Junior High and Harwood Junior High also participate in Core Knowledge-based classes. Hurst Hills, Spring Garden, and Meadow Creek elementary schools offer full-day tuition
Tuition
Tuition payments, known primarily as tuition in American English and as tuition fees in British English, Canadian English, Australian English, New Zealand English and Indian English, refers to a fee charged for educational instruction during higher education.Tuition payments are charged by...
-based Core Knowledge Pre-Kindergarten
Pre-Kindergarten
Pre-kindergarten refers to the first formal academic classroom-based learning environment that a child customarily attends in the United States. It begins between the ages of 3-5 depending on the length of the program...
.
International Business Initiative
Beginning in the 2007-2008 school year, HindiHindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
and Mandarin Chinese language classes are offered at Central Junior High. HEB ISD was the second school district in the nation to offer Hindi, and the first in Northeast Tarrant County to offer Mandarin Chinese.
Spanish Immersion
Spanish Immersion is offered to English-speakingEnglish language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
students entering first grade at Bedford Heights and Meadow Creek elementary schools with the goal of fluency
Fluency
Fluency is the property of a person or of a system that delivers information quickly and with expertise.-Speech:...
in Spanish by completion of sixth grade. Classes attended by participants in the program – including math, science, and social studies – are taught in Spanish; English is studied and read at home. Students continue in the program throughout elementary school, and in the 2007-2008 school year, the first Spanish Immersion class will continue their studies in seventh grade.
Suzuki Strings and Secondary Orchestra and High School Orchestra
Students at Bellaire, Hurst Hills, Lakewood, North Euless (starting 2007-2008), Shady Brook, South Euless, and Wilshire elementary schools can participate in orchestral instruction based on the Suzuki methodSuzuki method
The Suzuki method is a method of teaching music that emerged in the mid-20th century.-Background:The Suzuki Method was conceived in the mid-20th century by Shin'ichi Suzuki, a Japanese violinist who desired to bring beauty to the lives of children in his country after the devastation of World War II...
. Beginning in the 2005-2006 school year, students could continue the program at Central Junior High and, starting in the 2008-2009 school year, at L.D. Bell High School.
Dancing Classrooms
During the 2006-2007 school year, fifth-grade students at Bellaire, Midway Park, Shady Brook, Bell Manor, Shady Oaks, and Wilshire elementary schools participated in the pilotPilot (experiment)
A pilot experiment, also called a pilot study, is a small scale preliminary study conducted in order to evaluate feasibility, time, cost, adverse events, and effect size in an attempt to predict an appropriate sample size and improve upon the study design prior to performance of a full-scale...
of a ballroom dance
Ballroom dance
Ballroom dance refers to a set of partner dances, which are enjoyed both socially and competitively around the world. Because of its performance and entertainment aspects, ballroom dance is also widely enjoyed on stage, film, and television....
program called "Dancing Classrooms". A survey conducted by the University of Texas at Arlington
University of Texas at Arlington
The University of Texas at Arlington is a public research university located in Arlington, Texas, United States. The campus is situated southwest of downtown Arlington, and is located in the Dallas–Fort Worth metropolitan area. The university was founded in 1895 and served primarily a military...
kinesiology
Kinesiology
Kinesiology, also known as human kinetics is the scientific study of human movement. Kinesiology addresses physiological, mechanical, and psychological mechanisms. Applications of kinesiology to human health include: biomechanics and orthopedics, rehabilitation, such as physical and occupational...
program and the comments of staff at the elementary schools indicate that students who participated in the program experienced major improvements in self-esteem and social skills. The following school year, the District began to offer Dancing Classrooms during physical education
Physical education
Physical education or gymnastics is a course taken during primary and secondary education that encourages psychomotor learning in a play or movement exploration setting....
classes at all elementary schools.
HEB ISD and nearby Fort Worth Independent School District
Fort Worth Independent School District
Fort Worth Independent School District is a school district based in Fort Worth, Texas, United States. It is currently the fifth largest school district in Texas ....
are among eight cities in the nation that offer the program, begun by Pierre Dulaine
Pierre Dulaine
Pierre Dulaine is a well-known ballroom dancer and dance instructor. He invented the Dulaine method of teaching dance. He also developed Dancing Classrooms, a social development program for 5th grade children that uses ballroom dancing as a vehicle to change the lives of the children and their...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and made famous in the movies Mad Hot Ballroom
Mad Hot Ballroom
Mad Hot Ballroom is a documentary film by director Marilyn Agrelo and writer/producer Amy Sewell about a ballroom dance program in the New York City Public School system....
and Take the Lead
Take the Lead
Take the Lead is a movie starring Antonio Banderas, Rob Brown, Alfre Woodard, Dante Basco, Marcus T. Paulk, Jenna Dewan, Lauren Collins and also features former America's Next Top Model contestant, Yaya DaCosta. The film was released in mainstream cinema on April 7, 2006...
.
Automotive Technician Training
The district has offered automotive technician training programs since 1971. In 2006, the program received certification from the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation for brake repair, electrical electronic systems, engine performance, and suspension and steering. The Automotive Collision Repair program has also been certified in Non-Structural Analysis/Damage Repair and Painting and Refinishing. These certifications are awarded after on-site evaluations of instruction, facilities, and equipment and are recognized by the National Institute for Automotive Service ExcellenceAutomotive Service Excellence
National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence is a professional certification group that certifies professionals in the automotive repair and service industry. It is an independent, non-profit organization created in 1972 in response to consumers wanting the need to distinguish between...
. On May 10, 2009, the Automotive Collision Repair program's first entry in the Houston Art Car Parade
Houston Art Car Parade
The Houston Art Car Parade is an annual event in Houston, Texas, featuring a display of all types of rolling art. The first and largest Art Car parade in the world, at any given parade spectators will see cars, bicycles, motorcycles, roller-skaters, and many other types of motorized and...
won the parade's People's Choice Award, one of three grand trophies that are the parade's highest honors, by earning more votes than the parade's 263 other entries.
Inter-district transfers
"Schools of Choice" programs accept applications from students who live outside of Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD's boundaries; residents of the HEB area are given first priority. Students who are not residents must provide transportation and, for elementary programs, pay tuitionTuition
Tuition payments, known primarily as tuition in American English and as tuition fees in British English, Canadian English, Australian English, New Zealand English and Indian English, refers to a fee charged for educational instruction during higher education.Tuition payments are charged by...
.
Schools and facilities
The district has 19 elementary schools, 5 junior high schools, 2 traditional high schools, and one non-traditional high school. Students are assigned to elementary schools, junior high schools, and high schools based on the location of their home but may apply to transfer to other schools if they would like to participate in certain programs. Six elementary schools split their graduates among more than one junior high schools; Central Junior High is the only junior high that splits graduates between the two high schools. Unique among area districts, the two H-E-B high schools consists of Grades 10 through 12 (9th graders remain at the junior high level, but can try out and compete for high school activities such as football).HEB ISD schools have been recognized four times by the Blue Ribbon Schools Program
Blue Ribbon Schools Program
The Blue Ribbon Schools Program is a United States government program created in 1981 to honor schools which have achieved high levels of performance or significant improvements with emphasis on schools serving disadvantaged students. The program centers around a self-assessment conducted by the...
: Harwood Junior High was recognized in 1986-1987, L. D. Bell High School in 1994-1996, and both Central and Hurst Junior High Schools in 2010.
The school district also owns and operates Pennington Field
Pennington Field
Pennington Field is a multi-purpose stadium located in Bedford, Texas. The 12,000-capacity facility is primarily used for local high school football teams Trinity High School and L.D. Bell High School. It is owned by the Hurst-Euless-Bedford Independent School District. The stadium is also used...
, a stadium used by both of the district's high schools, the DFW Tornados
DFW Tornados
DFW Tornados was an American soccer team based in Dallas, Texas, United States. Founded in 1986, the team played in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Mid South Division of the Southern Conference...
PDL soccer team, and the Dallas Diamonds
Dallas Diamonds
The Dallas Diamonds are a women's professional American football team in the Women's Football Alliance . It is made up of 46 players and has a coaching staff of 10...
football team.
Leadership
The District is led by a SuperintendentSuperintendent (education)
In education in the United States, a superintendent is an individual who has executive oversight and administration rights, usually within an educational entity or organization....
chosen by the Board of Trustees
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
. The current Superintendent, Dr. Gene Buinger, joined HEB ISD in June 1999, after almost twenty years of previous experience as a superintendent.
On January 27, 1964, the Board of Trustees replaced at-large
At-Large
At-large is a designation for representative members of a governing body who are elected or appointed to represent the whole membership of the body , rather than a subset of that membership...
elections with elections for designated district-wide positions. The seven members of the Board of Trustees are elected in May to serve staggered three-year terms. They meet at least twice each month to discuss policy, bond elections and tax rates, approving district personnel, and governing the management of the District. During at least one board meeting each month, an Open Forum session is held, which invites public participation and comments similar to a town hall meeting
Town hall meeting
A town hall meeting is an American English term given to an informal public meeting. Everybody in a town community is invited to attend, not always to voice their opinions, but to hear the responses from public figures and elected officials about shared subjects of interest. Attendees rarely voted...
.
Board of Trustees
- Place 1 - Kay Miller (2003–2012)
- Place 2 - Jeff Burnett (1997–2012)
- Place 3 - Jim Schooler (2004–2013)
- Place 4 - Ellen Jones (2001–2013)
- Place 5 - Dr. Faye Beaulieu (1995–2013)
- Place 6 - Andy Cargile (2008–2011)
- Place 7 - Mark Cyrier (2005–2011)
Honors
The HEB ISD School Board of Trustees was the eighth Texas school board (out of 1,050) ever to be recognized with an award from the Texas Association of School Boards for Good Governance and "walking the talk", including voluntarily participating in and passing a governance audit, supporting a fiscally responsible school district, and undergoing school board training.Both of HEB ISD's high schools are ranked on Newsweek's
Newsweek
Newsweek is an American weekly news magazine published in New York City. It is distributed throughout the United States and internationally. It is the second-largest news weekly magazine in the U.S., having trailed Time in circulation and advertising revenue for most of its existence...
2007 list of the top 1,200 high schools in the country: L.D. Bell High School is listed 210th (4th highest in Tarrant County) and Trinity High School is listed 304th (6th highest in Tarrant County). The rankings are based on the number of Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate tests taken by graduating seniors.
SchoolMatch named HEB ISD a What Parents Want Award-winner for the first time in 1992 and again every year from 1994 through 2009. The honor is given to the top 16% of the 15,571 public school districts that SchoolMatch monitors, based on criteria compiled through over 97,000 parent questionnaires: academics, instructional expenditures, secondary-level programs, and more.
After being named a "Best Practices" district in March 2007 and a top four district in August 2007, HEB ISD was named the top school district in the state in 2008, 2009, and 2010 by the Education Resource Group (ERG).
The awards are based on a combination of student performance and operating efficiency.
In 2007 through 2010, the American Music Conference (sponsored by NAMM) named HEB ISD one of the "Best Communities for Music Education". Applicant districts provided information about funding, enrollment, student-teacher ratio
Student-teacher ratio
Student-teacher ratio refers to the number of teachers in a school or university with respect to the number of students who attend the institution. For example, a student-teacher ratio of 10:1 indicates that there are 10 students for every one teacher...
s, music class participation, instruction time, facilities, support for the music program, private music lesson participation, and more.
The Texas Education Agency
Texas Education Agency
The Texas Education Agency is a branch of the state government of Texas in the United States responsible for public education. The agency is headquartered in the William B...
(TEA) has awarded the District "Superior" ratings in the Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas (FIRST) for eight years in a row (2003–2010). These ratings are based on criteria including low administrative spending, low student-teacher ratios, and more.
In October 2006, United Educators Association of Texas (UEA) presented to the HEB ISD Board of Trustees a special proclamation in honor of the Board's history of support for teacher salaries at all levels. Out of 32 school districts in the western Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex
Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex
The Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington Metropolitan Statistical Area, a title designated by the U.S. Census as of 2003, encompasses 12 counties within the U.S. state of Texas. The area is divided into two metropolitan divisions: Dallas–Plano–Irving and Fort Worth–Arlington. Residents of the area...
area, HEB ISD ranked in the top three in every category compared (including teachers with a bachelor's
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
or master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
, and years of experience varying from none to 30).
In March 2005, the District received the Lone Star Award for best public relations
Public relations
Public relations is the actions of a corporation, store, government, individual, etc., in promoting goodwill between itself and the public, the community, employees, customers, etc....
practices in the state from the Texas Public Relations Association, recognizing outstanding ethics
Ethics
Ethics, also known as moral philosophy, is a branch of philosophy that addresses questions about morality—that is, concepts such as good and evil, right and wrong, virtue and vice, justice and crime, etc.Major branches of ethics include:...
and business operations
Business operations
Business operations are those ongoing recurring activities involved in the running of a business for the purpose of producing value for the stakeholders...
when communicating with stakeholders.