Naaman Forest High School
Encyclopedia
Naaman Forest High School is a public secondary school
located in Garland
, Texas
(USA
). Like most Texas high schools, Naaman Forest enrolls students in grades 9
-12
. It is a part of the Garland Independent School District
.
In 2009, the school was rated "academically acceptable
" by the Texas Education Agency
.
The ethnic makeup of the school is 46% Hispanic
, 35% African American
, 7% White
, non-Hispanic, 12% Asian
/Pacific Islander
, and less than 1% Native American
.
The average class sizes at Naaman Forest are 22 students for English
, 21 for foreign language
, 23 for math, 22 for science
, and 24 for social studies
.
Teachers at the school carry, on average, 10 years of teaching experience and 7% of the teachers on staff are first-year teachers.
NFHS has been recognized by Newsweek as one of the top 1000 High Schools in the nation based on Advanced Placement scores. In 2010 the Naaman Forest Marching Band won its 20th consecutive 1st Division UIL Rating under the direction of band directors Larry Schnitzer,Gregory Taylor and Matt Rush. In 2010 the Naaman Forest Jazz Band became and award winning jazz band taking 2nd place at the UTA Jazz Festival and 1st place at TCU Jazz Festival under the direction of Jazz Band Director Gregory Taylor.
- Safety for the Indianapolis Colts
Jacob Lacey
- Cornerback for the Indianapolis Colts
Uche Nwaneri
- Guard for the Jacksonville Jaguars
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...
located in Garland
Garland, Texas
-Climate:* The average warmest month is July.* The highest recorded temperature was in 2000.* On average, the coolest month is January.* The lowest recorded temperature was in 1989.* The maximum average precipitation occurs in May....
, 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...
). Like most Texas high schools, Naaman Forest enrolls students in grades 9
Ninth grade
Ninth grade is the ninth post-kindergarten year of school education in some school systems. The students are 13 to 15 years of age, depending on when their birthday occurs. Depending on the school district, ninth grade is usually the first year of high school....
-12
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...
. It is a part of the Garland Independent School District
Garland Independent School District
Garland Independent School District is a public school district with its headquarters in the Harris Hill Administration Building in Garland, Texas ....
.
In 2009, the school was rated "academically acceptable
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
NFHS is built on a 62.13 acre site, which backs up to a natural forest preserve. It opened in 1988 with grades 6-9. Naaman Forest dropped a lower grade and added a higher grade until it attained senior high school status in 1992. Naaman Forest today serves 2,600 students, compared with 836 twenty years ago. Naaman Forest has been fully accredited by the Texas Education Agency and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools since its inception.Statistics (per 2009)
The attendance rate for students at the school is 86%, compared with a state average of 96%. 62% of the students at Naaman Forest are economically disadvantaged, 17% enroll in special education, 4% enroll in gifted and talent programs, 24% are enrolled in career and technology programs, and 35% are considered "limited English proficient."The ethnic makeup of the school is 46% Hispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
, 35% African American
African American
African 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...
, 7% White
White people
White people is a term which usually refers to human beings characterized, at least in part, by the light pigmentation of their skin...
, non-Hispanic, 12% Asian
Asian people
Asian people or Asiatic people is a term with multiple meanings that refers to people who descend from a portion of Asia's population.- Central Asia :...
/Pacific Islander
Pacific Islander
Pacific Islander , is a geographic term to describe the indigenous inhabitants of any of the three major sub-regions of Oceania: Polynesia, Melanesia and Micronesia.According to the Encyclopædia Britannica, these three regions, together with their islands consist of:Polynesia:...
, and less than 1% Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
.
The average class sizes at Naaman Forest are 22 students for English
English 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...
, 21 for foreign language
Foreign language
A foreign language is a language indigenous to another country. It is also a language not spoken in the native country of the person referred to, i.e. an English speaker living in Japan can say that Japanese is a foreign language to him or her...
, 23 for math, 22 for science
Science
Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
, and 24 for social studies
Social studies
Social studies is the "integrated study of the social sciences and humanities to promote civic competence," as defined by the American National Council for the Social Studies...
.
Teachers at the school carry, on average, 10 years of teaching experience and 7% of the teachers on staff are first-year teachers.
Agriculture
Naaman Forest also features FFA. Future Farmers of America promotes classes such as Horticulture, Plant Propagation, Intro to Horticulture, and many other fields.Building Trades
Building Trades is a class that exposes the student to the Construction field. The project is a 3 bedroom, 2 bath house that is given to Garland Habitat. The house is built on the school campus, at this point one a year, and then moved to its home site within the city of Garland.Medical
Naaman Forest also has a career-prep program known as Clinical Rotations. Through this, students receive on-site training at Presbyterian Hospital Dallas, Doctors Hospital at White Rock and Baylor Hospital in Plano. In addition Naaman is the site for GISD's EMT and Pharmacy Technician Certification programs. Many clinical students participate in H.O.S.A. or Health Occupation Students of America.Achievements
Naaman received a Golden Performance Award from TEA for comparable improvement in Math performance for the 2007-2008 school year.NFHS has been recognized by Newsweek as one of the top 1000 High Schools in the nation based on Advanced Placement scores. In 2010 the Naaman Forest Marching Band won its 20th consecutive 1st Division UIL Rating under the direction of band directors Larry Schnitzer,Gregory Taylor and Matt Rush. In 2010 the Naaman Forest Jazz Band became and award winning jazz band taking 2nd place at the UTA Jazz Festival and 1st place at TCU Jazz Festival under the direction of Jazz Band Director Gregory Taylor.
Notable alumni
Melvin BullittMelvin Bullitt
Melvin Terry Bullitt is an American football defensive back for the NFL's Indianapolis Colts.-Early years:...
- Safety for the Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
Jacob Lacey
Jacob Lacey
Jacob Lacey is an American football cornerback for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League. He was signed by the Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2009...
- Cornerback for the Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
Uche Nwaneri
Uche Nwaneri
Uchechukwu Eberechukwu "Uche" Nwaneri is an American football player who plays for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Uche was born in Dallas, Texas on March 20, 1984. He played Guard for Purdue University after graduating from Naaman Forest High School...
- Guard for the Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
See also
- Garland Independent School DistrictGarland Independent School DistrictGarland Independent School District is a public school district with its headquarters in the Harris Hill Administration Building in Garland, Texas ....
- Garland, TexasGarland, Texas-Climate:* The average warmest month is July.* The highest recorded temperature was in 2000.* On average, the coolest month is January.* The lowest recorded temperature was in 1989.* The maximum average precipitation occurs in May....
- List of high schools in Texas