In today's high school, there can be as much learning going on in the halls as in the classrooms. Recognizing this, Hightower High School strives to help its students succeed both academically and personally.
Teachers and staff work to transform youngsters into valuable members of society. They do so by developing strong relationships with students, supporting them not only in their academic careers, but through an extensive extracurricular program. All Sienna residents are currently zoned to Hightower High School. Beginning with the 2007-2008 school year, only residents in the Sienna villages of Steep Bank East and Shipman’s Landing will attend Hightower High School.
Career Academies
While many things set Hightower apart from other Houston-area high schools — UIL excellence on a district, state and national level, strong sports programs, an innovative curriculum inviting input from industry leaders — the most obvious distinction for the school is its career academies program.
Students from across the district who want to pursue careers in engineering, medical sciences, computer technology, or media/broadcasting apply each year to the program. Only the top applicants are accepted, with admission based on test scores, attendance, behavior, references and a personal essay on why they want to participate and how they would add value to Hightower.
Each academy recruits advisory board members to assist in the development of curriculum pertinent to the real world. The Medical Sciences Academy has joined forces with The University of Texas Health Science Center. Through this partnership, some of the nation’s best doctors review curriculum, program objectives and even such details as the order in which courses are offered for optimal student progress. All teachers within the Medical Sciences Academy have nursing backgrounds and teach specialized courses through the academy.
The Engineering Academy is aided by a panel of industry leaders from such elite corporations and schools as Schlumberger, Texas Instruments, Texas A&M University, Baylor University, The University of Houston and Rice University. As with the Medical Sciences Academy, the Engineering Academy advisory board closely monitors academy courses and programs, prioritizing curriculum to prepare students for engineering careers. All teachers within this academy worked as engineers before bringing their experience to the classroom. They offer specialized classes including engineering computer applications, engineering graphics, engineering technologies and electronics.
The Media/Broadcasting Academy is not only state-of-the-art by high school standards, but by newsroom standards as well. The equipment in the broadcasting studio is completely digital; in fact, Hightower was the only public school in the U.S. to have an entirely digital studio when it opened.
All academy-related classes are taught in the studio, where students obtain valuable hands-on experience writing, editing and producing their own newscasts. Teaching the courses are former television journalists, including two who worked at various local stations (Fox 26, KHOU-TV Channel 11 and KTRK-TV Channel 13). These industry specialists comprise the advisory team in this academy. In 2004, broadcasting academy students won a national Axiem award for their daily live broadcast, competing against universities and professionals for this prestigious honor.
All teachers within Hightower’s Computer Technology Academy have computer backgrounds including desktop publishing, Webmastering, digital graphics and animation. Still active in the professional world (many also teach at industry conferences), they serve as their own advisory board to develop and guide the curriculum. Originally part of the Media/Broadcasting Academy, this program, due to demand, now stands alone.
Students participating in the academy programs also must complete the high school courses required for graduation; however, their elective slates are filled with academy offerings.
Hightower staff members visit area middle schools each fall to promote the academy programs.
Curriculum
Hightower showcases innovative courses through its regular curriculum, too. Webmastering, sociology, humanities, creative and imaginative writing, horticulture and animal science stand alongside such academic basics as U.S. and world history, algebra, geometry, calculus and English.
The fine arts program at Hightower also covers a broad spectrum of interests. Marching, concert and jazz bands are offered, as well as orchestra and instrumental ensemble. Several levels of choir are offered, as well as dance, drawing and painting. Several levels of theater arts are offered, including theater production.
Hightower’s class schedule is innovative, with students following a four-period “A-B block,” giving them 90-minute classes every other day. The Hightower school day is from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Other district high schools hold classes from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Hightower is proud of three students who have been named finalists in the 2006 competition for Merit Scholarship awards. The school is also proud of a student named as a semi-finalist in the Intel Science Search. This honor has been bestowed on a Hightower student for three consecutive years.
Teacher accomplishments abound at Hightower as well, with English teacher Yolanda Clarke, 2005-2006 Hightower Teacher of the Year, also named a finalist for the district’s Teacher of the Year competition. Several years ago, a Hightower German teacher, Denise Tanner, was named Secondary Teacher of the Year for the state of Texas and selected as the state nominee for the National Teacher of the Year award.
UIL
Hightower has built a strong UIL presence despite its relatively recent emergence on the high school scene. Groups performing well in UIL competitions in recent years include the health occupations team, math, science, choir, speech and debate. Last year’s speech and debate team posted impressive results, qualifying 11 members for state competition by early 2006. Record ninth-grade enrollment swelled the program last year with new talent and interest, promising continued prominence in the future as the group matures.
Athletics
If Hightower’s academic UIL progress is noteworthy, its athletic performance has been exceptional. Having a varsity program for only a few years (Hightower opened as a two-year campus in 1998, adding a grade each year until it became a four-year campus in 2000), it has seen athletes in many sports advance to area, regional and even state playoffs annually. Hightower’s sports programs include football, basketball, track, baseball, golf, soccer, tennis, swimming, softball, cross country and volleyball. The boys’ basketball team again made the playoff competition last year.
Clubs/organizations
Hightower’s 30-plus clubs are testament to the school’s efforts to produce well-rounded members of the community.
Teachers are willing to help form nearly any club in which students express an interest. Hightower currently offers a wide range of clubs, including leadership clubs, honor society organizations, chess, an international culture club, a robotics team and more.
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