Due to the outcome of the 88th Texas legislative session, there was no agreement reached regarding teacher pay; as such, FBISD stands alone among large districts where teachers do not make $60k or more annually.
Sugar Land, Meadows Place, the Fort Bend county portion of Missouri City and Arcola all fall under this district, with 77 campuses receiving A ratings or above from their state accountability system.
Academics
Students in grades PreK-12 receive education from teachers who adhere to a progressive philosophy that places an emphasis on intellectual and moral standards, teaching them self-motivation, critical thinking skills and teamwork as core values.
Three new schools opened this fall, including one named in memory of Sonal Bhuchar – an esteemed Fort Bend ISD board member and consensus builder who passed away due to cancer last year. Ridgemont Elementary in Houston at 4910 Raven Ridge Drive serves all children as a Title 1 campus that provides free school supplies.
FBISD Skyward offers innovative programming options at the high school level, such as its Early College High School model. Students enrolled can earn up to 60 hours of tuition-free college credit while earning their diploma, as well as two Pathways in Technology programs providing students with training for careers in technology fields.
All campuses provide an array of academic and fine arts courses, including art, music, choir, dance theatre, speech, foreign language learning and computer science. Additionally, the district boasts an outstanding athletic program. Students who participate on UIL recognized sports teams develop responsibility, values and sportsmanship while building lasting friendships within the team environment.
Career and Technical Education
As its name implies, career and technical education (CTE) provides learners with challenging career pathways utilizing real world experiences and evolving skill sets, attitudes and beliefs. Learners select an industry sector and pathway their freshman year before participating in three years of coursework along that career path – also taking part in internship and work-based learning programs, student associations/clubs as well as college/career exploration/prep activities as well as postsecondary planning/training opportunities. Many CTE courses meet high school graduation endorsement requirements while some can lead to industry certifications or accreditations.
Fort Bend ISD’s James Reese Career and Technical Center was buzzing with activity when its bell rang on Friday morning, as students donned chef jackets, medical scrubs and automotive work shirts raced off to classes. Ryan Watassek is among these students; as a senior preparing to rebuild and repair cars in their Enterprise Learning Lab. For him, these skills gained are of real world use that will open many doors in his future career path.
Student Recruitment
FBISD is fortunate to boast over 5,000 teachers who provide students with an exceptional education. FBISD recruits the very best educators year-round.
As part of its quest for excellence in fine arts education, the District offers students in elementary and secondary schools various performing and visual art courses such as music, choir, dance and theater.
At the high school level, students have many choices available to them including our two Early College High School (ECHS) programs that combine college coursework with high school studies for maximum credit gain while earning their diploma. Through these unique hybrid models, up to two years’ worth of tuition-free core college credits may be earned while earning your high school diploma.
Fort Bend ISD’s Athletics program strives to instill in student athletes responsibility, values, sportsmanship and teamwork through interscholastic athletic competition. Each year many student athletes demonstrate excellence academically while competing for scholarships that enable them to further their athletic careers.
Extended Day
Students enrolled in the program can remain on campus up to two hours after school is dismissed, under supervision by campus faculty and staff, engaging in various enrichment activities.
Extended Day students begin their school days at 7:00 AM. Pre-K4 students report to the Early Childhood building for arrival; those in Grades 5-8 head to Patrick Commons or Crowe Hall to purchase breakfast before beginning class.
Briargate Elementary’s chief academic officer Diana Sayavedra reports that schools with higher rates of economic disadvantage tend to receive lower state accountability ratings than more affluent campuses, according to Sayavedra’s observations. To address this disparity through programs it has instituted, Briargate is lobbying state authorities for changes to TEA’s A-F accountability rating system.
