Blog entries tagged honors

Friendswood Schools Score A+ Rating

Melissa Burnham — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 23:12:36 +0100

Friendswood ISD schools have officially made the move to the front of the class! The district recently earned the coveted Exemplary rating as a result of their high scores on the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) test. Just last Friday, the Commissioner of Education, Robert Scott, held a press conference in Austin to announce the Texas Education Agency’s 2010 state accountability ratings.

In order of merit, the TAKS test rankings are Exemplary, Recognized, Acceptable, or Unacceptable. A total of 2,624 schools in 239 districts received Texas’ highest rating of Exemplary. Additionally, 3,153 schools in 597 districts achieved the second highest score of Recognized.

The TAKS test is an assessment of the state’s education standards and measures each student’s aptitude in core subjects such as reading and math. TAKS testing is initially administered in the third grade, and passing scores on the TAKS exit exam are required in order to graduate high school.

Congratulations to the all the high achievers attending all of the FISD schools!

Find 2009-10 TAKS campus ratings at TAKS Performance Report.

Source: FISD

Friendswood High School Ranked Among America's Best High Schools by Newsweek Magazine

Cheryl Perry — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 18:40:23 +0100

The Friendswood Independent School District is again earning attention for its outstanding schools with the most recent focus on Friendswood High School, just ranked among Newsweek magazine’s list of America’s Best High Schools 2010.

Newsweek selects the best high schools in the country each year, based on the hard work of school staffs and their challenge to students with advanced placement college level course and tests. This year, just over 1,600 schools – only 6 percent of all public schools in the United States made the list.

Friendswood High School was developing its AP program less than 10 years ago, and today, according to the magazine, the percentage of students enrolled in the AP courses compared to the number of seniors, earned the school its coveted ranking.

The Friendswood Independent School District reports that what Newsweek did not measure that is equally important, is how well students perform on the exams.

An impressive 77.4 percent of the total of Friendswood High School AP test takers (831) earned a 3 or better on the AP exams, thus qualifying to place out of college level classes.

For the past two years, more than 75 percent of FHS students graduated from high school with at least 12 hours of college credit completed.

This latest ranking is a part of a long list of honors and awards earned by Friendswood Independent School District schools, students and teachers and one of the many reasons for the continued success of West Ranch. Friendswood High School and all schools in the Friendswood ISD which serves students in West Ranch are ranked Exemplary by the Texas Education Agency.

Friendswood Awarded 2.3 Million for Back-up generators

Greg Rivera — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 22:21:08 +0100

The City of Friendswood is proud of its community, a group of people who learn together and work together, full of patriotism and a strong civic identity, supported by wonderful volunteers and a thriving community spirit. While the city has had a wonderful time up till now as one of the Best Places to Live, they are preparing for the future by taking steps like redeveloping downtown, and equipping the city with resources for the future. The Texas Department of Rural Affairs (TDRA) recently announced that a grant of $2.3 million has been awarded to the city to purchase back-up generators across the city to prepare for the future and well being of the city’s residents.

The $2.3 million Community Development Block Grant has been awarded to the City of Friendswood to purchase back-up generators at key water and sewer locations across town. Natural gas generators will be purchased for Surface Water Station #1, Water Wells #2 and #33, and for Friendswood Fire Stations 1,2, and 3. The grant was awarded in response to a proposal by the City of Friendswood which stated that back-up power was a primary concern for the health and welfare of area residents.

Under normal conditions water stations and water wells carry fresh water to the people of Friendswood and lift stations pump waste water to water treatment plants. However, in the case of natural disasters like Hurricane Ike which can cut power to lift stations for an extended period of time, the lift stations cannot work and sewer back-ups occur, posing risk to residents.

It is essential to have long term energy sources to power the lift station pumps to prevent sewer back-ups in the event of a long term power outage. The natural gas generators will ensure that sewer systems continue to work and flow properly in such unforeseen events.

The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) is a program that provides communities with resources to address a wide range of unique community development needs, and was awarded to Friendswood and other communities under a Presidential disaster declaration resulting from Hurricane Ike in 2008. Generally the funds are awarded to states through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The CDBG program is one of the longest continuously running programs at HUD and continues to help communities such as Friendswood prepare for future development.

Friendswood Earns National Recognition Among America's Best Small Towns

Cheryl Perry — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 05:00:00 +0100

Friendswood, Texas has once again been recognized nationally as one of America’s best places to live. The new issue of Money magazine cites America’s top 100 best small towns, which were judged by readers in terms of a solid job base, affordable housing, great schools, and area attractions.

Friendswood, home of the new master-planned West Ranch community, was ranked No. 32 on the magazine’s list of the top 100 Best Small Towns. The magazine cites, “Friendswood was founded by Quakers and remains dry, but that doesn't mean its residents don't know how to have fun. The community hosts frequent parades, summer concerts in Stevenson Park, and an opening ceremony for the baseball season. Residents can travel north to Houston, south to the Galveston beaches, or east to the Kemah boardwalk; all are less than an hour away.”

Money lists major employers in the area: Boeing, Valero, BP, NASA as well as the busy Port of Houston. The magazine also reports, “Friendswood has a strong jobs base. And the housing market here is healthier than most.”

West Ranch, the master-planned community located in the city of Friendswood, is developed by Friendswood Development Company and features beautiful new homes by Trendmaker and Village Builders. Prices range from the $270,000s to the $700,000s.

This summer, West Ranch residents are enjoying their own pool and recreation center, in addition to the numerous summer attractions and activities that are close to home.

Students in West Ranch are served by the Friendswood Independent School District and attend exemplary rated schools at all grade levels.

Friendswood - Top 100 Best Places to Live!

Greg Rivera — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 05:00:00 +0100

Make your move to one of the best communities in Friendswood - West Ranch!

View the Money Magazine Top 100 article.

For more information contact the Friendswood Chamber of Commerce at (281) 482-3329 or www.Friendswood-Chamber.com