Middle School Realignment Information

Student grades, MAP growth scores, STAAR, and teacher recommendations will all be considerations for advanced placement. Counselors will be relaying this information to students this week. We posted it on the website so parents could review it in advance. Students will be making the selections online using their Chromebooks, but we will also be collecting hard copies signed by parents. 

The purpose of middle school is to explore electives and discover interests. In Art and Band, there is a progression, but this does not preclude students from changing their elective pathways in middle school.

We posted the information on the website so parents would be able to review it in advance. Students will make the selections online using their Chromebooks, but parents will also sign a hard copy. More information will be released this week. The campus counselors will be your best source of information!

Students will be making course selections online using their Chromebooks, but campuses will also be collecting hard copies signed by parents. Selection sheets will be released to students this week-we posted it online for parents so they could begin reviewing the options. The counselor will be in charge of the process at each campus. 

Students will be choosing classes using their Chromebooks at school. They will also turn in a hard copy signed by parents as a backup. Counselors will be sending out the details to parents next week.

Course selections will be turned in to counselors next week. We posted the forms on the website so parents could begin reviewing early.

The district will consider adaptive growth assessments (MAP), STAAR, teacher recommendations, and parent requests when making the advanced placements. 7^th Graders will be given 2 electives. They are required to take Math, Science, Social Studies, Reading, and Writing. They must take a PE credit (3 choices) and then one additional elective.

Counselors will be rolling this out to students next week, but we put it on the website so parents could begin reviewing. 

Once the campus leadership teams are announced in February, we will begin having these discussions. Colors for Middle School uniforms are on the agenda! We don't know what the consensus will be, but we do know parents have been asking us to choose colors that are easy to find. If you have any other suggestions, please don’t hesitate to send them our direction. There will be orientations in May for each new campus, and we will announce dress code guidelines by then.

In general, student academic data will be used for honors placement. Students who are currently successful with the advanced curriculum at Austin can certainly continue on that same path.

The counselors are outlining the student course selections for next year. The process will be completed by the end of February. We will begin sending forms for parents to peruse before the official window opens.  

Orientations for each campus are part of the plan, but we haven't scheduled them yet. A date for orientation will be set once campus principals are named.

The district transportation director is working on guidelines for all Galveston ISD schools. More detailed information to come during the spring semester.

Honors classes have a more rigorous and in-depth content focus than on-level classes. Classes often move at a faster pace, include different types of assignments, and require additional homework. These classes are designed to challenge students beyond grade-level academic courses and prepare them for success in future advanced coursework. Students may require additional encouragement and support from both family and campus staff to be successful in advanced classes.

The honors courses require extensive study and are academically demanding. Because of the rigorous nature of honors courses, it is imperative that students meet the entry criteria for advanced standing courses and maintain eligibility to remain in the course for the duration of the school year. Entry criteria will be determined based on grades, norm referenced test, state end-of-course exams, attendance requirements, and teacher evaluation.

The STEM curriculum will continue to utilize Project Lead the Way (PLTW) engineering design. BioMed classes will include additional science and/or health-related curriculum. Please see the board slides for 11/17/21 for a draft composition of each community’s electives.

This will be determined in the spring of 2022. Special consideration for families with students attending various school campuses will be taken into consideration. 

The realignment plan was approved on November 17, 2021 at the Galveston ISD School School Board meeting. 

Middle school realignment will go into effect at the start of the 2022-23 school year.

No, the middle school realignment will not include Crenshaw.  Crenshaw Environmental Science Magnet campus will continue as a PK - 8 campus. The action will also not impact the AIM campus.

GISD is committed to providing a positive, supportive transition for students and families.  The project’s timeline allows time for schools to work collaboratively with district personnel to plan for the transition. Regular communications will be shared with parents and the GISD community as to where we are during each step of the timeline. A robust, specialized orientation process beginning in the spring of 2022 will provide multiple opportunities for students and families to get acquainted with the new school and staff. 

School choice is an option for grades PK - 4.

We anticipate selecting a principal to lead each school no later than February 2022.

This alignment does not impact Special Programs (ELL, Special Education, Gifted and Talented, and Dual Language).  All students enrolled in the Galveston ISD will continue to have equitable access to a full range of programming, resources , academics , and experiences, including but not limited to a dual language program, newcomer (ESL) program, GT program, special education, 504 programs , fine arts , and strong electives at each campus. Students will continue to be eligible for participation in their identified program(s).

All three campuses will include a combination of current teachers and teachers new to the district. These hiring decisions will be based in part on staffing needs at the new schools, interest expressed by current teachers to move, and teacher certification (ie. teacher fields and grade level).  

Honors classes will be offered in every core subject for grades 5-8. Robotics and Project Lead the Way will continue to be the STEM curriculum available. See the Board Presentation for 11/17/21 for draft ideas of classes aligning with high school communities. 

Initially, Cross-Country, Volleyball, Football, Boys & Girls Basketball, Tennis, and Track will be UIL sponsored programs at Central Junior High. Club soccer is also available for interested students.

Art, Band, Choir, and Theater will be offered for grades 6-8. 5th grade students will be exposed to a variety of fine arts before making course selections for 6th grade.

This will be determined in the Spring of 2022. Central Junior High will align with Ball High School start and end times.

Yes, each new school will have an independent Parent-Teacher Organization. Your campus principal will assist in the initial recruitment and development of your school’s PTO. The campus will contact all parents about organizational meetings and your volunteer participation will be appreciated.

Email MSquestions@gisd.org.