Houston ISD seniors receive Broad Foundation scholarships

Spring graduates of the Houston Independent School District will receive $150,000 in scholarships from the Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation.

Houston ISD was among four national finalists for the 2012 Broad Prize for Urban Education, which it won in 2002.

According to the press release, HISD superintendent Terry Grier said, "We were honored to be among the final four of 75 urban school districts for the most prestigious award in education. The consistent progress that our students have made over the past several years is a direct reflection on the hard work put in by the teachers, principals and every member of Team HISD."

Finalists were selected by a review board of 13 education researchers, policy leaders, practitioners and executives from leading universities, education associations, civil rights advocates, think-tanks and foundations.

The board looked for urban school districts that showed the greatest performance and improvement in student achievement while reducing achievement gaps among poor and minority students, according to the release. Data included SAT, ACT and Advanced Placement examination participation rates and outcomes, graduation rates and state assessments in reading, math and science.

Houston ISD was selected as a finalist for reasons that included an improvement of the graduation rate of African-American students; an increase in the percentage of Hispanic and African-American students taking college readiness exams; an increase in SAT participation rates by Hispanic students; and an increase in Hispanic students taking Advanced Placement examinations.

For more information on the Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation, visit www.broadeducation.org.