HISD Fails to Shown How Wharton Closure Benefits the Local Community

1. Loss of a high-performing local elementary school operating at near capacity (378 students of 397 slots) in a neighborhood with an expanding young population (Midtown-Downtown area). The HISD consolidation criterion for underutilized schools is for enrollments that fill less than 75% of building capacity, but yet they are trying to close Wharton.
   • Wharton is a 2007 TEA Recognized School
   • Wharton is named an International Spanish Academy (ISA) from Spain's Ministerio de Educacion y Ciencia
   • Less than 400 of the 8000 schools in Texas earn the prestigious Texas Business and Education Coalition (TBEC) Honor Roll for 2007, and the 16 top spots went to HISD and Wharton was one of them! The TBEC Honor Roll schools have the highest percentage of students performing at the state's most rigorous standard, "commended" performance, in every subject
   • This year's 6th grade class is the second group of students to have gone through our dual language program. Following are their results this year on TAKS; These are clearly "Exemplary" results! Also, Wharton students are able to take the TAKS test in English or Spanish. How many other HISD schools can make that claim
     • Reading - 94% Met Standard, 32% Commended Performance
     • Math - 100% Met Standard, 68% Commended Performance
2. Loss or movement of the award-winning Dual Language Program to another location
   • Wharton’s is the only 100% dual language program in HISD.  All other participating HISD schools’ program consists of just one or two classes per grade, with few schools even participating. WE are concerned about administration’s ability to move all 378 students to another facility.  Herod, Helms and Twain Elementary all have wait lists for the dual language program.
3. Loss of a community assets which includes:  historical building, playground, ballpark, green space, community meeting space, etc.
4. Loss of community programs at Wharton Elementary such as Neartown Little League, Urban Harvest partnership, Summer School, etc.