FRIENDSWOOD INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT

     The Friendswood Independent School District was established on December 21, 1948. Friendswood is primarily a residential area located in the northwestern comer of Galveston County, approximately 25 miles from downtown Houston. The school district covers 15 square miles and serves a population of approximately 26,000.

     Fully accredited by the Texas Education Agency, the district's curriculum is geared toward providing students with proven, effective methods of instruction, emphasizing basic academic skills that are essential to each child's successful performance. All programs utilize the team teaching approach and are individualized in concept.

     Highly qualified teachers and administrators work constantly to update curriculum and to perfect instructional programs through in-service training and intense self-evaluation. Extensive instructional equipment, supplies, textbooks, resource materials, and audiovisual aids are readily available. In addition, the constantly expanding computer education program is available for students K-12. Grades K-8 have an extensive reading program designed to meet individual reading needs on a personalized basis.

     Complete courses in art, drama, music and speech are offered to secondary students on an elective basis. Performance groups are offered in band, choir, drama and speech. Four-year foreign language programs are offered in the high school on an elective basis in French, German and Spanish with advanced independent study available. Spanish is offered at the Junior High School beginning in the 7th grade.

     F.I.S.D. was recently notified by the Texas Education Agency that the results from Friendswood High school's 1997 10th grade exit-level Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAAS) are among the highest in the state. Exit-level tests are administered in February of every year for sophomores. Students must pass the exit-level in order to graduate from high school. 1997's scores were: Reading 96% (up from 94% in '96), Math 92% (up from 78% in '96), and Writing 98%. The F.I.S.D. has been rated as an 'Exemplary' district based on student performance. Exemplary is the highest of four ratings the state assigns as a part of the annual accountability and accreditation rating system. Only 37 districts out of the state's 1,044 districts attained this rating in '96-'97. To be exemplary, at least 90% of all students tested on the TAAS must pass. The district's attendance rate (95.9%) and dropout rate (.6%) also met the criteria for the rating. Three other district campuses, Cline Primary, Westwood Elementary, and Bales Intermediate are also rated 'Exemplary'.

     The philosophy of the district is based on education as a continuous process of mental, emotional, spiritual and intellectual growth of the individual. The Board of Education and Administration welcomes involvement from the entire community.