SCHOOL Welcome to Houston Elementary - Houston Public Schools ISD 294

Houston Elementary
310 S. Sherman Street Houston, MN 55943 ♦ Phone 507-896-5323, option 2 ♦ Fax 507-896-3222

Welcome to Houston Elementary

Our school is a Core Knowledge School. The Core Knowledge Curriculum is based on the idea that elementary and middle schools need a solid, specific, shared core curriculum that will help children establish strong foundations of knowledge, grade by grade.

The curriculum aims for accountability, fairness for all students, and high achievement in reading and basic skills.

Based on research by Professor E.D. Hirsch, Jr., of the University of Virginia, and developed by teachers, the Core Knowledge Curriculum strives to provide a solid, coherent foundation for learning, while allowing flexibility to meet our local needs.

Houston Elementary School is a National Blue Ribbon School!

Houston Elementary School in Houston Public School District has been recognized as an Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing Schools National Blue Ribbon School for 2020 by U. S. Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos.

The coveted National Blue Ribbon Schools award affirms the hard work of educators, families, and communities in creating safe and welcoming schools where students master challenging and engaging content.
Up to 420 schools may be nominated each year. The U.S. Education Department invites National Blue Ribbon School nominations from the top education official in all states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the Department of Defense Education Activity, and the Bureau of Indian Education. Private schools are nominated by the Council for American Private Education (CAPE).
School profiles of all 2020 National Blue Ribbon Schools can also be found at https://nationalblueribbonschools.ed.gov/awardwinners.

Click here to read a letter of congratulations from Senator Klobuchar.

Houston Elementary, 2016-17 Reward School

On September 1, 2016, the Minnesota Department of Education released the names of the schools that earned Reward status for the 2016-2017 school year. Houston Elementary School was on that list and designated as a Reward school for the fifth time since the designation was started in 2011-2012.

Using the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment scores in mathematics and reading, the schools are ranked according to how well they did with proficiency, student growth and achieving a reduction in the gap that exists between different groups of students. The top 15 percent of the schools that receive Title 1 funds receive the designation of Reward school. The next 25 percent receive the designation of Celebration school. In 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and now 2016, Houston Elementary School ranked among the top 15 percent of all elementary schools receiving Title 1 funds in the state of Minnesota and, therefore, was designated as achieving Reward status.

In 2015, Houston Elementary received the designation of Celebration school. Therefore, Houston Elementary School has been designated as a high performing elementary school every year the commendations have been given. Mr. Bartz, the Houston Elementary School Principal, said when told about the designation, “This is a testament to the hard work of the staff, students and parents since we could not receive this honor without everyone working together."