What is Houston ISD's Vanguard Gifted & Talented (G/T) Program? Approximately 14% of students enrolled in Houston ISD (HISD) are designated as Gifted and Talented (G/T). These students who demonstrate "high performance capability" receive additional state funding that aims to enrich their curriculum. This article takes a deep dive into [...]
The Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE) is the most popular standardized test required for admission to most Houston-area private schools. This page details test dates and locations for the 2025-2026 application season. Parents must register directly with the test administrator at ERBLearn.org. General Academic is Houston’s leading ISEE tutor; [...]
Updated Guide Available: For a deeper look at what five years of test-optional data actually show—including the latest research on outcomes, current Texas university policies, and a practical framework for deciding whether to submit scores—see our comprehensive 2026 guide: Test-Optional in 2026: What Houston Families Need to Know. Since [...]
Analysis of Houston School Choice Lottery for 2023-2024 The most popular Houston ISD (HISD) magnet schools for 2023-2024 are River Oaks Elementary School, Pin Oak Middle School, and Carnegie Vanguard High School. The application cycle for the 2023-2024 school year took place the previous year, between 2022-2023. Families had [...]