Thomas Horace Rogers School"T. H. Rogers Principal Promoted to Director of Alternative, Charter Schools." Houston Independent School District. February 9, 2007. is an alternative primary and secondary public school and part of the Houston Independent School District. The school is at 5840 San Felipe in Houston, Texas, United States, outside of the 610 Loop and inside Beltway 8, west of Uptown Houston.
T. H. Rogers serves students in the Vanguard program from kindergarten through eighth grade and multiply impaired students from age 3 through 12th grade. The school previously served"T.H. Rogers School ." T. H. Rogers Alumni. Accessed October 11, 2008. deaf students from pre-Kindergarten through eighth grade, but the program ended prior to the start of the 2021–2022 school year.
History Opened in 1962, T. H. Rogers was originally a regular middle school that served Uptown area residents. The school was named after Thomas Horace Rogers, who served as the principal of San Jacinto High School Houston, Texas. Rogers died on Valentine's Day, 1954, when police officers, intending to shoot a burglar, instead shot Rogers by mistake. After 1979 T. H. Rogers was no longer a junior high."School Histories: the Stories Behind the Names ." Houston Independent School District. Accessed September 24, 2008. He was killed on February 14, 1954, when a stray bullet from a police officer's gun, intended for a fleeing burglar, struck him. The campus was a junior high from 1962 to 1979 and is now a mixture of Vanguard programs and programs for students with severe disabilities." In 1980 T. H. Rogers was converted into a magnet school. Uptown residents were rezoned to Revere Middle School, but complaints from neighborhood parents that Revere was too far resulted in the re-opening of Grady Elementary School as a middle school in 1992.Markley, Melanie. "Middle school to open in Briargrove area/Building once was Grady Elementary." Houston Chronicle. November 10, 1991."HISD meets opposition to planned school." Houston Chronicle. October 23, 1993.
In 2009 several teachers advocated for the firing of principal Dr. Cathryn White.Mark, Steve. "Teachers revolt against T.H. Rogers principal ." River Oaks Examiner. Thursday May 14, 2009. Retrieved on July 1, 2016.
In 2019 the Texas Education Agency (TEA) originally gave the school below an "A" due to the inclusion of the multiply impaired high school students in the testing statistics, but HISD appealed. TEA Commissioner Mike Morath agreed to the appeal and suggested that HISD get a new campus number to reflect this. Therefore, Rogers has an "A" for 2019.
In 2022 HISD leadership proposed relocating students with special education designations to their zoned schools; T. H. Rogers parents were against the proposal and stated that HISD did not ask them about the proposal before announcing it.
Awards and recognition In 2019 Margaret Downing of the Houston Press stated that Rogers "has been the recipient of several education awards over the years".
T. H. Rogers was named a National Blue Ribbon School in 1991–92.Blue Ribbon Schools Program, Schools Recognized 1982–1983 Through 1999-2002 (PDF) and 2004Microsoft Word - list-2003.doc
In 2005, the fifth grade Odyssey of the Mind (OM) team competed internationally, after winning 4th place in Region and 1st place in Texas. In the World Finals, they took 18th place in their division of 60 teams under the leadership of Linda Hester and Raj Mutha.
In fall 2007 two members of the T. H. Rogers chess team entered the international championships in Antalya, Turkey.Hewitt, Paige. "Chess champs' next big move is playing in world event," Houston Chronicle. November 14, 2007. Retrieved on September 18, 2010.
In December 2006, the 8th grade chess team took 1st place at the National Grade Chess Championships in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.
In 2010 the Houston Press ranked T.H. Rogers as Houston's best school."Best School - 2010 T.H.Rogers." Houston Press. Retrieved on December 13, 2010.
Named #2 Public Middle School in 2009-2010 and #1 in Houston.
In 2011, the third and fourth grade Odyssey of the Mind team competed in the World Finals after scoring 6th in Region and 2nd in Texas. They got 23rd place in their problem, Extreme Mousemobiles.
In 2013, two 7th grade students won 1st place in district science fair, 1st place in the Houston area science fair, best overall in the Houston area science fair, and 1st place in the Texas State Science fair.
In 2014, the Quiz Bowl Team participated in the Middle School National Championship Tournament (MSNCT), taking 5th place nationally. In 2014, two students participated in the History Bowl Team championship, taking home the Grand Prize (1st place) as well as a check for $5,000.
In 2014, the fifth grade Odyssey of the Mind (OM) team competed internationally, after winning 1st place in Region and 1st place in Texas. They took 16th place at the world finals.
In 2015, the Quiz Bowl Team took 2nd place nationally at the Quiz Bowl Middle School National Championship Tournament (MSNCT).
In 2016, the fifth grade Odyssey of the Mind team competed in the World Finals after winning 1st in Regionals, 1st in State, and ended up winning 10th Place in World.
In 2017, the sixth grade Odyssey of the Mind team competed in the World Finals after winning 2nd in Regionals and 1st in State. They ended up finishing in 21st.
In 2019, the eighth grade Odyssey of the Mind team competed in the World Finals after winning 1st in both Regionals and State. They got 7th place in the world finals, which still remains a school record.
In 2019, the fifth grade Odyssey of the Mind team competed in the World Finals after winning 1st in Regionals and 2nd in State. They got 12th place in the world finals.
In 2022, the Quiz Bowl Team took 8th place nationally at the Quiz Bowl Middle School National Championship Tournament (MSNCT), where also Suhurrith Adhikari won the all-star award for getting top 20 in the tournament.
Admissions T. H. Rogers has a selective admission process for Vanguard students. At the high school level the school only takes special education students.
T. H. Rogers does not automatically take in students from the surrounding neighborhood; the surrounding neighborhood is zoned to Briargrove Elementary School,"Briargrove Elementary Attendance Zone ." Houston Independent School District. Tanglewood Middle School (formerly Grady Middle School),"Grady Middle Attendance Zone ." Houston Independent School District. and Wisdom High School (formerly Lee High School),"Lee High School Attendance Zone ." Houston Independent School District. with Lamar High School and Westside High School as options.Home Page as of May 9, 2005. Lee High School.
Program for the gifted and talented (Vanguard)
The T H Rogers Vanguard Magnet Program centers around developing academic skills, creativity, and leadership in Gifted and Talented (GT) students. Kindergarten – Eighth grade curriculum is taught through an interdisciplinary approach to study reading, writing, mathematics, social studies, and science while emphasizing research and critical thinking skills.
Elementary Vanguard
T. H. Rogers has approximately 400 Vanguard students in Kindergarten through 5th Grade. In Kindergarten through 4th Grade, each grade has three classes of about 22 students each. In 5th grade, there are three classes of about 26 students each.
T. H. Rogers has departmentalized academic instruction beginning in kindergarten, meaning students split their day among three teachers. Teachers specialize in math, reading or science and social studies.
The Elementary Vanguard academic course work is accelerated, with an emphasis in research and critical thinking skills.
In addition to Vanguard students, T. H. Rogers also houses the Houston Day School for the Deaf, as well as a Multiple Impaired program for students with severe disabilities. Vanguard Elementary students have opportunities for inclusion activities and classroom lessons with other student populations on campus, when possible. Students learn American sign language basics beginning in kindergarten.
Middle School Vanguard
T. H. Rogers has approximately 390 Vanguard students in 6th - 8th Grade. The 6th Grade cluster includes: 5 core teachers and 149 students at the beginning of the school year. The 7th Grade cluster includes: 4 core teachers, a Foreign Language Teacher, 149 students at the beginning of the school year. The 8th Grade cluster includes: 4 core teachers, a Foreign Language Teacher, 149 students at the beginning of the school year.
Classes are block scheduled and labeled "A" and "B" days. Students have a total of 10 classes; five classes are seen on "A" days, the remaining five are seen on "B" days. Students have eight classes on Mondays. Classes are 85 minutes long. All core classes (English, reading, history, math, and science) are taught at the Pre-Advanced Placement level. On "B" days, all Vanguard Middle School students participate in a 45-minute research class called TPSP(Texas Performance Standards Project). On "A" days, all Vanguard Middle School students have a 45-minute study hall class called homeroom.
Vanguard Middle School students have the opportunity to earn high school credit for: Algebra, Integrated Physics and Chemistry (IPC), Art, Debate and Foreign Language while at T. H. Rogers.
In addition to Vanguard students, T. H. Rogers also houses the Houston Day School for the Deaf, as well as a Multiple Impaired program for students with severe disabilities. Vanguard Middle School students have opportunities for inclusion activities and classroom lessons with other student populations on campus, when possible.
Program for Preparing Students for Independence (PSI)
Preparing Students for Independence (PSI) program serves students aged 3 – 22 whose disabilities severely impair their performance in cognitive and developmental areas. An Admission, Review, and Dismissal (ARD) committee determines if a student's educational needs would be best met in a PSI class.
T.H. Rogers serves students who live in the West Region and whose unique needs cannot be appropriately met in a school closer to their home (as determined by the Office of Special Education).
In 2022 there were plans to abolish the program. Margaret Downing of the Houston Press stated that district administration tried to force the end of the program against parental disapproval. The district ultimately kept the program.
Program for Skills for Learning and Living the enrollment of this program was about 25. It serves grades 1–12.
Core academic classes consist of English Language Arts of Life, Reading for Life, Math for Life, science for Life, Social Studies for Life, personal Health for Life, and Vocational Skills for Life for all grade levels.
Sixth through twelfth grade students may participate in Special Olympics Bowling and Track and Field.
Students participate in core enrichment classes, such as Music, Art, and PE. The students are mainstreamed with Vanguard students in as many enrichment classes as possible. Field trips are attended with students in the Vanguard, Middle School Deaf, and PSI programs.
Older high school students may participate in Community Based Vocational Instruction - going off campus to various work sites.
Curriculum Design
An integrated program developed for each student based on the student's Individual Education program (lEP).
The district adopted Motor Activities Training Program (MATP), a Special Olympics sports skills program to support the development of motor skills.
Collaborative team interaction curriculum approach among the parents, teacher(s), paraprofessional(s) and other service providers.