SUCCESS REPORT 2000 – 2010 - Harmony School of Science

SUCCESS REPORT
2000 – 2010
HARMONY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Where Excellence is Our Standard

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MISSION:
The Harmony School System’s mission is to prepare students for higher learning in a safe, caring, and collaborative atmosphere
through a quality learner – centered educational program with a strong emphasis on math, science, engineering, and technology.
In this environment, we promote high expectations for all students while focusing on differentiated instruction to meet each
student’s needs.
VISION:
The vision is to enable students to succeed in school and in the workplace, and to provide options for students to enter math,
science, and engineering careers. This will help students become productive and responsible citizens and even Nobel laureates.
HIGH ACADEMIC STANDARDS
“Since the establishment of Harmony, we have continually striven towards maintaining the high academic standards that will be
the cornerstones for our students well into their professional and personal lives. With the assistance of our supportive parents, the
faculty and staff have guided our students beyond all community and state mandated expectations.
The faculty, staff, and administrators at Harmony are caring, competent, and dedicated professionals who are willing and capable
of assisting you. We are doing our utmost to provide the best possible learning climate for our students.”
S. Tarim, Ph. D.
Superintendent of Schools
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STATE TESTS
TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY
Since their inception in 2000, almost all Harmony Public
Schools earned the highest academic ratings under the
state’s accountability system which is mainly based on
TAKS test performance.
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EXEMPLARY
School districts and individual campuses are rated annually
according to their performances on the TAKS tests. There are four rating
categories for all public and charter schools. These categories are as follows:
Exemplary, which is the best one, Recognized, Academically Acceptable, and
Academically Unacceptable. Schools have to maintain a passing percentage of
90% or higher to get the exemplary rating, not only for all the students but also
for all the subgroups of White, Hispanic, African American, and economically
disadvantaged students. This percentage is 80% for the recognized category.
There are various cut scores for academically acceptable and academically unacceptable
categories. All the students of the public and charter schools in grades
3 through 11 take the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) tests in
reading and mathematics in spring time. In addition, students are tested in 4th
and 7th grades for writing, in 5th, 8th, 10th, and 11th grades for science, and in 8th,
10th, and 11th grades for social studies (Texas Education Association [TEA], 2010.)

CAMPUS OPENED 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
HSA – Houston 2000 Exemplary Exemplary Exemplary Recognized Recognized Exemplary Recognized
HSA – Austin 2002 Recognized Recognized Recognized Recognized Exemplary Recognized Exemplary
HSA – Dallas 2004 Recognized Exemplary Acad. Acceptable Recognized Exemplary Exemplary
HSI – Houston 2005 Acad. Acceptable Recognized Exemplary Exemplary Exemplary
HSE – Houston 2006 Exemplary Exemplary Exemplary Exemplary
HSA – San Antonio 2006 Exemplary Exemplary Recognized Recognized
HSS – Austin 2006 Recognized Exemplary Exemplary Exemplary
HSA – Fort Worth 2006 Exemplary Exemplary Exemplary Exemplary
HSA – El Paso 2006 Recognized Exemplary Recognized Exemplary
HSA – Bryan/College Station 2007 Recognized Recognized Acad. Acceptable
HSA – Waco 2007 Recognized Recognized Exemplary
HSA – Lubbock 2007 Recognized Exemplary Recognized
HSA – Beaumont 2007 Recognized Acad. Acceptable Acad. Acceptable
HSA – Houston NW 2007 Recognized Exemplary Exemplary
HSA – Brownsville 2008 Exemplary Recognized
HSA – Grand Prairie 2008 Exemplary Exemplary
HSA – North Austin 2008 Recognized Recognized
HSA – Laredo 2008 Aca. Acceptable Exemplary
HSS – Houston 2008 Exemplary Exemplary
HS of Endeavor – Houston 2009 Exemplary
HS of Ingenuity – Houston 2009 Recognized
HSI – El Paso 2009 Recognized
HSI – Dallas 2009 Exemplary
HSA – Euless 2009 Exemplary
HSE – Austin 2009 Exemplary
HSA: Harmony Science Academy, HSE: Harmony School of Excellence, HSI: Harmony School of Innovation, HSS: Harmony School of Science
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HARMONY SCHOOLS EARN TOP ACADEMIC RATINGS
HSA-Houston Passing Persentages
TX Passing Persentages
TAKS 2004 HSA – HOUSTON
ONE OF THE ONLY
TWO EXEMPLARY
SCHOOL DISTRICTS
In 2004 Harmony Science
Academy – Houston
was one of the only
2 exemplary school districts
in Houston, and
one of the 15 exemplary
high schools in Texas.
EXEMPLARY
IN ITS SECOND YEAR!
In 2006, Harmony Science
Academy – Dallas was rated
“Exemplary” in its 2nd
year of operation.
GREAT START!
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HSA Houston Passing Persentages
TX Passing Persentages
EXEMPLARY DISTRICT
TWO YEARS IN A ROW!
In 2005 Harmony Science
Academy – Houston became
exemplary for two years in a
row. HSA – Houston was one of
the 11 exemplary high school in
Texas in 2005.
Harmony School of Excellence
was rated exemplary
in its first year of
operation. HSE is one of
the few exemplary charter
districts all across the
state of Texas (There were
only 8 exemplary charters in 2007). In 2007, only 2.2% of all
public schools districts and 7.9% of all public campuses were
rated as exemplary.
Subjects
TEXAS/All
Students
HSE
Reading/ELA 89 100
Writing 92 100
Soc. Std. 89 100
Math 77 99.53
Science 71 96.49

HARMONY SCHOOLS EARN TOP
ACADEMIC RATINGS
HIGHEST ACADEMIC RATINGS
Texas Education Agency (TEA) announced
on August 1st, 2009 that all
TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY
EXEMPLARY
Texas Education Agency
(TEA) announced on
August 1st, 2008 that
all Harmony Schools
earned the highest
academic ratings under the state’s accountability
system; seven out of fourteen
schools were rated as “exemplary”, which
is the top category, and the other seven
were rated as “recognized”.
Subjects
TEXAS/All
Students
In 2008, HSA – Fort Worth became “Exemplary”
for two years in a row.
HSA – Fort
Worth
Reading/ELA 91 98
Writing 93 100
Soc. Std. 91 97
Math 80 95
Science 74 96
Harmony Schools earned the highest
academic ratings under the state’s
accountability system; eleven out of
nineteen schools were rated as “Exemplary”,
which is the top category, other six were rated as “Recognized”,
and the other two were rated as “Aca. Acceptable.”
OVER 90% OF HPS CAMPUSES RECEIVED “EXEMPLARY” OR
“RECOGNIZED” RANKINGS
In 2010, out of 25 schools that are subject
to the rating by Texas Education Agency,
over 90% of HPS campuses received either
“Exemplary” or “Recognized” rankings.
Harmony expects each newly established
school to reach Exemplary status within three
years of establishment.
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TAKS PERFORMANCE 2010
16 7 2
16 Exemplary 7 Recognized 2 Aca. Acceptable
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CAMPUS
READING
/ELA %
WRITING
%
SOCIAL
STUDIES %
MATH %
SCIENCE
%
RATING CATEGORY
HSA – Houston 94 99 99 86 88 Recognized
HSA – Austin 93 98 99 91 88 Exemplary
HSA – Dallas 94 96 99 93 90 Exemplary
HSI – Houston 94 96 99 88 87 Exemplary
HSE – Houston 99 99 99 99 99 Exemplary
HSA – El Paso 90 88 99 84 87 Exemplary
HSA – San Antonio 94 92 99 81 86 Recognized
HSA – Fort Worth 97 99 99 93 93 Exemplary
HSS – Austin 92 96 99 94 93 Exemplary
HSA – Houston NW 96 99 99 96 97 Exemplary
HSA – Beaumont 89 94 94 82 84 Acad. Acceptable
HSA – B/CS 90 89 99 80 92 Acad. Acceptable
HSA – Lubbock 87 90 83 81 84 Recognized
HSA – Waco 97 88 98 93 97 Exemplary
HSA – Grand Prairie 91 89 99 92 94 Exemplary
HSA – North Austin 94 90 99 92 91 Recognized
HSS – Houston 98 99 98 95 95 Exemplary
HSA – Brownsville 85 83 96 81 80 Recognized
HSA – Laredo 95 94 99 90 86 Exemplary
HSE – Austin 90 88 99 87 88 Exemplary
HS of Ingenuity 92 86 99 83 75 Recognized
HSE – Endeavor 94 92 99 93 93 Exemplary
HSI – El Paso 93 85 99 77 81 Recognized
HSI – Dallas 96 97 99 96 96 Exemplary
HSA – Euless 95 95 99 94 96 Exemplary

BEST HIGH SCHOOL IN THE NATION
Harmony was listed by US News as one of the
best high schools in the nation.
Harmony Science Academy was listed
as one of the best high schools by U.S.
News and World Report in 2007, 2008,
2009, and 2010 among 21,000 public
high schools across the country.
The article recognized specific schools
based on factors such as:
1) standardized test scores,
2) performance of disadvantaged students, and
3) number of seniors taking and passing college level Advanced
Placement Exams.
HARMONY PUBLIC SCHOOLS HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM
The goal of high school programs at Harmony Schools is to prepare
students for four year colleges and for life. To that end, the core curriculum
in the high school grades is designed to give each student
the essential elements of a college preparatory education along
with opportunities to engage in the exploration of intense study of
particular fields of interest.
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100% COLLEGE ACCEPTANCE RATE
0% DROP OUTS:
In 2004, college bound seniors from Harmony Science Academy
Houston graduated with 100 % college acceptance rate. Since
then, Harmony Science Academy – Houston has had a 100% college
acceptance rate and 0% drop outs. This success repeated
itself in HSA Austin campus starting from 2006 and in HSA Dallas
campus since last year. As of May, 2010, every Harmony senior is
accepted by college or university and will have the right start for
a long life waiting for them. Harmony closely monitors its high
school students’ college readiness. The school database helps
counselors to track students’ test scores, interests, applications,
and scholarship applications.
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COLLEGE MATRICULATION 2010
• Texas A & M University
• Columbia University
• Tufts University
• Texas Tech University
• New York University
Students Accepted to a 4 Year School
Students Accepted to a 2 Year School
• University of Texas At Austin
• Arizona State University
• Houston Baptist University
• Tulane University
• University of Houston
• University of Iowa
• Baylor University
100
• Houston Baptist University
80
• Lamar University
60
40
20
0
HSA Houston HSA Austin HSA Dallas
Students Accepted to a 4 Year School
Students Accepted to a 2 Year School
• Louisiana State University
• Syracuse University
• University of Miami
• University of North Texas
• Rochester Institute of Technology
• Sam Houston State University
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HPS ALUMNI
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Michelle Sanders ‘05, Valedictorian
School: HSA-Houston
University: Amherst College
Scholarship per year: $ 60,000
I enjoyed the leadership and traveling opportunities
that I received at the school,
which aided me a lot in my community
service career at college.
Angelina Tran ’06, Valedictorian
School: HSA-Houston
University: Rice University
Scholarship: $110,000
HSA has given me opportunities that no
other school could offer: small, interactive
classrooms, peer tutorial programs, and
even opportunities to work in university
research labs and to travel abroad! These
are the impetus for achievement and future
success.”
Ahmed D. Atik ’07, Valedictorian
School: HSA-Houston
University: University of Texas at Austin
Scholarship: UIL Scholarship
On the road to college, the best preparation
I had was the AP program at Harmony
Science Academy. They offered AP classes
in a variety of subjects, allowed me to take
them all, and the experienced teachers
prepared me in such a way that I passed
all of the AP tests with high scores.

Erica Onwuegbuchu ’10, Valedictorian
Kendra Baldazo ’10, Salutatorian
Ashley Agbasoga ‘10
School: HSA-Dallas
School: HSA-Houston
School: HSA-Austin
University: Southern Methodist University
University: Tufts University
University: Columbia University
Scholarship: $53,666
Scholarship Amount: $ 57,500
Scholarship: $57,683
Wouldn’t you want to be part of a school
I would say that Harmony Science Acad-
Harmony Science Academy has helped me
where academic learning was a priority,
emy definitely prepared me for college.
prepare for Columbia University in numer-
diversity was popularity, an extracurricular
We had fantastic teachers that coached
ous ways. Its rigorous curriculum in the
activities were inevitable? I did and that is
us through writing papers, performing
math and sciences has helped me obtain
why I never regretted in choosing HSA as
science experiments, writing history DBQs,
the knowledge needed to succeed. The
my school. Throughout my 6 years there,
solving differential equations, preparing
diversity at Harmony Science Academy
I have grown to be the mature, sophisticated
young woman that I am now. It is
an honor to call HSA my home because in
essence that is what it really is.
for the SAT/ACT, and so much more.
has taught me to be tolerant of different
experiences and has taught me to become
a better person in life.
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HPS AP REPORT – 2010
Harmony Schools provide rigorous academic programs
such as dual credit and AP courses that enable students
to reach their potential in getting admission to Ivy League
colleges. AP course list offered at HPS:
• Calculus BC
• Chemistry
• Microeconomics • Art History
• Spanish Language • Psychology
• Computer Science A • Env. Science
• Spanish Literature • Physics
• European History • U.S. Gov. & Politics
• Statistics
• Music Theory
• Calculus AB
• Studio Art
• Biology
• Macroeconomics
• English Language
• Human Geography
• World History
• English Literature
• U.S. History
School
Econom.
Disadv. %
HS
Students
AP Test
Takers
AP Test
Takers %
Passing
%
Houston-HSE 19.00% 96 76 79.00% 66.00%
El Paso-HSA 51.00% 118 48 41.00% 64.00%
Bryan 56.00% 22 13 59.00% 53.00%
Houston-HSA 80.00% 195 100 51.00% 49.00%
Austin 75.00% 147 41 28.00% 46.00%
Fort Worth 29.00% 102 49 48.00% 41.00%
Austin North 19.00% 69 5 7.00% 40.00%
Beaumont 43.00% 43 1 2.00% 100.00%
Houston-NW 23.00% 109 19 17.00% 32.00%
Lubbock 80.00% 30 4 13.00% 25.00%
Waco 71.00% 27 9 33.00% 22.00%
Dallas 81.00% 171 87 51.00% 22.00%
Houston-HSS 42.00% 39 4 10.00% 0.00%
HPS 52.00% 1168 490 42.00% 44.00%
500
NUMBER OF TEST
400
300
200
100
TAKERS BY YEARS
(2008 TO 2010)

HPS SAT REPORT – 2010
SAT SCORES
SCHOOL CLASS OF READING MATH WRITING
HPS 2010 487 539 494
Texas Average 2010 484 505 473
SAT PARTICIPATION RATE
SCHOOL CLASS OF SAT Participation Rate
HPS 2009 95%
Texas 2009 51%
HPS 2010 92%
Texas 2010 56%
Unlike many public high schools, at Harmony Public Schools,
almost all students take the SAT.
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MATHCOUNTS
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MATHCOUNTS is a national enrichment,
club and competition
program that promotes middle
school mathematics achievement
through grassroots involvement
in every U.S. state
and territory.
President Bush welcomes the
2008 National MathCounts
champion Ding Zhou of Harmony
School of Excellence to the
Oval Office at The White House.
SELECTED MATH COUNTS ACHIEVEMENTS
• HSE – Houston Team won 1 st place in the Texas State
MATHCOUNTS competition (2011)
• HSE – Houston Team won 1 st place in Houston (2011)
• HSA – Lubbock Team won 1 st place in Lubbock (2011)
• HSA – Beaumont Team won 1 st place in Beaumont
(2010)
• HSE – Houston Team won 2 nd place at the state
competition in 2010. One HSE student represented
Texas at the national level.
• HSE – Houston Team won 1 st place at “Mathletes in
Action” MATHCOUNTS competition 2010
• HSA – Laredo Team won 1 st place in Laredo
• HSA – El Paso Team won 2 nd place as a team in
Math Counts El Paso Division in 2009
• HSE – Houston Team won 1 st Place as a team Individual
in Math Counts Houston Region in 2007
AMERICAN MATH COMPETITION
(AMC 8) – 2002
• 1st Place in Texas (Perfect Score)
• 2 Honor Rolls

ROBOTICS
Harmony Schools’ Robotics
Program
introduces
young minds
to real – world
engineering challenges
by building
LEGO – based robots
to complete tasks
on a thematic playing
surface. Students, guided by their
imaginations and their teachers, discover
exciting career possibilities and,
through the process, learn to make
positive contributions to society.
HPS SELECTED ROBOTICS AWARD LIST
• HSA – El Paso teams received 1st and 2nd place awards at TCEA (Texas Computer
Education Association) Robotics Championship (Austin – 2009)
• HSA – El Paso won the Champion’s 1st Place Award in TAME/FLL Tri – State Robotics
Championship. This team represented Texas in World Championship.
• HSA – Brownsville received 1st place at the FLL Robotics Championship Tournament
(Houston – 2010)
• HSA – Laredo has won 1st Place at First Lego League qualification (Houston – 2010)
• HSA – Laredo Middle School Robotics team received 1st place at the South Texas First
Lego League Finals in Houston, February 27th, 2010. The team won the championship
award, best performance award and best design award in the finals.
• HSA – Beaumont received 1st place Robot Performance Award at the College Park FLL
Qualifying Tournament on November 21 2009.
• HSA – Dallas received 4th place at The North Texas FLL (Robotics) Championship held
in Dallas in 2010.
The HSA – El Paso FLL Robotics Team qualified to represent the United States in the European
Open Championship Robotics Competition held in Denmark on May 1 – 3, 2009
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STRONG PRESENCE IN SCIENCE FAIRS
AND SCIENCE OLYMPIADS
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THE EXXONMOBIL TEXAS SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING FAIR
The ExxonMobil Texas Science and Engineering Fair is the state science fair
offering two levels of competition: juniors category for students in grades
6 through 8, and seniors category for students in grades 9 through 12.
Students enrolled in accredited home – school programs are also eligible.
Over one thousand students from 6th through 12th grade compete
from all across the state. To qualify for state competition students must win first, second,
or third place in their category at an ISEF – sanctioned regional science fair. There is no other
mechanism through which students can advance to the state fair, and no exceptions can
be made regarding grade level requirements.
TEXAS SCIENCE OLYMPIAD
Science Olympiad is a nonprofit organization developed to improve
the quality of science education, increase student interest
in science, and provide recognition of outstanding achievement
in science education by both students and teachers. All of this is
done through interscholastic competitions where students in grades K – 12 (Texas only
offers programs for grades 6 – 12) can participate at invitational, local, regional, state, and
national level competitions against teams from all 50 states.
In 2009 and 2010, projects from
Harmony Public Schools made
up 10 percent of all competition
projects in the 2009 Exxon-
Mobil Texas State Science and
Engineering Fair.
Harmony schools have won
over 2,000 awards in local,
state, national and international
science fairs and science
Olympiads.

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HPS SCIENCE FAIR AND OLYMPIAD
SELECTED AWARD LIST
• Harmony Science Academy – Houston: First
and second place awards in The Texas Science
and Engineering Fair 2002.
most successful school in The Houston Science
and Engineering Fair 2003 with 9 first
place awards.
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• Harmony Science Academy – Houston: 2nd
place in Computer Junior Division, 2nd place
in Engineering, 3rd place in Mathematics in
The Science and Engineering Fair 2003.
• Harmony Science Academy – Houston:
Bronze Medal in The International Math
Project Competition – Kazakhstan – 2001.
• Harmony Science Academy – Houston: Honorable
Mention in The International Environmental
Project Olympiad – Turkey – 2002.
•
• Harmony Science Academy – Houston: 2 Honorable
Mentions in International Physics
Competition – Poland 2001.
• Harmony Science Academy – Houston:
Honorable Mention in The International
Environmental Project Olympiad – 2002.
• Harmony Science Academy – Houston: The
• Harmony Science Academy – Houston: The
Teacher of the Year Award in The Houston
Science and Engineering Fair 2003.
• Harmony Science Academy – Houston: 26
awards (12 first place awards) in The Houston
Science and Engineering Fair 2004.
• Harmony Science Academy – Houston: 1st
and 3rd place awards, and three Hon. Mentions
in The Texas Science and Engineering
Fair 2004.
• Harmony Science Academy – Austin: 20
awards in The Austin Science and Engineering
Fair 2004.
• Harmony Science Academy – Houston: Honorable
Mention in The International Computer
Project Competition – Poland – 2005.
Angelica McCarron, Grand Award
Winner in HSEF
Harmony Science Academy – Houston:
The most Successful School In
Houston Science and Engineering
Fair 2003 with 9 first place awards.
Harmony Science Academy – Houston:
The Teacher of the Year Award
in Houston Science and Engineering
Fair 2003.
Mr. Murat Kaya, the principal of
HAS-Euless, the best school award
winner & Mr. Mehmet Basol, the
best teacher award winner

• Harmony Science Academy – Houston:
Bronze Medal in The International Math
Project Competition – Kazakhstan – 2006.
• Harmony Science Academy – Dallas: 20
awards in The Dallas Science and Engineering
Fair 2007.
• Harmony Science Academy – S. Antonio:
Two 2nd place awards in The Texas Science
and Engineering Fair in 2007.
• Harmony School of Excellence – Houston:
1st place in The Regional Science Olympiad
as a team in 2007.
• Harmony School of Excellence – Houston:
the grand award in The Houston Science
and Engineering Fair in 2007.
• Harmony School of Excellence – Houston:
six 1st place awards in The Houston Science
and Engineering Fair in 2007.
• Harmony School of Science – Austin: won
12 awards in The Austin Science and Engineering
Fair 2007.
• Harmony Science Academy – Austin: 29
awards in The Austin Science and Engineering
Fair 2007.
• Harmony Science Academy – Austin: one 3rd
place awards, four 4th awards, and three
honorable mentions in The Texas Science
and Engineering Fair 2007.
• Harmony Science Academy – Dallas: 36
awards in The Science Olympiads in 2007.
• Harmony Science Academy – Fort Worth:
22 place awards in The Fort Worth Science
and Engineering Fair 2007.
• Harmony Science Academy – Fort Worth:
the grand award in The Fort Worth Science
and Engineering Fair 2007.
• Harmony Science Academy – Fort Worth:
won 22 place awards in The Science Olympiads
in 2007.
• Harmony Science Academy – Houston: 22
awards in The Houston Science and Engineering
Fair in 2007.
• Harmony Science Academy – Houston: 2nd
place award in The Texas Science and Engineering
Fair in 2007.
• Harmony Science Academy – S. Antonio:
24 awards in The San Antonio Science and
Engineering Fair in 2007.
• Harmony Science Academy – S. Antonio: 1st
and 2nd place awards in The Texas Science
and Engineering Fair in 2009.
• Harmony Science Academy – Laredo: 2nd
and 4th place awards in The Texas Science
and Engineering Fair in 2009.
• Harmony Science Academy – Fort Worth:
28 place awards in The Fort Worth Science
and Engineering Fair 2009.
• Harmony Science Academy – Dallas: 28
awards in The Science Olympiads in 2008.
• Harmony Science Academy – El Paso: 20
awards in The El Paso Science and Engineering
Fair in 2009.
• Harmony Science Academy – El Paso: 20
awards in The Regional The Science Olympiads
in 2009.
• In 2010, Harmony Science Academy-Euless
got 9 awards at Fort Worth science fair, including
best school and best teacher award.
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OTHER SELECTED ACHIEVEMENTS
TITLE-I NATIONAL DISTINGUISHED SCHOOL AWARD
In 2005, Harmony Science Academy-Houston (HSA-Houston) received the Title-I National Distinguished
School Award from the US Department of Education. HSA-Houston was one of 2 schools in the state
of Texas and one of 52 schools across the nation to be selected to receive this award. This highly acclaimed
award is given to schools for their outstanding results in one of two categories: 1) Exceptional
student performance for two or more consecutive years or, 2) Closing the achievement gap among
ethnic groups. HSA-Houston was the only school which qualified to receive this award in both categories.
LEADER IN T – STEM IN TEXAS
Fourteen Harmony schools have been designated as T – STEM (Texas Science Technology Engineering and
Mathematics) Academies. They have received funding from public and private organizations such as The
Gates Foundation and The Dell Foundation as part of the Texas High School Project. As of 2009, there were
35 total T – STEM academies in Texas.
BEST MIDDLE SCHOOL IN CENTRAL TEXAS
Harmony Austin was selected as the best middle school in Central Texas by “Children at Risk”, a non-profit and non-partizan
organization in 2009.
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ONE OF THE BEST HIGH SCHOOLS IN HOUSTON AND THE STATE OF TEXAS
Harmony Science Academy was listed as one of the top 10 high schools in Houston according to a study done by Children at Risk,
a nonprofit organization that drives change for children through research, education and influencing public policy. The findings
of the study were published by Ericka Mellon in Houston Chronicle on April 25, 2010.

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WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT HARMONY PUBLIC SCHOOLS…
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COMMUNITY LEADERS, LAWMAKERS, PARENTS
& STUDENTS ON THE RECORD FOR HARMONY
PUBLIC SCHOOLS
“It’s easy to know from looking at your school and
talking with your principal, and knowing the staff
that he has here, that they challenge you, but they
also give you the ability to dream and to achieve
and that is what our community is about. I’m
very impressed with the quality and the expertise
you have here for robotics. What’s significantly
different from what I have seen at other schools
are the different
levels and the
fact that the
older students
mentor the
younger ones,
which is really
neat to see because
I can see
the complexity
level going up.”
Congressman Silvestre Reyes (D-TX)
United States House of Representatives, District 16
Visit to Harmony Science Academy El Paso,
November 25, 2010
“I really enjoyed
visiting
Harmony Science
Academy
last week. The
reception I received
from the
staff, students,
parents and
business community
was wonderful. You have really done a
great job to establish an environment which is
conductive to students receiving an exceptional
educational experience. All the students seemed
very engaged and excited to learn new concepts”.
Congresswoman Kay Granger (R-TX)
United States House of Representatives, District 12
Visit to HSA Fort Worth, April 12, 2010
“The Harmony schools are an excellent example
of how we can use innovative teaching methods
to challenge students and help them reach their
highest potential. One of the major challenges
this country faces is how to improve students’
academic achievements and reduce the number
of high school drop-outs. The Harmony School
of Excellence is lacking this problem head-on by
challenging students and expecting nothing less
than excellence. You are all lucky to be attending
such a fine school”.
Congressman Michael T. McCaul (R-TX)
United States House of Representatives, District 10
Harmony School of Excellence Austin School Opening Letter
January 23, 2010
“My dad has lived in the same home for over 30
years and recently Harmony Public Schools have
opened a new
campus about a
block and a half
away.
Before
the school even
opened there
was a knock at
my father’s door.
Not just to give
a flyer, but they
wanted to meet the people in that community. Not
only has Harmony provided my father—a former
English teacher—with an avenue to share his skills,
but now at age 78, he feels he is part of that Harmony
campus and part of the charter school movement.”
Senator Leticia Van de Putte (D-San Antonio)
Texas State Senate, District 26
Texas Charter School Association Conference
December 1, 2010

…On 10 Years of Harmony Excellence
“Congratulations are in order for the 10th Anniversary
of Harmony Schools. This highly successful
education model places emphasis on math and
science and equips our students with the skills to
compete in a global environment.”
Mayor John Cook
City of El Paso, February 14, 2011
“Congratulations on behalf of President Obama,
on behalf of our Education Secretary Arne Duncan,
on your 10th anniversary.”
“What you’ve been able to show in the past decade
is a really important message, that all of our kids
can thrive, they can succeed when they’re given a
chance, when they’re given a world class education.
Harmony Public Schools is one of the great
public charter schools, not just in Texas, but across
the country.”
Juan Sepulveda
Director of White House Initiative on
Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans
Harmony San Antonio, 10th Anniversary Celebration
February 7, 2011
“As a parent of children that have had to go to five
different schools, it wasn’t until last semester when
we had the good fortune of having the principal and
superintendent visit me, that we tried Harmony
Public Schools, and for my 10-year-old son and eightyear-old
daughter, they had never felt more warmly
received. I think the basic foundation for children
is that they need to feel comfortable and feel safe
and feel like the people who are there to teach them
really care about them as people first; and that is
the special sauce in
Harmony Schools.
The commitment on
behalf of the staff at
Harmony schools is
incredible… that
other schools learn
not only form the
educational curriculum, but really from that dedication
that comes from the leadership at Harmony.”
Representative Jose Menendez (D-San Antonio)
Texas House of Representative, District 124
Harmony San Antonio, 10th Anniversary Celebration
February 7, 2011
“Congratulations Harmony Schools of Texas! On
behalf of Region 4 Education Service Center, we applaud
your success and growth. Your commitment to
rigor, relevance, and, most importantly, relationships
is evident in the positive impact on student success
in the Houston area and beyond. Students’ lives are
significantly better because of your mission of excellence.
Congratulations on your 10-year anniversary.”
Dr. Bill McKinney
Executive Director of Region 4 Education
Service Center, February 10, 2011
“Harmony
Charter
Schools have amassed
an impressive record
of numerous state, national
and international
academic achievements
by their students. Congratulations
on this remarkable
decade of academic excellence!”
Marsha Farney, PhD.
State Board of Education, District 10, February 15, 2011
‘‘Alice transferred from a public middle school (gifted
program) to Harmony Science Academy and has
not once regretted it. She found the school to be
intellectually challenging. Alice is exceptionally
happy with the prep for competitions the school
offers. She is earnestly involved in Science Olympiads,
Math Olympiads, Math Counts, and UIL. For these
competitions, the teachers offer endless chances
and time to study and gain any needed help. Alice
is even happier with her much improved social
life. The kids are nicer, more mature, and much
more accepting than at any other school she has
attended. Having more friends greatly increased
her enthusiasm toward school.”
Jacek Turski, Ph. D. Professor, Harmony Parent
| 25 | Harmony Public Schools

We couldn’t have chosen a better school.
“Two years ago our daughter started HSA and
we have seen the caring, nurturing and dedicated
teachers work hard with the students. The
environment the school provides is a safe and
healthy for our child’s development. The school
provides an environment that fosters academic
excellence and moral values. We couldn’t have
chosen a better school”.
Adrian and Elenita Usher, Harmony Parents
community. Our family is proud to be a part of
the Harmony Charter School System.”
Kristina Hardwick, PTO President,
Harmony Parent
Enriched academic environment.
“Harmony Science Academy has given my children
an enriched academic environment and
structure that has encouraged their growth
and maturity.”
Tim & Kathy Donahue, Harmony Parents
…Texas House of Representatives Resolution Honoring
Harmony Public School, House Resolution 235
February 16, 2011
| 26 | Harmony Public Schools
Best Place to Learn.
“The students of Harmony succeed due to the
devotion of the teachers and staff. Every instructor
makes a personal investment in each
child, resulting in the student’s enthusiasm of
unquenchable desire to learn and become the
best they can be”
Beth Irwin, Harmony Parent
A Model Learning Community.
“Creativity is more than just being different.
Harmony has a faculty that transcends accepted
educational methods. They help students become
scientifically literate, critical thinkers while
maintaining a passion for learning. It is a pleasure
to be a parent of a student at this school.
Parental involvement is not only required but
encouraged. The Harmony Triangle of school,
parent, and student is model for any learning
HSE Will Shape the Future of Houston’s Economy.
“For Houston to retain its title of “Energy
Capital of the World”, it will take the minds of the
students here at Harmony School of Excellence.
This science and technology school provides the
kind of education that will shape the future
of Houston’s economy. Innovative teaching
methods and a curriculum that includes Junior
Engineering and robotics make learning fun for
teachers as well as students. These students will
be shaping Houston’s future. And, I applaud the
dynamic faculty, staff, and administration for
rising to meet the challenges in providing this
innovative curriculum. ”
Andy Ellis
President, American Association of Drilling
Engineers, Remarks at the HSE
Opening Ceremony, 2006

Very Well Rounded Education at the First Year.
“Harmony has exceeded my expectations. The teachers
provide the students with a curriculum that is
challenging, comprehensive, creative, and hands on.
At Harmony, the students are not just learning to pass
the TAKS test, they are receiving a very well rounded
education . Harmony is a very family-oriented school
with many tangible opportunities for the parents
to be involved with their child’s education. It is clear
that the administrators and the teachers believe
in what they do because it shows in our students
excitement and success. It is a place where everyone
is willing to roll up their sleeves and work hard. For
my family this has been an exciting and refreshing
change. We believe in the vision and look forward to
many successful years ahead. ”
Sally Magnuson, Harmony Parent
“Out of the Box” Thinking.
“In HSE, there is a Robotics class where students build
robots using Lego Mindstorm NXT. They, then, use the
program to program various things. The students
learn the importance of teamwork. This also brings
them to the world of engineering. The Robotics class,
and talks about engineering gives them experience with
engineering. Experience they can’t get any where else.”
Kim Ngyuen-6th Grade Student
You are showing a whole lot of people that it doesn’t
take a lot of money to develop an excellent program.
But it does take the triad that you have: students,
dedicated teachers, and parents. Put all three of these
together and excellence will result.”
Dr. Larry G. Spears, Science and Engineering Fair of
Science is Fun at HSE
Houston Chair.
“From October to November 29th the school was
a hive of activity for one big reason: science fair.
Students were coming in almost every day with one
thing on their minds if they where in 4th and up
grades, to complete their boards and projects. Every
student was assigned a teacher who would guide
them along the process of planning and picking a
project, along with getting the right materials. It
was fun. There are many different events in Science
Olympiad. One includes building a rocket from a two
liter bottle, while another has the student identifying
varying rock and mineral samples.
All in all, Science Olympiad is about learning about
the different elements of science in a fun and safe
atmosphere.”
Leelund Swanson, 7th grader, Harmony Student
Learning is Fun at Harmony.
“Harmony is great and full of opportunities. Here
you can accomplish all your dreams and make many
friends. Education is first and everything else is second.
It is the best school for everything, education, fun,
and making friends. Harmony is unique and creative
where you can learn how to make a difference.”
Jasmine Sandhu, 8A, Harmony Student
| 27 | Harmony Public Schools

HARMONY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Where Excellence is Our Standard
| 28 | Harmony Public Schools
Designed by Helix Design and Production / www.helixproduction.com
HARMONY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
9321 W. Sam Houston Pkwy. S. Houston, TX 77099
Tel: (713) 343-3333 Fax: (713) 777-8555
www.harmonytx.org