About

Spring Branch Academic Institute provides individualized instruction at the appropriate pace, depth and complexity needed by highly gifted students in a multi-aged setting. By creating a school-within-a-school for this specific population, SBISD is filling a great need for students in Spring Branch ISD.

 

Mission Statement

Spring Branch Academic Institute will provide highly, exceptionally, and profoundly gifted children an advanced educational opportunity matched to their individual abilities, strengths and interests.

Rationale

There are no public programs or schools designed specifically to meet the needs of highly, exceptionally, and profoundly gifted students in the Houston area. Parents of highly gifted children seek appropriate educational settings for their children.

Highlights

  • Expanding to grades K-9 in 2018-19 for qualifying Spring Branch ISD students and will continue to expand to serve an additional grade level each year
  • Uses a school-within-a-school format with a separate director and core teaching staff
  • Meets students' affective needs by providing a true peer group and service learning opportunities

History

The creation of Spring Branch Academic Institute (SBAI) was first recommended in 2005 by an Elementary GT Task Force. A second task force with predominantly new members recommended it again in 2007.  SBAI opened to eligible SBISD students age appropriate for grades K-4 in 2013-2014.  Based on the experiences of other public school districts in urban areas (Carrollton-Farmers Branch in Carrollton, Texas and Paradise Valley Unified in Scottsdale, Arizona), the school will grow as it attracts eligible students.  In the 2018-19 school year, it will be serving grades K-9.  SBAI is a demonstration of SBISD's commitment to meet the educational needs of ALL students.

SBAI - High School Profile (SBAI_Profile.PDF)

SBAI is a public K-12 school that provides educational opportunities for highly, profoundly, and exceptionally gifted students in Spring Branch ISD. The mission of Spring Branch Academic Institute is to provide highly gifted children tailored opportunities in academics, as well as support in their social-emotional growth, matched to their individual abilities, strengths, interests, needs, and learning styles. To qualify as a student at SBAI, individuals must earn an IQ score of 145 or greater placing them three standard deviations above the mean. It is considered a school within a school which allows students to have access to both academic and social opportunities from the host campus: Stratford High School. This allows for over 200 course offerings that prepare students to solve real-world problems with an independent mindset.

Contacts

For information about qualifying for the school, the application process or the lottery, please contact Advanced Academic Studies at 713-251-1901. Specific scores needed for students moving into SBISD can be found on the application along with the names of qualifying tests. 

For more information about programming for the Spring Branch Academic Institute, contact Patricia Kassir, Director, at 713-251-2219.  

For more information about the wide range of programming choices available to students in Spring Branch ISD, click here.