In Juliana Gonzalez’s new dance class at Rees Elementary School, students sit, twirl, jerk, and strike poses, their jagged movements reflected in the floor-to-ceiling mirror in front of them.
The Alief ISD third graders are practicing their “tutting,” a hip-hop dance move in which dancers make geometric movements with their hands and fingers. One student throws out his index and pinky fingers to form the Houston “H.”
“As a kid I didn’t naturally excel in academics, but when I went to dance, I felt like that was my strong thing,” Gonzalez said in an interview last week. “And I hope that this can be their thing, for some of them, that they feel strong and confident in and that that confidence will spread into all areas of their life.”
The new dance program is one of the first steps in the school’s transformation next year into Rees Performing and Visual Arts Academy, one of five newly redesigned fine arts or STEM campuses opening in Alief this fall.
The programs are part of Alief’s new districtwide push to attract and keep more families in the district, which has lost thousands of students — and the money that follows them — to charter schools and suburban districts over the past decade.
In addition to launching expanded campus offerings, Alief leaders are planning a major marketing push and holding preliminary discussions about a few potentially big changes, including the elimination of Alief’s longstanding high school lottery system, the addition of an all-girls school and the opening of a campus serving grades kindergarten through 8.
Like other larger urban school districts in Houston and across Texas, Alief faces increasingly stiff competition from local charter schools. The district has lost roughly 8,000 students or 18 percent of its total enrollment, since 2015. About 60 percent of those losses are from students transferring to charter networks like KIPP Texas, YES Prep and Harmony public schools.
In the face of enrollment losses, districts like Aldine, Houston and Spring ISDs have tried several approaches to win back families but also made big cuts — including closing campuses, in Aldine’s case — to close budget deficits. Alief has largely avoided major cuts, but with enrollment trends pointing down and federal pandemic stimulus money running out, the district hopes to avoid a similar fate.
“It’s almost like we have to rebrand ourselves,” Alief Board President Darlene Breaux said. “It’s not your traditional marketing, but thinking out of the box of how we can reach our families to say, ‘We’ve been here. We’re not going anywhere, but we heard you, and this is the new Alief.’”
Music teacher Jennifer Wilkins laughs with Principal Mireya Lara at Rees Performing and Visual Arts Academy Tuesday, April 1, 2025, in Houston. (Mark Felix for Houston Landing)
” data-medium-file=”https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_03-300×200.jpg” data-large-file=”https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_03-1024×683.jpg” onerror=”if (typeof newspackHandleImageError === ‘function’) newspackHandleImageError(this);” src=”https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_03.jpg” alt class=”wp-image-52963 perfmatters-lazy” data-sizes=”(max-width: 1736px) 100vw, 1736px” srcset=”https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_03.jpg 1736w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_03-300×200.jpg 300w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_03-1024×683.jpg 1024w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_03-768×512.jpg 768w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_03-1536×1025.jpg 1536w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_03-1200×800.jpg 1200w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_03-600×400.jpg?crop=1 600w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_03-780×520.jpg 780w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_03-400×267.jpg 400w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_03-706×471.jpg 706w”><img decoding="async" width="1736" height="1158" data-attachment-id="52963" data-permalink="https://houstonlanding.org/alief-programs-3/" data-orig-file="https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_03.jpg" data-orig-size="1736,1158" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"2.8","credit":"Mark Felix","camera":"NIKON D850","caption":"Music teacher Jennifer Wilkins laughs with Principal Mireya Lara at Rees Performing and Visual Arts Academy Tuesday, April 1, 2025, in Houston. (Mark Felix for Houston Landing)","created_timestamp":"1743527628","copyright":"u00a9 2025 Houston Landing","focal_length":"35","iso":"1600","shutter_speed":"0.0025","title":"ALIEF PROGRAMS","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="ALIEF PROGRAMS" data-image-description data-image-caption="
Music teacher Jennifer Wilkins laughs with Principal Mireya Lara at Rees Performing and Visual Arts Academy Tuesday, April 1, 2025, in Houston. (Mark Felix for Houston Landing)
” data-medium-file=”https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_03-300×200.jpg” data-large-file=”https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_03-1024×683.jpg” onerror=”if (typeof newspackHandleImageError === ‘function’) newspackHandleImageError(this);” src=”https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_03.jpg” alt class=”wp-image-52963″ srcset=”https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_03.jpg 1736w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_03-300×200.jpg 300w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_03-1024×683.jpg 1024w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_03-768×512.jpg 768w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_03-1536×1025.jpg 1536w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_03-1200×800.jpg 1200w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_03-600×400.jpg?crop=1 600w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_03-780×520.jpg 780w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_03-400×267.jpg 400w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_03-706×471.jpg 706w” sizes=”(max-width: 1736px) 100vw, 1736px”>
Despite the optimistic approach, multiple currents run against Alief.
New programs and school choices haven’t stemmed enrollment losses in neighboring districts, like Aldine and Houston ISDs. Many families switch to charter schools in Alief because students there boast higher test scores, higher rates of college enrollment and fewer disciplinary issues. And public schools may soon face steeper competition from private schools if Texas Republicans pass school voucher legislation during the ongoing legislative session.
Alief’s third-year superintendent, Anthony Mays, acknowledged the district’s efforts may mean swimming against the tide.
“Using the data we have, these are opportunities that we know our families are interested in, and we have to trust that,” Mays said in an interview Wednesday.
“… But even if this investment only serves the kids that are already there, I still feel like it’s a worthwhile investment. Even if all I’ve done is make the situations better for the kids that are currently taking advantage of those opportunities … we’ve done what we were supposed to do.”
A new approach
On the opposite side of the district from Rees Elementary, Myriam Vega’s bilingual class of Horn Elementary School fourth-graders were learning las fases de la luna — the phases of the moon — through a question-and-answer game.
As most students faced a big white board, calculating whether the moon está menguando (waning) or creciendo (waxing), some turned to each other to discuss. The conversation, Horn Elementary Principal Mary Starling said, was STEM in action.
“They’re engaging with each other, not just sitting, listening, getting information, and then regurgitating information or putting it on a piece of paper or taking a test,” Starling said.
A fourth grade student answers a question about the water cycle at Horn STEM Elementary School on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, in Houston. (Annie Mulligan for Houston Landing)
” data-medium-file=”https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_12-300×200.jpg” data-large-file=”https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_12-1024×683.jpg” onerror=”if (typeof newspackHandleImageError === ‘function’) newspackHandleImageError(this);” data-id=”52988″ src=”https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_12.jpg” alt class=”wp-image-52988 perfmatters-lazy” data-sizes=”(max-width: 1669px) 100vw, 1669px” srcset=”https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_12.jpg 1669w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_12-300×200.jpg 300w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_12-1024×683.jpg 1024w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_12-768×512.jpg 768w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_12-1536×1024.jpg 1536w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_12-1200×800.jpg 1200w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_12-600×400.jpg?crop=1 600w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_12-780×520.jpg 780w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_12-400×267.jpg 400w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_12-706×471.jpg 706w”><img decoding="async" width="1669" height="1113" data-attachment-id="52988" data-permalink="https://houstonlanding.org/alief-innovation-12/" data-orig-file="https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_12.jpg" data-orig-size="1669,1113" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"2.8","credit":"Annie Mulligan","camera":"Canon EOS R6","caption":"A fourth grade student answers a question about the water cycle at Horn STEM Elementary School on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, in Houston. (Annie Mulligan for Houston Landing)","created_timestamp":"1743522100","copyright":"u00a9 2025 Houston Landing","focal_length":"111","iso":"2500","shutter_speed":"0.004","title":"ALIEF INNOVATION","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="ALIEF INNOVATION" data-image-description data-image-caption="
A fourth grade student answers a question about the water cycle at Horn STEM Elementary School on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, in Houston. (Annie Mulligan for Houston Landing)
” data-medium-file=”https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_12-300×200.jpg” data-large-file=”https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_12-1024×683.jpg” onerror=”if (typeof newspackHandleImageError === ‘function’) newspackHandleImageError(this);” data-id=”52988″ src=”https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_12.jpg” alt class=”wp-image-52988″ srcset=”https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_12.jpg 1669w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_12-300×200.jpg 300w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_12-1024×683.jpg 1024w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_12-768×512.jpg 768w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_12-1536×1024.jpg 1536w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_12-1200×800.jpg 1200w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_12-600×400.jpg?crop=1 600w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_12-780×520.jpg 780w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_12-400×267.jpg 400w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_12-706×471.jpg 706w” sizes=”(max-width: 1669px) 100vw, 1669px”>
Students do an exercise during music class at Rees Performing and Visual Arts Academy Tuesday, April 1, 2025, in Houston. (Mark Felix for Houston Landing)
” data-medium-file=”https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_07-300×200.jpg” data-large-file=”https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_07-1024×683.jpg” onerror=”if (typeof newspackHandleImageError === ‘function’) newspackHandleImageError(this);” data-id=”52967″ src=”https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_07.jpg” alt class=”wp-image-52967 perfmatters-lazy” data-sizes=”(max-width: 1758px) 100vw, 1758px” srcset=”https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_07.jpg 1758w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_07-300×200.jpg 300w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_07-1024×683.jpg 1024w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_07-768×512.jpg 768w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_07-1536×1024.jpg 1536w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_07-1200×800.jpg 1200w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_07-600×400.jpg?crop=1 600w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_07-780×520.jpg 780w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_07-400×267.jpg 400w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_07-706×471.jpg 706w”><img decoding="async" width="1758" height="1172" data-attachment-id="52967" data-permalink="https://houstonlanding.org/alief-programs-7/" data-orig-file="https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_07.jpg" data-orig-size="1758,1172" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"2.2","credit":"Mark Felix","camera":"NIKON D850","caption":"Students do an exercise during music class at Rees Performing and Visual Arts Academy Tuesday, April 1, 2025, in Houston. (Mark Felix for Houston Landing)","created_timestamp":"1743529258","copyright":"u00a9 2025 Houston Landing","focal_length":"35","iso":"2000","shutter_speed":"0.002","title":"ALIEF PROGRAMS","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="ALIEF PROGRAMS" data-image-description data-image-caption="
Students do an exercise during music class at Rees Performing and Visual Arts Academy Tuesday, April 1, 2025, in Houston. (Mark Felix for Houston Landing)
” data-medium-file=”https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_07-300×200.jpg” data-large-file=”https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_07-1024×683.jpg” onerror=”if (typeof newspackHandleImageError === ‘function’) newspackHandleImageError(this);” data-id=”52967″ src=”https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_07.jpg” alt class=”wp-image-52967″ srcset=”https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_07.jpg 1758w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_07-300×200.jpg 300w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_07-1024×683.jpg 1024w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_07-768×512.jpg 768w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_07-1536×1024.jpg 1536w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_07-1200×800.jpg 1200w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_07-600×400.jpg?crop=1 600w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_07-780×520.jpg 780w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_07-400×267.jpg 400w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_07-706×471.jpg 706w” sizes=”(max-width: 1758px) 100vw, 1758px”>
Fourth grade students raise their hands to answer questions from veteran teacher Myriam Vega at Horn STEM Elementary School on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, in Houston. (Annie Mulligan for Houston Landing)
” data-medium-file=”https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_05-300×200.jpg” data-large-file=”https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_05-1024×682.jpg” onerror=”if (typeof newspackHandleImageError === ‘function’) newspackHandleImageError(this);” data-id=”52981″ src=”https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_05.jpg” alt class=”wp-image-52981 perfmatters-lazy” data-sizes=”(max-width: 1857px) 100vw, 1857px” srcset=”https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_05.jpg 1857w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_05-300×200.jpg 300w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_05-1024×682.jpg 1024w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_05-768×512.jpg 768w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_05-1536×1023.jpg 1536w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_05-1200×799.jpg 1200w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_05-600×400.jpg?crop=1 600w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_05-780×520.jpg 780w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_05-400×266.jpg 400w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_05-706×470.jpg 706w”><img decoding="async" width="1857" height="1237" data-attachment-id="52981" data-permalink="https://houstonlanding.org/alief-innovation-5/" data-orig-file="https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_05.jpg" data-orig-size="1857,1237" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"2.8","credit":"Annie Mulligan","camera":"Canon EOS R6m2","caption":"Fourth grade students raise their hands to answer questions from veteran teacher Myriam Vega at Horn STEM Elementary School on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, in Houston. (Annie Mulligan for Houston Landing)","created_timestamp":"1743520432","copyright":"u00a9 2025 Houston Landing","focal_length":"24","iso":"3200","shutter_speed":"0.002","title":"ALIEF INNOVATION","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="ALIEF INNOVATION" data-image-description data-image-caption="
Fourth grade students raise their hands to answer questions from veteran teacher Myriam Vega at Horn STEM Elementary School on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, in Houston. (Annie Mulligan for Houston Landing)
” data-medium-file=”https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_05-300×200.jpg” data-large-file=”https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_05-1024×682.jpg” onerror=”if (typeof newspackHandleImageError === ‘function’) newspackHandleImageError(this);” data-id=”52981″ src=”https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_05.jpg” alt class=”wp-image-52981″ srcset=”https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_05.jpg 1857w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_05-300×200.jpg 300w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_05-1024×682.jpg 1024w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_05-768×512.jpg 768w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_05-1536×1023.jpg 1536w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_05-1200×799.jpg 1200w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_05-600×400.jpg?crop=1 600w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_05-780×520.jpg 780w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_05-400×266.jpg 400w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_05-706×470.jpg 706w” sizes=”(max-width: 1857px) 100vw, 1857px”>
Students work on a weaving project during an art class at Rees Performing and Visual Arts Academy Tuesday, April 1, 2025, in Houston. (Mark Felix for Houston Landing)
” data-medium-file=”https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_09-300×200.jpg” data-large-file=”https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_09-1024×683.jpg” onerror=”if (typeof newspackHandleImageError === ‘function’) newspackHandleImageError(this);” data-id=”52969″ src=”https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_09.jpg” alt class=”wp-image-52969 perfmatters-lazy” data-sizes=”(max-width: 1639px) 100vw, 1639px” srcset=”https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_09.jpg 1639w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_09-300×200.jpg 300w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_09-1024×683.jpg 1024w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_09-768×512.jpg 768w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_09-1536×1024.jpg 1536w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_09-1200×800.jpg 1200w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_09-600×400.jpg?crop=1 600w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_09-780×520.jpg 780w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_09-400×267.jpg 400w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_09-706×471.jpg 706w”><img decoding="async" width="1639" height="1093" data-attachment-id="52969" data-permalink="https://houstonlanding.org/alief-programs-9/" data-orig-file="https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_09.jpg" data-orig-size="1639,1093" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"2.8","credit":"Mark Felix","camera":"NIKON D850","caption":"Students work on a weaving project during an art class at Rees Performing and Visual Arts Academy Tuesday, April 1, 2025, in Houston. (Mark Felix for Houston Landing)","created_timestamp":"1743529643","copyright":"u00a9 2025 Houston Landing","focal_length":"35","iso":"1250","shutter_speed":"0.002","title":"ALIEF PROGRAMS","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="ALIEF PROGRAMS" data-image-description data-image-caption="
Students work on a weaving project during an art class at Rees Performing and Visual Arts Academy Tuesday, April 1, 2025, in Houston. (Mark Felix for Houston Landing)
” data-medium-file=”https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_09-300×200.jpg” data-large-file=”https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_09-1024×683.jpg” onerror=”if (typeof newspackHandleImageError === ‘function’) newspackHandleImageError(this);” data-id=”52969″ src=”https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_09.jpg” alt class=”wp-image-52969″ srcset=”https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_09.jpg 1639w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_09-300×200.jpg 300w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_09-1024×683.jpg 1024w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_09-768×512.jpg 768w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_09-1536×1024.jpg 1536w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_09-1200×800.jpg 1200w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_09-600×400.jpg?crop=1 600w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_09-780×520.jpg 780w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_09-400×267.jpg 400w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_09-706×471.jpg 706w” sizes=”(max-width: 1639px) 100vw, 1639px”>
Students move between classrooms at Horn STEM Elementary School on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, in Houston. (Annie Mulligan for Houston Landing)
” data-medium-file=”https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_13-300×200.jpg” data-large-file=”https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_13-1024×683.jpg” onerror=”if (typeof newspackHandleImageError === ‘function’) newspackHandleImageError(this);” data-id=”52989″ src=”https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_13.jpg” alt class=”wp-image-52989 perfmatters-lazy” data-sizes=”(max-width: 1492px) 100vw, 1492px” srcset=”https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_13.jpg 1492w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_13-300×200.jpg 300w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_13-1024×683.jpg 1024w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_13-768×512.jpg 768w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_13-1200×800.jpg 1200w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_13-600×400.jpg?crop=1 600w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_13-780×520.jpg 780w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_13-400×267.jpg 400w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_13-706×471.jpg 706w”><img decoding="async" width="1492" height="995" data-attachment-id="52989" data-permalink="https://houstonlanding.org/alief-innovation-13/" data-orig-file="https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_13.jpg" data-orig-size="1492,995" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"2.8","credit":"Annie Mulligan","camera":"Canon EOS R6","caption":"Students move between classrooms at Horn STEM Elementary School on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, in Houston. (Annie Mulligan for Houston Landing)","created_timestamp":"1743523095","copyright":"u00a9 2025 Houston Landing","focal_length":"200","iso":"2500","shutter_speed":"0.004","title":"ALIEF INNOVATION","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="ALIEF INNOVATION" data-image-description data-image-caption="
Students move between classrooms at Horn STEM Elementary School on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, in Houston. (Annie Mulligan for Houston Landing)
” data-medium-file=”https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_13-300×200.jpg” data-large-file=”https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_13-1024×683.jpg” onerror=”if (typeof newspackHandleImageError === ‘function’) newspackHandleImageError(this);” data-id=”52989″ src=”https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_13.jpg” alt class=”wp-image-52989″ srcset=”https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_13.jpg 1492w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_13-300×200.jpg 300w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_13-1024×683.jpg 1024w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_13-768×512.jpg 768w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_13-1200×800.jpg 1200w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_13-600×400.jpg?crop=1 600w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_13-780×520.jpg 780w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_13-400×267.jpg 400w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_13-706×471.jpg 706w” sizes=”(max-width: 1492px) 100vw, 1492px”>
Starling and Alief leaders have redesigned the school’s fourth-grade curriculum with science, math, engineering and technology in mind as part of a pilot program, and for the upcoming school year, the entire K-through-4 campus will similarly do so. For Starling, that means more emphasis on project-based learning, as well as skills developed in science courses like teamwork and time management.
District administrators say the new and potential changes at schools like Horn Elementary are the result of extensive talks with families and community members.
Upon arriving in Alief, Mays was struck by the number of longtime Alief residents who longed to restore the district’s reputation as an athletics and arts powerhouse. Others said a lack of academic opportunities were pushing families toward other options in the area.
District leaders hope to address both frustrations with the new projects at elementary, intermediate and middle schools, building clearer pathways to opportunities already available at Alief’s high schools. For example, students attending Horn STEM Elementary can choose to advance to CITGO Innovation Academy at Olle Middle School, another new STEM-focused campus.
Without these pathways in place, existing opportunities can languish. Mays pointed to the district’s dual credit engineering program in which high school students can receive an engineering degree from UT-Tyler. Only two students have gone through the program, he said, partly because students haven’t been prepared to take an engineering course before they get to high school.
“For us the question is not just, ‘How do we stand up this opportunity for more students to take advantage of?’ because it’s here and the students can actually get an engineering degree, but ‘What do we need to do to make sure students are taking advantage of it?’” Mays said.
Students move between classrooms at Horn STEM Elementary School on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, in Houston. (Annie Mulligan for Houston Landing)
” data-medium-file=”https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_14-300×200.jpg” data-large-file=”https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_14-1024×682.jpg” onerror=”if (typeof newspackHandleImageError === ‘function’) newspackHandleImageError(this);” data-id=”52990″ src=”https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_14.jpg” alt class=”wp-image-52990 perfmatters-lazy” data-sizes=”(max-width: 1700px) 100vw, 1700px” srcset=”https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_14.jpg 1700w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_14-300×200.jpg 300w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_14-1024×682.jpg 1024w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_14-768×512.jpg 768w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_14-1536×1024.jpg 1536w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_14-1200×800.jpg 1200w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_14-600×400.jpg?crop=1 600w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_14-780×520.jpg 780w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_14-400×267.jpg 400w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_14-706×471.jpg 706w”><img decoding="async" width="1700" height="1133" data-attachment-id="52990" data-permalink="https://houstonlanding.org/alief-innovation-14/" data-orig-file="https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_14.jpg" data-orig-size="1700,1133" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"2.8","credit":"Annie Mulligan","camera":"Canon EOS R6","caption":"Students move between classrooms at Horn STEM Elementary School on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, in Houston. (Annie Mulligan for Houston Landing)","created_timestamp":"1743523120","copyright":"u00a9 2025 Houston Landing","focal_length":"200","iso":"2500","shutter_speed":"0.004","title":"ALIEF INNOVATION","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="ALIEF INNOVATION" data-image-description data-image-caption="
Students move between classrooms at Horn STEM Elementary School on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, in Houston. (Annie Mulligan for Houston Landing)
” data-medium-file=”https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_14-300×200.jpg” data-large-file=”https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_14-1024×682.jpg” onerror=”if (typeof newspackHandleImageError === ‘function’) newspackHandleImageError(this);” data-id=”52990″ src=”https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_14.jpg” alt class=”wp-image-52990″ srcset=”https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_14.jpg 1700w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_14-300×200.jpg 300w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_14-1024×682.jpg 1024w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_14-768×512.jpg 768w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_14-1536×1024.jpg 1536w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_14-1200×800.jpg 1200w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_14-600×400.jpg?crop=1 600w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_14-780×520.jpg 780w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_14-400×267.jpg 400w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_14-706×471.jpg 706w” sizes=”(max-width: 1700px) 100vw, 1700px”>
Fourth grade students complete lessons on laptops at Horn STEM Elementary School on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, in Houston. (Annie Mulligan for Houston Landing)
” data-medium-file=”https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_02-300×200.jpg” data-large-file=”https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_02-1024×682.jpg” onerror=”if (typeof newspackHandleImageError === ‘function’) newspackHandleImageError(this);” data-id=”52978″ src=”https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_02.jpg” alt class=”wp-image-52978 perfmatters-lazy” data-sizes=”(max-width: 1735px) 100vw, 1735px” srcset=”https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_02.jpg 1735w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_02-300×200.jpg 300w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_02-1024×682.jpg 1024w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_02-768×512.jpg 768w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_02-1536×1023.jpg 1536w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_02-1200×800.jpg 1200w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_02-600×400.jpg?crop=1 600w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_02-780×520.jpg 780w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_02-400×267.jpg 400w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_02-706×470.jpg 706w”><img decoding="async" width="1735" height="1156" data-attachment-id="52978" data-permalink="https://houstonlanding.org/alief-innovation-2/" data-orig-file="https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_02.jpg" data-orig-size="1735,1156" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"2.8","credit":"Annie Mulligan","camera":"Canon EOS R6","caption":"Fourth grade students complete lessons on laptops at Horn STEM Elementary School on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, in Houston. (Annie Mulligan for Houston Landing)","created_timestamp":"1743519404","copyright":"u00a9 2025 Houston Landing","focal_length":"77","iso":"3200","shutter_speed":"0.004","title":"ALIEF INNOVATION","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="ALIEF INNOVATION" data-image-description data-image-caption="
Fourth grade students complete lessons on laptops at Horn STEM Elementary School on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, in Houston. (Annie Mulligan for Houston Landing)
” data-medium-file=”https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_02-300×200.jpg” data-large-file=”https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_02-1024×682.jpg” onerror=”if (typeof newspackHandleImageError === ‘function’) newspackHandleImageError(this);” data-id=”52978″ src=”https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_02.jpg” alt class=”wp-image-52978″ srcset=”https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_02.jpg 1735w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_02-300×200.jpg 300w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_02-1024×682.jpg 1024w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_02-768×512.jpg 768w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_02-1536×1023.jpg 1536w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_02-1200×800.jpg 1200w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_02-600×400.jpg?crop=1 600w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_02-780×520.jpg 780w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_02-400×267.jpg 400w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_02-706×470.jpg 706w” sizes=”(max-width: 1735px) 100vw, 1735px”>
Fourth grade teacher Stephanie Francois teachers her students the water cycle at Horn STEM Elementary School on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, in Houston. (Annie Mulligan for Houston Landing)
” data-medium-file=”https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_09-300×200.jpg” data-large-file=”https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_09-1024×682.jpg” onerror=”if (typeof newspackHandleImageError === ‘function’) newspackHandleImageError(this);” data-id=”52985″ src=”https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_09.jpg” alt class=”wp-image-52985 perfmatters-lazy” data-sizes=”(max-width: 1695px) 100vw, 1695px” srcset=”https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_09.jpg 1695w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_09-300×200.jpg 300w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_09-1024×682.jpg 1024w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_09-768×512.jpg 768w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_09-1536×1023.jpg 1536w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_09-1200×799.jpg 1200w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_09-600×400.jpg?crop=1 600w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_09-780×520.jpg 780w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_09-400×266.jpg 400w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_09-706×470.jpg 706w”><img decoding="async" width="1695" height="1129" data-attachment-id="52985" data-permalink="https://houstonlanding.org/alief-innovation-9/" data-orig-file="https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_09.jpg" data-orig-size="1695,1129" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"2.8","credit":"Annie Mulligan","camera":"Canon EOS R6","caption":"Fourth grade teacher Stephanie Francois teachers her students the water cycle at Horn STEM Elementary School on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, in Houston. (Annie Mulligan for Houston Landing)","created_timestamp":"1743521481","copyright":"u00a9 2025 Houston Landing","focal_length":"86","iso":"2500","shutter_speed":"0.004","title":"ALIEF INNOVATION","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="ALIEF INNOVATION" data-image-description data-image-caption="
Fourth grade teacher Stephanie Francois teachers her students the water cycle at Horn STEM Elementary School on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, in Houston. (Annie Mulligan for Houston Landing)
” data-medium-file=”https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_09-300×200.jpg” data-large-file=”https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_09-1024×682.jpg” onerror=”if (typeof newspackHandleImageError === ‘function’) newspackHandleImageError(this);” data-id=”52985″ src=”https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_09.jpg” alt class=”wp-image-52985″ srcset=”https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_09.jpg 1695w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_09-300×200.jpg 300w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_09-1024×682.jpg 1024w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_09-768×512.jpg 768w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_09-1536×1023.jpg 1536w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_09-1200×799.jpg 1200w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_09-600×400.jpg?crop=1 600w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_09-780×520.jpg 780w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_09-400×266.jpg 400w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-INNOVATION_AM_09-706×470.jpg 706w” sizes=”(max-width: 1695px) 100vw, 1695px”>
Alief leaders are also considering whether to take other bits of feedback and put them into action.
Mays said Alief is exploring a new K-through-8 campus in an existing building to help cut down on families’ commute times, a model several nearby charter schools use.
District officials also met earlier this month with the Young Women’s Preparatory Network, a Dallas-based nonprofit, to explore setting up an all-girls school on an existing Alief campus. Alief leaders said single-gender schools appeal to many of the district’s international families who come from countries where all-boys and all-girls schools were the norm.
A district survey conducted in February, after many of the plans started in motion, revealed families sticking with Alief endorse the types of programs in the works.
About 78 percent of roughly 2,000 parents and community members supported STEM campuses and project-based learning, while 62 percent backed performing arts academies. However, just under 20 percent of respondents surveyed said they would be interested in a single-gender school.
‘A wise investment’?
Mays said the new programs and repurposing of existing campuses are designed to avoid closing schools, which he views as a short-term fix that doesn’t generate much money long-term.
“I’ve been a part of school closures (in the past) and I know it can be pretty impactful to the community culture, so if we can stay ahead of that, we want to stay ahead of it,” Mays said.
Creating new programs, however, is only part of the battle. Convincing parents to enroll and stay is another.
To do that, Alief is planning a marketing blitz highlighted by two mailers — one pitching Alief in general, one promoting its new programs — going out to roughly 44,000 residences in its roster of addresses. District leaders also are putting up fresh signage and buying social media ads.
Alief representatives also will have a greater presence at local events attended by families, an approach many area charter schools have taken, Mays said. At the district’s second-annual Taste of Alief event March 29, staff from Horn STEM Elementary, Rees Elementary and other redesigned campuses sat under tents with their campuses’ new logos emblazoned on the front.
Once families are in the door, Alief leaders say the district will need to continuously invest in sustaining the programs.
Students choreograph dances during a dance class at Rees Performing and Visual Arts Academy Tuesday, April 1, 2025, in Houston. (Mark Felix for Houston Landing)
” data-medium-file=”https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_05-300×200.jpg” data-large-file=”https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_05-1024×683.jpg” onerror=”if (typeof newspackHandleImageError === ‘function’) newspackHandleImageError(this);” src=”https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_05.jpg” alt class=”wp-image-52965 perfmatters-lazy” data-sizes=”(max-width: 1709px) 100vw, 1709px” srcset=”https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_05.jpg 1709w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_05-300×200.jpg 300w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_05-1024×683.jpg 1024w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_05-768×512.jpg 768w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_05-1536×1025.jpg 1536w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_05-1200×800.jpg 1200w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_05-600×400.jpg?crop=1 600w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_05-780×520.jpg 780w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_05-400×267.jpg 400w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_05-706×471.jpg 706w”><img decoding="async" width="1709" height="1140" data-attachment-id="52965" data-permalink="https://houstonlanding.org/alief-programs-5/" data-orig-file="https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_05.jpg" data-orig-size="1709,1140" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"2.8","credit":"Mark Felix","camera":"NIKON D850","caption":"Students choreograph dances during a dance class at Rees Performing and Visual Arts Academy Tuesday, April 1, 2025, in Houston. (Mark Felix for Houston Landing)","created_timestamp":"1743527971","copyright":"u00a9 2025 Houston Landing","focal_length":"35","iso":"2000","shutter_speed":"0.0025","title":"ALIEF PROGRAMS","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="ALIEF PROGRAMS" data-image-description data-image-caption="
Students choreograph dances during a dance class at Rees Performing and Visual Arts Academy Tuesday, April 1, 2025, in Houston. (Mark Felix for Houston Landing)
” data-medium-file=”https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_05-300×200.jpg” data-large-file=”https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_05-1024×683.jpg” onerror=”if (typeof newspackHandleImageError === ‘function’) newspackHandleImageError(this);” src=”https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_05.jpg” alt class=”wp-image-52965″ srcset=”https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_05.jpg 1709w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_05-300×200.jpg 300w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_05-1024×683.jpg 1024w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_05-768×512.jpg 768w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_05-1536×1025.jpg 1536w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_05-1200×800.jpg 1200w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_05-600×400.jpg?crop=1 600w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_05-780×520.jpg 780w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_05-400×267.jpg 400w, https://houstonlanding.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250401_ALIEF-PROGRAMS_MF_05-706×471.jpg 706w” sizes=”(max-width: 1709px) 100vw, 1709px”>
Mays noted that a lack of leadership continuity in Alief hurt buzzy programs in the past. About a decade ago, for example, Horn and Rees elementary schools adopted “Action Based Learning Labs,” aimed at improving learning through physical activities. But the program has since fallen by the wayside, and the spaces will now be repurposed as a science lab and theater classroom, respectively, at the two campuses.
“Even as we embarked on this work, I think that there was some apprehension because people have seen these things come and go,” Mays said. “But for me, if you really want to see these things grow and mature and get stronger, you have to commit to them long-term.”
Ultimately, Alief expects to spend a tiny fraction of its $456 million on marketing and launching the new programs. A few grants totaling six figures and local partnerships will help.
For now, Alief board members are excited about the approach. Trustee Ann Williams said she was happy to see arts come back as a priority for the district after falling out of fashion among students and families. Trustee Gregg Patrick, who’s a pastor, hopes Alief schools could expose students to music the way gospel churches once did for Alief’s older generations.
At a recent board meeting, Chief Financial Officer Charles Woods tempered their enthusiasm with caution around the new programs and accompanying costs.
“There is investment,” Woods said. “Whether it was a wise investment, we’ll see in a few years.”
Brooke Kushwaha covers Aldine, Alief, Pasadena and Spring ISDs for the Landing’s education team. Find her @BrookeKushwaha on X and Bluesky, or reach her directly at [email protected].
