Awty International School

The Awty International School is a private school located in Spring Branch, western Houston, Texas, United States, for students in pre-kindergarten through grade 12. With a bilingual program for French-speaking students from France and other countries, Awty is the largest international school in the United States and the largest private school in Houston.

The Awty International School
Address
7455 Awty School Lane

Houston
,
Texas

United States
Coordinates
Information
TypeIndependent, Private, International School
MottoAn International School for an International World
Established1956
FounderKathleen Awty
Head of SchoolLisa Darling
Faculty220
Enrollment1,680 (2018)
CampusUrban
Color(s)
  Green and gold
MascotRam
NewspaperRAMPAGE
YearbookDouble Exposure
Websitewww.awty.org
Campus

History

Awty opened at 3736 Westheimer Road on September 10, 1956.[1] Originally a pre-school,[2] it was founded by Kathleen "Kay" Awty.[3] The school initially had 27 students at the kindergarten and prekindergarten levels.[1]

The school moved to 1615 Garretson Street in 1960.[1] It served grades preschool through six by 1970, and by that same year there were 250 students.[1] The upper school division opened in 1975,[2] and in 1976 four female students graduated from high school, forming the first graduating class.[1] In 1979, Awty merged with the French School of Houston and began offering a bilingual program.[4] That year, the school moved to its current campus.[1]

In 1984 the school received its current name, the Awty International School.[2] A preschool facility opened in 1990.[2] Kay Awty died in 1996.[1]

On the school's 50th anniversary in 2006, a $5 million athletic complex including a 1,400-seat stadium, 85 parking spaces, and tennis courts was constructed.[1]

Affiliations and accreditation

Awty is affiliated with the Mission Laïque Française. Agencies accrediting Awty include the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO), the Independent Schools Association of the Southwest (ISAS), the Council of International Schools (CIS), the Ministry of National Education of France, and the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science of the Netherlands.[5]

Awty is also a member of National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), Southwest Preparatory Conference (SPC), Houston Area Independent Schools (HAIS), and Texas International Baccalaureate Schools (TIBS).[5]

Curriculum

The school offers the IB Diploma, the French Baccalaureate diploma, and the American diploma.[2] As of 2014 Awty is the only school in Greater Houston that offers the French Baccalaureate diploma.[6] The AEFE accredits Awty.[7]

The school has programs tailored to students who speak specific native languages. The school has English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Dutch, German, and Italian native language programs. All Awty students are required to take foreign languages. The foreign languages available include French, Spanish, and English.[2]

Campus

The campus, with 15 acres (6.1 ha) of land,[2] is in Spring Branch in western Houston.[8] It is in proximity to the intersection of the 610 Loop and Interstate 10,[9] and is northwest of it.[10] The campus buildings together have 120 classrooms.[2]

A three-story, 65,000-square-foot (6,000 m2), 33-classroom facility,[9] called the Levant Foundation Building,[3] is located near the school's entrance. Opened in 2012, the building includes administrative offices, a dining hall, two art rooms, and a digital photography room. This new facility replaced many temporary buildings.[9] It and a five-story parking garage were the first phase of a four-phase, $50 million building program consisting of facilities designed by Bailey Architects.[3] The second phase of the project was completed in 2014 with the opening of a new elementary building, which includes a computer lab, a media room, an infirmary, two art rooms, and a teacher's lounge and workroom.

Awty historically relied on the use of temporary buildings,[9] and elementary school classes were originally located in the school's original building, "Big Blue." [3] Demolition of "Big Blue" was completed in August, 2014 [3] to make way for the new Student Services Center.

The former campus on Garrettson Street was west of the 610 Loop,[11] in what is now the Uptown Houston district.[12] It was in proximity to River Oaks and Tanglewood.[11]

Student body

As of 2018 the school has over 1,680 students. This makes it the largest international school in the United States and the largest private school in Houston. As of that year the students originate from the United States, France, and 48 other countries.[13] As of 2014 about 40% of the students are American, 30% are French, and the remainder originate from other countries.[2]

Transportation

As of 2017 the school provides bus services for students to and from the Dairy Ashford area, Greater Katy, the Lakes on Eldridge/Lakes on Eldridge North/Twin Lakes area, Memorial, Pearland, the Rice University area, Shadowbriar, Sugar Land, and the Town and Country Mall area in Spring Branch.[14]

Athletics
Cheerleaders with the Awty mascot

The athletic campus, Awty Field,[2] is located at 1255 North Post Oak, adjacent to the main campus. Its opening ceremony was held on April 22, 2008. The athletic compound includes a stadium with 1,400 seats, four tennis courts, a press box, a polyethylene soccer pitch, 80 parking spaces, locker rooms,[10] a storage facility,[15] offices of coaches, and a concessions stand. In addition it has a running track that circles around the other facilities. The track is 400 metres (1,300 ft) long and has eight lanes. It has wide turns and a Beynon 1000 urethane surface. Stuart Holden, a midfielder for the Houston Dynamo and an alumnus of the school, attended the 2008 opening ceremony.[10]

Prior to the opening of the athletic compound, each athletic team practiced in a different place.[10] The tennis team played home games at tennis courts of other schools in the 5A district of the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools, and the tennis team practiced at the Memorial Park Tennis Center at Memorial Park. The track team historically practiced at several different stadiums of TAPPS 5A schools;[15] in 2008 the team was practicing at the St. John's School. The soccer teams played only "away" games (games held at other schools or stadiums) before the opening of the new compound,[10] and they practiced in a soccer field on the Awty premises.[15] Annette Baird of the Houston Chronicle describes the former soccer field as "an undersized bumpy pitch".[10]

Currently, students competing in swimming at Awty practice at Dad's Club.

Awty Athletics Team Championships

SportYear
TAPPS Girls Swimming2011
TAPPS Boys Swimming2014
TAPPS Girls Swimming2014
TAPPS Girls Cross Country1991
TAPPS Girls Cross Country2005
TAPPS Girls Cross Country2007
TAPPS Boys Cross Country2009
TAPPS Girls Cross Country2012
TAPPS Girls Cross Country2013
TAPPS Boys Tennis1996
TAPPS Boys Tennis1997
TAPPS Boys Tennis2002
TAPPS Boys Tennis2003
TAPPS Boys Soccer1988
TAPPS Boys Soccer1989
TAPPS Boys Soccer1990
TAPPS Boys Soccer1996
TAPPS Girls Soccer2003

Notable alumni

Notable faculty

See also

References
  1. Hughes, Kim. "Awty school marks its 50th." Houston Chronicle. September 8, 2006. Memorial News. Retrieved on May 17, 2014.
  2. "About Awty" (Archive) Awty International School. Retrieved on May 16, 2014.
  3. Behrens, Tom. "Awty building planned for elementary grades." Houston Chronicle. November 19, 2013. Updated November 26, 2013. Retrieved on May 16, 2014.
  4. Farrar, Ross. "International school pupils to perform." Houston Chronicle. Sunday, April 16, 1989. Section C p. 1W. NewsBank Record Number 04*16*616464. Available from the Houston Public Library website with a library card.
  5. "Accreditations, Affiliations, & Memberships" (Archive). Awty International School. Retrieved on May 17, 2014.
  6. Wilkinson, Emily. "Houston private schools struggle with boom in applicants." Houston Business Journal. April 18, 2014. Retrieved on May 18, 2014.
  7. "Accredited French Schools". Consulate General of France in Houston. Retrieved 2020-05-13.
  8. "Spring Branch Schools" (Archive). Spring Branch Management District. Retrieved on May 18, 2014.
  9. Baird, Annette. "Awty starts expansion project." Houston Chronicle. June 14, 2011. Retrieved on May 17, 2014.
  10. Baird, Annette."Awty International opens new $7 million sports complex." Houston Chronicle. May 19, 2008. Retrieved on May 17, 2014.
  11. "Texas Monthly's Guide to Private Schools Part Two." Texas Monthly. Emmis Communications, October 1974. Vol. 2, No. 10. ISSN 0148-7736. Start page 83. Cited: p. 89. "The Awty School/ 1615 Garrettson, Houston 77027"
  12. "Uptown Houston" Map (Archive). Uptown Houston. Accessed July 22, 2008.
  13. "Awty International picks interim head to lead school." Houston Chronicle. February 4, 2014. Retrieved on May 15, 2014.
  14. "Bus Schedule 2017-2018" (PDF). Awty International School. Retrieved 2019-04-05.
  15. Hveem, Todd. "Athletics: Awty to inaugurate new stadium Tuesday." Houston Chronicle. April 20, 2008. Bellaire Sports. Retrieved on May 17, 2014.

Further reading
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