United Independent School District
Encyclopedia
United Independent School District is a school district
headquartered in Laredo
, Texas
, United States
.
UISD serves portions of the city of Laredo, the cities of El Cenizo
and Rio Bravo
, and several unincorporated areas in Webb County
. The unincorporated areas include Botines
, La Presa
, Larga Vista
, Ranchitos Las Lomas
, and Ranchos Penitas West
.
In 2009, the school district was rated "academically acceptable" under the accountability ratings system
used by the Texas Education Agency
.
The district was created in 1961 via the consolidation of the former Cactus, Johnson, and Nye school districts. The "Big Three" involved in the establishment of UISD were rancher Joe B. Finley
, Amparo Gutierrez, and John W. Arndt, all of whom have schools named in their honor.
By the 2000s, United ISD had a rapidly-growing student population due to the burgeoning populations of many colonias along the Texas-Mexico
border. As of the 2000s, United ISD gains about 1,500 students per year.
The Texas Education Agency
specified that the parents and/or guardians of students zoned to a school with uniforms may apply for a waiver to opt out of the uniform policy so their children do not have to wear the uniform; parents must specify "bona fide
" reasons, such as religious reasons or philosophical objections.
School district
School districts are a form of special-purpose district which serves to operate the local public primary and secondary schools.-United States:...
headquartered in Laredo
Laredo, Texas
Laredo is the county seat of Webb County, Texas, United States, located on the north bank of the Rio Grande in South Texas, across from Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico. According to the 2010 census, the city population was 236,091 making it the 3rd largest on the United States-Mexican border,...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
UISD serves portions of the city of Laredo, the cities of El Cenizo
El Cenizo, Texas
El Cenizo is a city in Webb County, Texas, United States. The population was 3,545 at the 2000 census. El Cenizo is the third largest city in Webb County....
and Rio Bravo
Rio Bravo, Texas
Rio Bravo is a city in Webb County, Texas, United States. The population was 5,553 at the 2000 census. The city is the second largest in Webb County.-Geography:Rio Bravo is located at ....
, and several unincorporated areas in Webb County
Webb County, Texas
Webb County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. The official 2010 population for the county is 250,304. In 2000, its population was 193,117, and in 2006 its population had been estimated to have reached to 231,470. Its county seat is Laredo...
. The unincorporated areas include Botines
Botines, Texas
Botines is a census-designated place in Webb County, Texas, United States. The population was 132 at the 2000 census. Botines is located 5 miles north of Laredo...
, La Presa
La Presa, Texas
La Presa is a census-designated place in Webb County, Texas, United States. The population was 508 at the 2000 census.-Geography:La Presa is located at ....
, Larga Vista
Larga Vista, Texas
Larga Vista is a former census-designated place in Webb County, Texas, United States. The population was 742 at the 2000 census. Larga Vista lost its census-designated place status in 2010 because it became surrounded by Laredo, Texas. A CDP may not be located, either partially or entirely, within...
, Ranchitos Las Lomas
Ranchitos Las Lomas, Texas
Ranchitos Las Lomas is a census-designated place in Webb County, Texas, United States. The population was 334 at the 2000 census. Las Lomas means "the hills" in Spanish...
, and Ranchos Penitas West
Ranchos Penitas West, Texas
Ranchos Penitas West is a census-designated place in Webb County, Texas, United States. The population was 520 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Ranchos Penitas West is located at ....
.
In 2009, the school district was rated "academically acceptable" under the accountability ratings system
Texas Education Agency accountability ratings system
The Texas Education Agency accountability ratings system rates all public schools, charter schools, and school districts in the State of Texas.The criteria are the same for schools and districts, and are discussed below...
used by the Texas Education Agency
Texas Education Agency
The Texas Education Agency is a branch of the state government of Texas in the United States responsible for public education. The agency is headquartered in the William B...
.
History
Joe B. Finley
Joe Bartlett Finley, Jr. , was a rancher and businessman in Laredo, Texas, who in 1961 was the driving force behind the establishment of the United Independent School District, which services a large section of Webb County...
, Amparo Gutierrez, and John W. Arndt, all of whom have schools named in their honor.
By the 2000s, United ISD had a rapidly-growing student population due to the burgeoning populations of many colonias along the Texas-Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
border. As of the 2000s, United ISD gains about 1,500 students per year.
Standardized dress
Students in pre-Kindergarten through 8th grades are required to follow standardized dress code provided by the district; the dress code began during the 2006-2007 school year. Starting the 2007-2008 school year, high school students will also be required to follow the same standardized dress code procedures as approved by the Board of Trustees.The Texas Education Agency
Texas Education Agency
The Texas Education Agency is a branch of the state government of Texas in the United States responsible for public education. The agency is headquartered in the William B...
specified that the parents and/or guardians of students zoned to a school with uniforms may apply for a waiver to opt out of the uniform policy so their children do not have to wear the uniform; parents must specify "bona fide
Bona Fide
Bona Fide is a studio album from rock band Wishbone Ash. It is the first studio album in six years and is the only studio album to feature guitarist Ben Granfelt...
" reasons, such as religious reasons or philosophical objections.
Schools
High schools
- John B. Alexander High SchoolJohn B. Alexander High SchoolJohn B. Alexander High School is a secondary school in Laredo, Texas and a part of the United Independent School District. The mascot for Alexander High School is a Bulldog. The high school was established in 1994 to alleviate overcrowding at United High School in northern sector of Laredo. The...
- Lyndon B. Johnson High SchoolLyndon B. Johnson High School (Laredo, Texas)Lyndon B. Johnson High School is a secondary school located in Laredo, Texas, United States. L.B.Johnson is a part of the United Independent School District, and it serves a portion of south Laredo and the neighboring cities of El Cenizo and Rio Bravo....
- United High SchoolUnited High School (Texas)United High School is a public high school located in the northern portion of Laredo, Texas and is a part of the United Independent School District. Enrollment at United High School is 3,600. A new campus opened on August 24, 2009 for the 2009-2010 school year to alleviate overcrowding at the...
- United South High SchoolUnited South High SchoolUnited South High School is a high school located in the southern portion of Laredo, Texas and is a part of the United Independent School District.- The Academy :...
Middle schools
- Antonio Gonzalez Middle SchoolAntonio Gonzalez Middle SchoolAntonio Gonzalez Middle School is a middle school located in the eastern portion of Laredo, Texas and is a part of the United Independent School District. Enrollment at Gonzalez Middle school is estimated to be about 600+ students...
- Clark Middle SchoolClark Middle SchoolClark Middle School is a middle school located in the north portion of Laredo, Texas, United States, and is a part of United Independent School District. Enrollment at Clark Middle school is estimated to be about 820 students...
- George Washington Middle School
- Lamar Bruni Vergara Middle SchoolLamar Bruni Vergara Middle SchoolLamar Bruni Vergara Middle School is a middle school located in the southeastern portion of Laredo, Texas and is a part of the United Independent School District. Enrollment at Lamar Bruni Vergara Middle school is estimated to be about 750 students....
- Los Obispos Middle School
- Salvador Garcia Middle School
- Trautmann Middle School
- United Middle SchoolUnited Middle SchoolUnited Middle School is a middle school located in the northern portion of Laredo, Texas and is a part of the United Independent School District. Enrollment at United Middle school is estimated to be about 900 students. The current campus is overcrowded and a new middle school campus is in the...
- United South Middle SchoolUnited South Middle SchoolUnited South Middle School is a middle school located in the southern portion of Laredo, Texas and a part of the United Independent School District. After the construction of its adjacent high school, the United Independent School District decided to construct a middle school under the same name,...
Elementary schools
- John W. Arndt Elementary School
- Colonel Santos Benavides Elementary School
- Charles R. Borchers Elementary School
- Centeno Elementary School
- Clark Elementary School
- Henry Cuellar Elementary School
- De Llano Elementary School
- Barbara Fasken Elementary School
- Finley Elementary School
- National Blue Ribbon School 1998-99
- Bonnie L. Garcia Elementary School
- Amparo Gutierrez Elementary School
- United D.D. Hachar Elementary School
- Juarez-Lincoln Elementary School
- Kazen Elementary School
- John F. Kennedy-Emiliano Zapata Elementary School
- Killam Elementary School
- Malakoff Elementary School
- Julia Bird Jones Muller Elementary School
- Newman Elementary School
- Nye Elementary School
- Perez Elementary School
- Prada Elementary School
- Roosevelt Elementary School
- Ruiz Elementary School
- Salinas Elementary School
- Trautmann Elementary School
- Senator Judith Zaffirini Elementary School