Oak Forest Elementary School in Houston Admissions | How To Get In!
/Oak Forest Elementary School in Houston is one of HSID’s Magnet Vanguard School for students in kindergarten through fifth grade. Admission into this program is somewhat competitive and depends on the results of admissions tests plus a number of other factors, depending on grade of entry.
Oak Forest Elementary School in Houston: SCHOOL OVERVIEW
The mission of Oaks Forest School in Houston is to “provide a nurturing atmosphere which produces lifelong learners who are prepared academically and socially to make responsible contributions as they strive to reach their maximum potential.” The Oaks Forest School Vanguard program was created especially for gifted and talented (G/T) students. G/T students follow a deep, complex and accelerated curriculum. The goal is to foster creative thinking, problem-solving and leadership potential.
According to SchoolDigger, a website that calculates school rankings based on STAAR Reading, and STAAR Mathematics test scores on an annual basis, Oak Forest Elementary was ranked 7th among 170 elementary schools in the HSID. It also ranked 309th of 4259 Texas public elementary schools (which means it had a higher rank than 92.7% of elementary schools). The ratio of students to teachers is 17.5, with 809 students attending the school. The school has a diverse student body, made up of approximately 45 percent Hispanic, 42 percent white students and 7 percent African American students.
Data from website of Houston Independent School District. “Chances of Being Accepted at Magnet Schools”
Oak Forest Elementary School in Houston: Chances of Admission
Admissions to the Oak Forest Elementary School is fairly competitive. In 2015-16, 915 students applied for 167 spots in the school, but only 474 of these applicants qualified for the Vanguard program’s strict requirements. Overall about 35 percent of the qualified applicants were offered a seat. In Kindergarten, the odds of admission were higher (45%) than the overall chance of getting a seat in any grade.
Also please note that schools reserve 25% of seats for qualifying siblings, so in many cases the odds are more difficult than these numbers show in some schools. On the other hand, not everyone accepts a seat who is offered, so some movement off the waitlist (if you are placed on it – see below) can be expected.
Oak Forest Elementary School | Admissions Test
Vanguard School HSID: Determining Gifted and Talented Status
There are multiple components that are considered when determining if a child is gifted and talented and whether a child will be offered a seat at the Oak Forest Elementary School in Houston. These components change depending on whether the child is entering kindergarten or is entering in grades first through twelfth.
As of 2015-16, the matrix for students entering kindergarten consists of:
The matrix for students entering kindergarten consists of:
Woodcock-Johnson test scores (out of 42 points). A school readiness test.
The matrix for students entering grades 1 through 12 consists of:
Each of these different categories contribute to the overall score. If the student meets the minimum score that is required, s/he is then identified as Gifted and Talented and can be considered for admission to Oak Forest Elementary school.
High scores on the assessment tests are essential if your child is going to beat the odds and be admitted into this school. In order for your child to be ready for these challenging tests, we recommend you review every type of sample question your child will face on the CogAT, as well as access 25 free questions by clicking the button now below:
Oak Forest Elementary School: Vanguard Schools Application Process
The application can be submitted online or by paper. The time period for Magnet Programs applications in “Phase 1” is generally between October and early December. Families can choose up to 5 magnet programs and must rank the schools in order of preference. After this Phase 1 period, applications can still be submitted for schools with space between December and end of May.
For parents applying for Kindergarten in a Vanguard Magnet School such as Oak Forest Elementary, parents will be asked to choose a test date when they submit the application.
Magnet Vanguard Program Lottery
As of the 2016-2017 school year, you could submit applications to up to ten magnet programs with five of them being Vanguard. The deadline for testing and applications is usually in December. Once this deadline has passed, each school holds a lottery (for all the students who passed the test) to determine who will be accepted, notifying those who obtained a seat by late March. If your child applied but was not chosen, they are placed on a waiting list in the order that the names were drawn. If your child is accepted, you have until April to inform the school if you want to attend.
Obtaining a spot in a Vanguard Magnet School in Houston is a challenge that can be complex and complicated. If your child meets all of the requirements, getting the enriched curriculum that is offered at these schools can be exactly what he/she needs in order to reach their full potential. By finding out all of the information needed to help them, you can assist them in getting one step closer to meeting their goals and being successful.
HOW CAN WE HELP?
At Origins Tutoring, we believe that preparation for the admissions assessments for Oak Forest Elementary School does not have to be daunting and exasperating; instead, it can represent an important opportunity along a student’s path to learning mastery. Indeed, the perspectives and abilities acquired during preparation provide a foundation that can last throughout a student’s school career and beyond.
Our two-track approach to mastering content and improving test-taking skills means that students will not only thoroughly understand the fundamental concepts and skills tested by the Oak Forest Elementary School admission assessments, but they will also excel in using essential techniques to improve attitude, endurance and focus.
Our students hone their independent thinking skills while developing a resilient mindset so they can perform on test day in a powerful, resourceful, creative and calm manner. Each student in our program receives the undivided attention and expertise of a dynamic and experienced coach who provides the framework to support each student on his unique path to becoming a master learner.
Please contact us now to set up a complimentary consultation to discuss how we can help your child achieve his or her personal best on the admission assessments required by Oak Forest Elementary School in Houston.
