Charter public schools are public schools of choice that provide parents an alternative to traditional public schools. The "charter" establishing each school is a performance contract detailing the school's mission, program, goals, students served, methods of assessment, and ways to measure student success.
A charter public school is independently operated and can design elements of its own educational program, hire its own teachers and staff, and manage its own budget. The basic concept of charter schools is that the school enjoys enhanced autonomy, in return for accountability to its founders, parents, the public, and its grantors.
Harmony Public Schools extends from Houston all the way to El Paso with 58 campuses. As a public school choice option, students are not assigned to charter school districts according to their address like they are in ISDs.
Like all Texas Open-enrollment charter schools, Harmony is operated by a nonprofit educational organization, headquartered in Houston, Texas. Harmony currently operates 57 separate schools throughout Texas serving families in traditionally underserved communities, including every major city in the state.
The Harmony Public Schools Board of Directors are dedicated unpaid volunteers who are required to go through rigorous and continuous training in finances, operations and law and who meet regularly to adopt policies and guide the direction of the Harmony organization.
The Harmony Public Schools Board of Directors Nominating Committee is interested in individuals with expertise, experience and leadership abilities who will dedicate the time and interest necessary to contribute to the maintenance of Harmony’s standard of excellence in education.
Excellence is the Harmony Public Schools standard and this is well demonstrated by Harmony students who are consistently exceeding state averages on Texas standardized tests.
In the 2018 School Year all Harmony campuses across Texas met or exceeded state standards on the annual State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) exam.
Harmony Public Schools has the proud tradition of competing and winning state, national, and international STEM competitions, state and national academic commendations, and competitive internships at high-ranking universities.
In order for our school to know which students are interested in attending, it is necessary for parents to submit an enrollment application. This is only so we know you want to attend! There is not a qualification process, and ALL students are accepted when space is available.
No. Once enrolled students can attend Harmony through graduation. Students attending an elementary campus are automatically enrolled as they transition to the secondary level.
Yes! We partner to provide an After School Program to on campus after hours care for students.
STEM is Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, the fields of study that examine the natural world and how it operates. Harmony Public Schools focus on STEM because it is fundamental to every field of human endeavor, from academic and critical thinking skills to social skills to appreciation and understanding of Humanities, Social Sciences, problem solving and artistic creativity.
Through Harmony’s Project-Based Learning curriculum, students work on providing solutions to real-world problems. These individual and team laboratory projects and state-wide, national and international rocketry and robotics competitions bring Harmony students to a deeper and thrilling understanding of both traditional academic topics while teaching them skills beyond the classroom, such as public speaking, teamwork and time management.
Harmony graduates are designed to effectively navigate college-level coursework by mastering advanced concepts in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. Harmony graduates have earned seats in the nation’s most prestigious colleges and universities, gaining coveted STEM jobs and bridging the gap between students in traditionally underserved communities and lucrative satisfying STEM careers.
In addition to Project Based Learning Harmony uses a wide variety of methods and techniques such as Students on Stage, Custom Day Personalized Learning Environments and Character Education.
Students on Stage or SOS —
Nothing reinforces understanding of a topic more than explaining it to others. Through “Students on Stage,” Harmony students share their learned knowledge with peers, younger students, and adults.. Projects may be presented in the classroom at a local expo or in larger exhibits and competitions. The progressive stages of SOS allows Harmony students to perfect their explanations of their concepts and projects.
Custom Day Personalized Learning Environments —
The Harmony school day is uniquely structured to allow for maximum learning style flexibility. A two-hour block is reserved daily so that students can work independent of their classmates, based on their personal academic needs. This block of time can be used by students to receive additional tutoring, pursue advanced coursework, engage in extra college-readiness and preparation or to work on personal educational projects. But this customized environment is structured and monitored. Within these two hour learning sessions, teachers and their students develop and modify individualized learning plans as needed, allowing Harmony students to take ownership of their own education.
Harmony's approach to learning does not stop with academics. Rather, beginning in elementary grades, Harmony's goal is to grow its students, into principled and effective adult leaders possessing key characteristics such as honesty, courage, persistence, integrity, and kindness through Character Education. Harmony treats Character Education as it does its STEM courses, teaching these vital character traits the same way it teaches academic subjects.
Harmony realizes that our children are our future. And so, Harmony uses “Second Step”, a research-based socio-emotional curriculum teaching respect, teamwork and work ethic that provides age-appropriate lessons using music, stories, and art. Second Step works. It is now used in 30 percent of all U.S. elementary schools and is produced by the nonprofit Committee for Children headquartered in Seattle, Washington.
Yes. While each Harmony campus offers these additional educational services at various times, all Harmony campuses offer after-school and Saturday tutorials as needed where students can catch up or deepen their understanding and gain additional practice in challenging subjects.
Moreover, Harmony high school students receive college and career counseling and can participate in independent study and dual-enrollment college classes.
Yes. Harmony Public Schools is committed to providing a rigorous, high-quality education to all its students. To meet the needs of those who show advancement in certain areas, Harmony provides Gifted and Talented Education, or GATE, beginning with students as young as kindergarten.
The GATE program provides accelerated learning through additional enrichment activities, pull-out sessions, and extended lab hours.
Harmony Public Schools offers a wide array of both core and elective academic coursework to provide every student with options that match their interests while satisfying state graduation requirements. Of course, Harmony's curriculum focuses on STEM and from kindergarten on provides a broad spectrum of classes that boost student interest in STEM fields. Many Harmony high schools employ an advanced curriculum program in a variety of fields such as engineering, and biomedical science known as Project Lead The Way.
Harmony students may also qualify for Advanced Placement courses as early as the 9th grade.
You can learn more about Harmony’s course offerings from Pre-K to 12th grade by clicking the “Academics” tab from this website's home page.