Awty International School facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Awty International School
Campus
Address
7455 Awty School Lane Houston , Texas United States
Coordinates	29°47′10″N 95°27′36″W / 29.786°N 95.460°W / 29.786; -95.460
Information
Type	Independent, International School
Motto	An International School for an International World
Established	1956
Founder	Kathleen Awty
Head of School	Heather Beck
Faculty	244
Enrollment	1,754 (2022)
Campus	Urban
Color(s)	Green and gold
Mascot	Ram
Newspaper	RAMPAGE
Yearbook	Double Exposure

The Awty International School is a private school in Spring Branch, western Houston, Texas, United States. It was started in 1956. Awty helps its students earn either the International Baccalaureate (IB) or the French Baccalauréat diplomas.

The school is officially recognized by the French Ministry of Education. This means it is a special school for French students living in the Houston area. Awty teaches students from age three all the way up to 12th grade. It is the biggest international school in the United States. It is also the largest private day school in Houston. Awty is part of a group of schools called the Agency for French Education Abroad (AEFE). This network supports French students studying outside of France.

School History: How Awty Began

Awty first opened its doors on September 10, 1956. It was located at 3736 Westheimer Road. Kathleen "Kay" Awty started the school as a preschool. It began with only 27 students in kindergarten and prekindergarten.

The school moved to 1615 Garretson Street in 1960. By 1970, it taught students from preschool to sixth grade. At that time, 250 students were enrolled. The high school section opened in 1975. In 1976, four girls became the first students to graduate from Awty.

In 1979, Awty joined with the French School of Houston. This merger created a program where students could learn in two languages. That same year, the school moved to its current campus. In 1984, the school officially became "The Awty International School." A new preschool building opened in 1990. Kay Awty, the founder, passed away in 1996.

For the school's 50th anniversary in 2006, a new sports complex was built. It cost $5 million. This complex included a stadium with 1,400 seats, tennis courts, and parking.

Awty's Connections and Recognition

Awty has many important connections and recognitions. These show that the school meets high standards.

Official Recognitions

Awty is recognized by several important groups. These include:

• The International Baccalaureate (IB)
• The Independent Schools Association of the Southwest (ISAS)
• The Ministry of National Education of France
• The Ministry of Education, Culture and Science of the Netherlands

School Partnerships

Awty also works with many other educational groups. These partnerships help the school offer the best education. Some of these groups are:

• Agence pour l'enseignement français à l'étranger (AEFE)
• The Council of International Schools (CIS)
• The National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS)
• The Southwest Preparatory Conference (SPC)

What Students Learn: Awty's Curriculum

Awty offers different paths for students to earn their high school diplomas. Students can choose from three options:

• The IB Diploma
• The French Baccalauréat diploma
• A general high school diploma

As of 2021, Awty is the only school in the Houston area that offers both the IB and French Baccalauréat diplomas. All seniors at Awty must take the final exams for one of these two programs.

Learning Languages at Awty

Awty prepares students for a global world. All students learn a second language. How they learn it changes with their age.

• Younger students (PK3 through Kindergarten) learn in either English/French or English/Spanish.
• Students in 1st through 5th grade learn core subjects in their main language (English, French, or Spanish). Other classes like art or gym are taught in a second language. They also have a daily hour-long second language class.
• Older students (6th through 12th grade) have a daily intensive second language class. They can also choose to learn a third language.

Awty often offers many language choices. These can include Arabic, German, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, and Russian. The school usually offers about ten different languages each year.

Awty's Campus: A Place to Learn and Grow

The main campus is in Spring Branch, western Houston. It covers 26 acres (about 10.5 hectares) of land. The campus is close to where the 610 Loop and Interstate 10 highways meet. All together, the campus buildings have 120 classrooms.

New Buildings and Facilities

A large, three-story building called the Levant Foundation Building opened in 2012. It is 65,000 square feet (about 6,039 square meters) and has 33 classrooms. This building is near the school's entrance. It includes offices, a dining hall, two art rooms, and a digital photography room. This new building replaced older, temporary classrooms.

The Levant Foundation Building was the first step in a big building plan. In 2014, an elementary school building opened. It has a computer lab, a media room, a nurse's office, and art rooms. The old school building, "Big Blue," was taken down in 2014. This made space for a new Student Campus Center.

In 2017, a second campus for younger students opened nearby. This Early Learning Campus is 5 acres (about 2 hectares). It has 26 classrooms for students in PK3 through 1st grade. It also has indoor spaces for art, music, dining, and a gym. Outside, there are two playgrounds, learning gardens, and decks for classes.

Student Life: Who Attends Awty

As of 2021, over 1,717 students attend Awty. This makes it the largest international school in the United States. It is also the biggest private school in Houston.

Awty's students come from all over the world. As of 2021, students are from the United States, France, and 48 other countries. About 54% of students are U.S. citizens. Another 12% are U.S. citizens with more than one citizenship. The remaining 34% are from other countries. More than 60% of Awty students can speak two or more languages.

Getting to School: Transportation

As of 2021, Awty offers bus services for students. These buses pick up and drop off students in several areas. These areas include Dairy Ashford, Greater Katy, Lakes on Eldridge, Memorial, Shadowbriar, Sugar Land, and the Town and Country Mall area.

Awty Sports: Athletics

In the 2019-2020 school year, The Awty International School joined the Southwest Preparatory Conference (SPC) and Houston Junior Preparatory Conference (HJPC).

Cheerleaders with the Awty mascot

Awty's main sports area, Awty Field, is next to the main campus. It opened on April 22, 2008. This athletic area has a stadium with 1,400 seats. It also has four tennis courts, a soccer field, and locker rooms. There is also a 400-meter (about 1,312 feet) running track with eight lanes.

Before this sports complex opened, Awty's teams practiced at different locations. For example, the tennis team practiced at Memorial Park. The soccer teams played all their games at other schools. Now, Awty has its own great facilities for sports. Students who swim for Awty practice at Dad's Club.

Awty Athletics Team Championships

Awty teams have won many championships over the years:

Famous People from Awty

Some well-known people have attended or worked at Awty.

Notable Alumni

• Cristina Alexander [es] (Class of 2010) - a sports anchor for SportsCenter (ESPNDeportes) in Mexico City.
• Ted Cruz (attended middle school) - a United States Senator.
• Stuart Holden (Class of 2003) - a soccer player for the Houston Dynamo and Bolton Wanderers.
• Clint Smith (Class of 2006) - a writer, poet, and activist.

Notable Faculty

• J. Fred Duckett - a coach and history teacher.
• Ryan Harlan - an NCAA National Champion in the Decathlon.

See also

• British School of Houston
• St. John's School
• The Kinkaid School
• Memorial High School