Northside ISD offers a wide variety of programs - from after-school education to athletics; dual language programs to dual credit and advanced placement opportunities; career and technical education, magnet programs, as well as special education services.
In addition to the resources outlined below, visit our campus websites for more information specific to each campus.
The Advanced Academics department provides unique programs that nurture the abilities of high performing students while fostering parent and community involvement by building a challenging learning environment that encourages life-long learning, nurtures high self-esteem, expands access to higher education, and provides experiences that enable students to reach their fullest potential as independent thinkers. Advanced Academics includes Gifted & Talented, Advanced Placement, Advanced Courses, OnRamps, Dual Credit, and AVID.
Northside School District’s After School Program(s) offer opportunities for children to access academic enrichment, social, and recreational experiences in an environment that is safe and supervised. It is run by the Northside's Community Education Department. This department aligns itself with The Texas Education Agency’s expectations, as well as NISD’s high standards of all staff, and maintains the rigor and expectations of our students throughout their day.
The Northside Independent School District Athletics Program plays an integral part in student learning and the development of well rounded students. It promotes high academic standards along with developing strong character. Northside coaches are committed to developing our students to be the best possible students, athletes, and citizens they can possibly become through the spirit of competition.
We build upon and value the linguistic, academic, and cognitive experiences of students and families through Bilingual and ESL programs that develop mastery of the English language, promote academic excellence, develop biculturalism, and cultivate self-actualization.
Students in Northside’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs spend much of their time learning through a hands-on approach that prepares students for occupations and further study. CTE programs are available in middle school and high school and are available in many career areas of interest to students.
Northside Independent School District is committed to providing students identified with dyslexia appropriate research based instruction and academic support to prepare them to be successful, lifetime readers and writers. NISD has a district-wide plan that follows guidelines and procedures in the Dyslexia Handbook in the identification of, instruction for, and accommodations for students with dyslexia.
District curriculum opportunities include student participation in visual arts, band, choir, dance, mariachi, orchestra, and theater. While these courses involve the majority of students, enrichment courses include music theater production, music theory, music history, vocal and jazz ensemble, and a variety of medium-specific courses in visual arts. Advanced Placement is available in Art History and Music Theory. Northside is one of only very few districts of substantial size that has established an elementary art and music curriculum to be taught only by certified art and music instructors K-5 on 100% of the district elementary campuses.
The Northside Independent School District Guidance and Counseling Department will provide a comprehensive developmental school counseling program that is implemented by Certified School Counselors, at the campus level, PK - 12.
Northside Libraries are the heart of each school community, creating meaningful and diverse learning opportunities, nurturing in our students a love for reading and learning, and developing in them the skills necessary to fully participate in society.
Currently, more than 7,000 children with parents who are connected to the military attend schools in the Northside Independent School District. Led by the efforts of school counselors, NISD school communities work diligently to support military families and address their unique educational challenges.
Physical Education is an integral part of the overall education of all students in the Northside Independent School District. The primary goal of physical education is to motivate students to pursue and continue active lifestyles by developing motor skills necessary to perform a variety of physical activities. It is also essential that students develop knowledge, understanding and positive attitudes about human movement. Northside offers quality physical education programs that provide learning opportunities that are meaningful, motivational, and challenging to the students.
Most children reach developmental milestones at about the same rate. However, some children may be delayed in some areas and require assistance. Other children may exhibit significant speech/language, health, physical, mental or emotional problems which can negatively affect their educational progress. Children with developmental delays or specific difficulties may be helped through Child Find.
Section 504 is a federal law designed to protect the rights of individuals with disabilities in programs and activities that receive federal funds from the U.S. Department of Education (ED). Section 504 provides: "No otherwise qualified individual with a disability in the United States . . . shall solely by reason of her or his disability, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance . . . ."
For those students who are having difficulty in the regular classroom, all school districts and open enrollment charter schools must consider tutorial, compensatory, and other academic or behavior support services that are available to all students, including a process based on Response to Intervention (RtI). The implementation of RtI has the potential to have a positive impact on the ability of districts and charter schools to meet the needs of all struggling students.
State Compensatory Education (SCE) is defined in law as programs and/or services designed to supplement the regular education program for students identified as at-risk of dropping out of school. The purpose of State Compensatory Education is to increase the academic achievement and reduce the drop out rate of these identified students.
The STEM Education Program at Northside ISD focuses on preparing students for future careers through hands-on problem-solving in science, technology, engineering, and math. It emphasizes career readiness across subjects and partners with Career and Technical Education (CTE) from grades 5 through 12.
The Teaching and Learning department consists of four offices - Academic Technology, Leadership Development, Library Services and Instructional Materials, and Professional Learning. Our goal is to serve teachers, leaders, staff and parents by providing quality professional learning, technical assistance and systemic support. By doing this we help our organization achieve its vision of every day, every student grows in confidence, curiosity, and capability.
The NISD Testing Office is responsible for ensuring the fidelity of the following test administrations and delivering valid, reliable data to inform instruction that promotes student growth:
- CogAT
- Credit by Exam
- STAAR Interim Assessments
- STAAR 3-8, STAAR EOC & STAAR Alternate 2
- TELPAS & TELPAS Alternate
- PSAT/NMSQT & SAT
- TSIA2
- Other National Assessments
Under the recent legislation of Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), formerly No Child Left Behind (NCLB), Title I, Part A is supplemental funding to support high poverty schools in providing opportunities for children to acquire the knowledge and skills in the State content standards and to meet the challenging State performance standards developed for all children.
The Whole Child Department is focused on aligning wrap-around systems of support to improve each child’s cognitive, physical, social and emotional development.
Whole Child program's include the Behavior Education Support Team (formerly PBIS), Health Education & Services, the School Age Parenting Program (SAPP), the Connections Program, Family Engagement (Title 1 & 3, Newcomer, Pre-K support & Northside Threads Clothing Closet), Even Start Family Literacy, Counseling & Social Emotional Learning.
