Spring Branch Academic Institute (SBAI)

SBAI Applicants

Mission

Spring Branch Academic Institute will provide highly, exceptionally, and profoundly gifted children an advanced educational opportunity matched to their individual abilities, strengths and interests.

Rationale

There are few public programs or schools designed specifically to meet the needs of highly, exceptionally, and profoundly gifted students in the Houston area. Parents of highly gifted children are desperately seeking appropriate educational settings for their children.

Spring Branch Academic Institute will provide individualized instruction at the appropriate pace, depth and complexity needed by highly gifted students in a multi-aged setting. By creating a school-within-a-school for this specific population, SBISD will be filling a great need for students in Spring Branch ISD.

Highlights

  • Expand to grades K-12 in 2021-22 for qualifying Spring Branch ISD students. The school will continue to expand to serve an additional grade level each year.
  • Use a school-within-a-school structure with a separate director and core teaching staff
  • Meet students’ affective needs by providing a true peer group and service learning opportunities. 

History

This school was first recommended in 2005 by the Elementary GT Task Force. A second task force with predominantly new members recommended it again in 2007. Based on the experiences of other public school districts in urban areas (Carrollton-Farmers Branch in Carrollton, Texas and Paradise Valley Unified in Scottsdale, Arizona), the school will grow as it attracts eligible students.  The school opened to eligible SBISD students age appropriate for grades K-4 in 2013-2014.

Opening a school designed specifically for highly gifted students demonstrates that SBISD is committed to meeting the educational needs of ALL students.


For Information

For information about qualifying for the school, the application process or the lottery, please contact Advanced Academic Studies at 713-251-1901. Specific scores needed for students moving into SBISD can be found on the application and on this website under the "qualifications tab" along with the names of qualifying tests. 

For more information about programming for the Spring Branch Academic Institute at 713-251-2219.