Our Academics & Programs

Primary Years Programme (PYP)

Harvard Elementary School is an IB World School for the Primary Years Programme (PYP). The school received its authorization from the International Baccalaureate Organization on March 14, 2012. 

What is the Primary Years Programme?

Students in the 21st century are faced with the challenge of learning about an interconnected world where knowledge is constantly developing. The International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme (PYP) prepares students to be active participants in a lifelong journey of learning. The IB Primary Years Programme, for students aged 3 to 12, focuses on the development of the whole child as an inquirer, both in the classroom and in the world outside. 

The written and taught curriculum:

The most significant and distinctive feature of the IB Primary Years Programme is the six transdisciplinary themes. These themes are about issues that have meaning for, and are important to, all of us. The programme offers a balance between learning about or through the subject areas, and learning beyond them. The six themes of global significance create a transdisciplinary framework that allows students to "step up" beyond the confines of leaning within subject areas. The six transdisciplinary themes help teachers to develop a programme of inquiries - in-depth investigations into important ideas, identified by the teachers, and requiring a high level of involvement on the part of the students. Teachers are guided by these six transdisciplinary themes as they design units of inquiry that both transcend and articulate conventional subject boundaries through language, social studies, mathematics, arts, science, personal, social and physical education. These inquiries are substantial, in-depth and usually last for several weeks.

• Who we are
• Where we are in place and time
• How we express ourselves
• How the world works
• How we organize ourselves
• Sharing the planet

Harvard Elementary School's Programme of Inquiry (POI) 

The Learner Profile

• Inquirers - We nurture our curiosity, developing skills for inquiry and research.  We know how to learn independently and with others.  We learn with enthusiasm and sustain our love of learning throughout life.
• Knowledgeable - We develop and use conceptual understanding, exploring knowledge across a range of disciplines. We engage with issues and ideas that have local and global significance.
• Thinkers - We use critical and creative thinking skills to analyze and take responsible action on complex problems.  We exercise initiative in making reasoned, ethical decisions.
• Communicators - We express ourselves confidently and creatively in more than one language and in many ways.  We collaborate effectively, listening carefully to the perspectives of other individuals and groups.
• Principled - We act with integrity and honestly, with a strong sense of fairness and justice, and with respect for the dignity and rights of people everywhere. We take responsibility for our actions and their consequences
• Open-minded - We critically appreciate our own cultures and personal histories, as well as the values and traditions of others. We seek and evaluate a range of points of view, and we are willing to grow from the experience.
• Caring - We show empathy, compassion and respect.  We have a commitment to service, and we act to make a positive difference in the lives of others and in the world around us.
• Risk-takers - We approach uncertainty with forethought and determination; we work independently and cooperatively to explore new ideas and innovative strategies. We are resourceful and resilient in the face of challenges and change.
• Balanced- We understand the importance of balancing different aspects of our lives – intellectual, physical, and emotional – to achieve well-being for ourselves and others.  We recognize our interdependence with other people and with the world in which we live.
• Reflective - We thoughtfully consider the world and our own ideas and experience.  We work to understand our strengths and weaknesses in order to support our learning and personal development.

Program Overview

Our magnet program is focused on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). We are a school-wide program and serve all students in grades Kindergarten through Grade 5. Students receive instruction from specialists on a rotational schedule for 55 minutes in the areas of math & engineering, and environmental science. Our instructional programming engages students in problem-solving and independent critical thinking while emphasizing laboratory exploration and hands-on activities.

Harvard offers your child: 

• Highly qualified teachers with training in gifted education
• A rigorous, differentiated curriculum
  • Participation in campus and district EXPO events

• Student leadership opportunities in clubs and service groups         
• After-school and enrichment programs
• Specialty classes in Environmental Science, Math and Engineering, Music, Physical Education, Library/Art
• Restorative Justice Campus 
• Active PTA 

Harvard Elementary is unique because students do not require GT identification to participate in our Magnet programming.

HISD Magnet Application Process

https://www.houstonisd.org/schoolchoice

• For Kindergarten applications a birth certificate is required ONLY if your child is not currently enrolled in an HISD Pre-K program.  
• For applications in grades 1-5: A teacher recommendation must be requested by all students. Non-HISD students and students new to HISD must also submit a copy of last year's final report card and contact the GT Coordinator at their zoned HISD campus to schedule testing. Students attending HISD for the entire year last year will not need to submit a report card. Current HISD students will be tested at their current HISD campus.