Lovett Elementary School

As a magnet school within HISD, Lovett Elementary has no religious affiliation. Students’ religious convictions do not factor into admissions, and the curriculum does not include theological material. While there is no institutionalized prayer in the school, there is a daily minute of silence during which students may choose to pray. Additionally, absences due to religious holidays do not count against a student’s record, though the student is still responsible for make-up work.

Lovett Elementary is located on its original campus in Southwest Houston, just outside the 610 Loop. The surrounding area is primarily residential with some businesses.

The school underwent major renovations and expansions in 2010. The additions include considerable space dedicated to the Fine Arts Magnet program, including classrooms for Band, Orchestra, and Choir; music practice rooms; performance spaces; and an up-to-date studio for the visual arts.

Students who are zoned for Lovett Elementary (see map below) are automatically admitted to the magnet program, but non-zoned students must apply in order to be eligible to attend.

In order to apply for the magnet program at Lovett Elementary, students must complete an online application or paper and send additional materials to the school by mail. For kindergarten applicants, the additional materials consist of proof of age 5 by September, proof of HISD residency, and a PreK progress report (if applicable). For other applicants, the additional materials consist of proof of HISD residency, the previous year’s final report card, and the report card from the first grading period of the current year.

Applications are accepted from early November to mid-December for the subsequent school year, and admitted students are notified by late March. Admission is based on the lottery system, and all students have an equal chance of admission. Lovett Elementary is one of Houston’s most selective elementary school magnet programs, with an acceptance rate of 6.19%.

Students are not required to take an entrance examination to be eligible for admission. While neither interviews nor school visits are required for the admissions process, visits are available.

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All students at Lovett Elementary participate in the Fine Arts Magnet program. The standard elementary school curriculum is supplemented with a range of enrichment courses in the arts, including visual art as well as vocal and instrumental music. Students are not constrained to a single area of the program; they may choose to study multiple artistic disciplines.

The focus on the arts goes beyond the classroom with field trips to the Museum of Fine Arts Houston and participation in outside events like the Houston Art Car Parade. The instrumental music curriculum incorporates the Suzuki method and offers numerous opportunities for outside performances and competitions.

Lovett Elementary also offers accelerated academic courses for Gifted and Talented students through a Neighborhood Vanguard program.

Accommodations are available for students with special needs who meet the requirements for admission. If the parents already have documentation about the student’s special needs, the school will need a copy of that documentation. After receiving the documentation, the school will set up an annual ARD meeting that the parents, the student, an administrator, a core subject teacher, a special education teacher or 504 representative, and an HISD advocate will attend to discuss the specific modifications necessary for the student and to create an individualized education plan (IEP) for the student. Every teacher will receive a copy of the modifications for the student after they are set in the ARD meeting.

If the parents want to request modifications for their child, then the special education teacher will give the student’s teachers paperwork to document the student’s behavior and any modifications the teacher uses for the student. After 6 weeks of documentation, the teachers will turn in the paperwork, and the special education teacher or 504 representative will call a meeting similar to an ARD meeting. If the meeting determines that the student needs accommodation, then the school will have documentation of the student’s special needs and will follow the same procedures as above.

No foreign languages are offered at Lovett Elementary.

Lovett Elementary offers a wide range of fine arts classes as part of the Fine Arts Magnet program, including Art, Concert Band, Music, Chorus, Handbells, and Orchestra. Students in the magnet program may study within multiple fine arts departments.

Student artwork and musical performance is showcased in school events. Students in the Art program have the opportunity to help build an art car and participate in the Houston Art Car Parade, and in 2014, the kindergarten class will have an opportunity to help in the creation of an outdoor art installation piece. Students in Concert Band and Orchestra also have outside performance opportunities, including events in downtown Houston and the HISD Strings Festival. These students also have the opportunity to compete in HISD and TEA Solo and Ensemble Competitions. Additionally, the Concert Band program sometimes performs jointly with Rice University’s Marching Owl Band.

PC computers are available to students in the library, provided that they adhere to the Acceptable Use Policy. Additionally, each classroom is equipped with a SmartBoard.

Students are permitted to bring cell phones and other small electronic devices to campus, but devices must be turned off while in the school building.

Three after-school clubs are available to students at Lovett Elementary: the Student Council, the Red Cross Club, and the Lovett Chorus. There are also three extracurricular competitions which do not meet regularly: the Spelling Bee, the Geography Bee, and Name That Book. Parents may also choose to enroll their students in the Extended Day program for an additional fee. In this program, students are provided with after-school care and homework time.

Lovett Elementary does not offer any interscholastic athletic programs.

Parents who wish to become involved with their children’s education at Lovett Elementary may join the school’s Parent-Teacher Organization, which meets at least six times a year at situationally determined times. This organization facilitates parent volunteering as well as facilitating and fundraising for school events and functions. Parents who wish to volunteer through the PTO must also register through HISD’s Volunteers in Public Schools program. Additionally, Lovett Elementary has a Shared Decision Making Committee through which interested parents can join with teachers and community members to advise the principal on important administrative matters.