{{Use American English|date=September 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox school | name = Liberty High School | native_name = | image = SharpstownMSHouston.jpg | alt = | caption = Former location, Sharpstown International School | motto = | location = HCC Gulfton Campus<br>5407 Gulfton St. | city = Houston | state = Texas | county = | zipcode = 77081 | country = United States | coordinates = {{coord|29.716214900401877|-95.47462641703993|display=inline,title}} | established = | type = Public high school | district = | grades = 12 | superintendent = | principal = | enrollment = 391 (2017-18)<ref name=NCES>{{cite web|url=https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_detail.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=4823640&SchoolPageNum=10&ID=482364010741|title=LIBERTY H S|publisher=National Center for Education Statistics|access-date=March 25, 2020}}</ref> | faculty = 20.79 (FTE)<ref name=NCES/> | ratio = 18.81<ref name=NCES/> | team_name = | athletic_conference = | rivals = | newspaper = | colors = | website = [http://www.houstonisd.org/Domain/2126 Official Website] | footnotes = }} '''Liberty High School''' is an alternative high school on the grounds of the Houston Community College Gulfton Campus in Gulfton, Houston, Texas. A part of the Houston Independent School District, it is a school catering to recent immigrants.
Liberty has intensive English instruction,<ref name="Newname">"[http://www.chron.com/neighborhood/heights-news/article/School-for-recent-immigrants-may-get-new-name-1794640.php School for recent immigrants may get new name]." ''Houston Chronicle''. Friday June 8, 2007. Retrieved on December 8, 2011.</ref> which serves as the school's main focus.<ref name="Moved">Garza, Cynthia Leonor. "[https://web.archive.org/web/20081216142041/http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=2006_4227528 School a haven for new arrivals / Leader helps his immigrant HISD students feel at home at charter campus]." ''Houston Chronicle''. Saturday October 1, 2008. B1 MetFront. Retrieved on December 13, 2008.</ref> It also has flexible scheduling and year-round scheduling. This scenario caters to older students who are recent immigrants.<ref name="Newname"/> The school's intention is to ensure that students receive high school diplomas.<ref name="Moved"/>
{{As of|2015}} the principal is Mónico Rivas,<ref name=Kragie>{{cite news|author=Kragie, Andrew|url=http://www.houstonchronicle.com/local/gray-matters/article/Liberty-High-the-night-school-for-newcomers-6535562.php|title=Liberty High, the strip-mall night school for immigrants|newspaper=Houston Chronicle|date=2015-09-28|access-date=2017-11-24}}</ref> who has been principal since the school's founding in 2005.<ref name="Moved"/>
==History== [[File:LeeHSHoustonTX.jpg|thumb|left|Liberty was a project started by officials at Lee High School (now known as Wisdom High School), and originally it was located on the Lee campus]] The Lee High School (now known as Wisdom High School) principal, faculty, and community expressed interest in having a special charter school for recent immigrants opened. In the 2003-2004 school year, of the 2,100 students attending Lee, 205 were recent immigrants who were 17 or older and entering the 9th grade for the first time, making them "overage" in the U.S. educational system. The students had received different types of formal education in their countries of origin. The HISD board approved the formation of the school on September 9, 2004.<ref name="History"/> Steve Amstutz, the Lee principal, was the main figure responsible for the school's creation.<ref name="houstonisd.org">"[http://www.houstonisd.org/HISDConnectDS/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=c3be7ae253a1e010VgnVCM10000028147fa6RCRD&vgnextchannel=f6d4ced1cc65e010VgnVCM10000028147fa6RCRD Students at HISD’s Newcomer Charter School Make History] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120229145537/http://www.houstonisd.org/HISDConnectDS/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=c3be7ae253a1e010VgnVCM10000028147fa6RCRD&vgnextchannel=f6d4ced1cc65e010VgnVCM10000028147fa6RCRD |date=2012-02-29 }}. Houston Independent School District. September 27, 2006. Retrieved on December 8, 2011.</ref>
The school, originally on the Lee High School campus, opened on January 10, 2005, with 125 students attending the opening night; the projected enrollment was 75.<ref name="History"/> The school was originally named '''Newcomer Charter High School''' (NCHS).<ref name="Newname"/> School officials placed fliers promoting NCHS in Gulfton-area apartment complexes, churches, flea markets, and washaterias.<ref name="Moved"/> In 2006 the school was scheduled to move out of the Lee campus and into its standalone campus.<ref name="houstonisd.org"/> In 2007 community leaders, students, and teachers recommended that the school adopt its current name. In June 2007 the school had 195 students.<ref name="Newname"/>
The school relocated to a new location and adopted its current name in June 2007.<ref name="SchoolHistoriesHoustonISD">"[http://www.houstonisd.org/HISDConnectDS/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=0afe09c28afc3110VgnVCM10000028147fa6RCRD&vgnextchannel=2e2b2f796138c010VgnVCM10000052147fa6RCRD School Histories: the Stories Behind the Names] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110710153727/http://www.houstonisd.org/HISDConnectDS/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=0afe09c28afc3110VgnVCM10000028147fa6RCRD&vgnextchannel=2e2b2f796138c010VgnVCM10000052147fa6RCRD |date=July 10, 2011 }}." ([https://web.archive.org/web/20110710153727/http://www.houstonisd.org/HISDConnectDS/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=0afe09c28afc3110VgnVCM10000028147fa6RCRD&vgnextchannel=2e2b2f796138c010VgnVCM10000052147fa6RCRD Archive]) Houston Independent School District. Retrieved on December 8, 2011.</ref> It was now in a shopping center along U.S. Route 59 (Southwest Freeway).<ref name="Moved"/>
In 2007 the school had low Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) passing rates. It encouraged all of its students to take the test. In 2008 its immigrant students came from Latin America, Asia, and Africa. Many students recruited relatives and school-aged coworkers by word of mouth. During that year it had a $1.57 million operating budget. The budget amounted to $6,856 per student. Scarborough High School had a per student cost of $5,442, with 890 students attending the school.<ref name="Moved"/>
By 2015 a day school program was established at Liberty High.<ref name=Kragie/>
In 2016 the Tax day floods caused the campus to have minor issues.<ref name=CarpenterHarvey>{{cite news|author=Carpenter, Jacob|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Immigrant-HISD-students-overcome-obstacles-12982891.php|title=Immigrant HISD students overcome obstacles — and Harvey — for diplomas|newspaper=Houston Chronicle|date=2018-06-10|access-date=2019-04-02}}</ref>
Liberty High moved to the campus of Sharpstown International School in Sharpstown,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cw39.com/2017/09/25/seven-hisd-schools-back-in-session-this-week-as-harvey-recovery-continues/|title=Seven HISD schools back in session this week as Harvey recovery continues|publisher=Newsfix, KIAH (CW 39)|date=2017-09-25|quote=Liberty High School 8330 Triola Ln Houston, TX 77036 (former Sharpstown International School)}} - despite the "former" designation, [http://www.houstonisd.org/Page/128610 it remained the campus of Sharpstown International]</ref> due to the effect of Hurricane Harvey on the former campus in 2017. The move is temporary and HISD was to later determine the permanent location.<ref name=KennedyHernandez>{{cite web|author=Kennedy, Megan|author2=Cathy Hernandez|url=https://www.click2houston.com/news/hisd-approves-plan-to-rebuild-4-harvey-damaged-elementary-schools|title=HISD approves plan to rebuild 4 Harvey-damaged elementary schools|publisher=KPRC-TV (Channel 2)|date=2017-12-14|access-date=2017-12-17}}</ref> Several Liberty students had their own residences flood during Harvey.<ref name=CarpenterHarvey/>
==Demographics== {{As of|2018}} the school had about 400 students, with about 28 native languages represented and with virtually all having low English fluency. The student body, almost completely those of recent immigrants, was made up of a majority of those of Central American origin and with others from the continents of Africa and Asia, including those from the Middle East region. The majority lived in Gulfton and Sharpstown in southwest Houston with some from north Houston and southeast Houston.<ref name=CarpenterHarvey/>
As of September 2015 the school had about 450 students. All of the students were immigrants, and refugees made up about 10% of the student body.<ref name=Kragie/>
In September 2007 the school had almost 200 students. 18 of those students were age 22 through 26. By 2007 Texas state law had changed, funding students up to age 25 (as of September 1 of the school year) to study for a traditional high school diploma; previously the state only paid for students up to age 21 (as of September 1 of the school year), and HISD paid for the education of some students older than 21.<ref>{{cite news|author=Radcliffe, Jennifer|url=http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Buying-time-for-older-high-school-diploma-seekers-1827008.php|title=Buying time for older high-school diploma seekers|newspaper=Houston Chronicle|date=2007-09-14|access-date=2017-11-24}}</ref>
In the 2006-2007 school year there were 229 students, with origins from Africa, Asia, and Latin America, and with 96% being classified as low income. Most of the students were between the ages of 17 and 21.<ref name="Moved"/>
==Campus== [[File:LibertyHighSchoolHoustonTX.JPG|thumb|Former campus on U.S. Route 59 (Southwest Freeway)]] Effective 2022 it occupies its current location,<ref name=Schmoved>{{cite web|url=http://www.houstonisd.org/Domain/2126|title=Home|publisher=Liberty High School|accessdate=2022-06-18|quote=Liberty High School has moved to its permanent location: 5407 Gulfton St. Houston, TX 77081}} - See the scrolling panels for the address.</ref> the Houston Community College (HCC) Gulfton Center Gulfton Campus.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hccs.edu/locations/southwest-college/gulfton-center/|title=Gulfton Campus|publisher=Houston Community College|accessdate=2022-06-18|quote=5407 Gulfton Road, Houston, TX 77081}}</ref>
It previously occupied space on the grounds of Sharpstown International School in Sharpstown.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.houstonisd.org/domain/6449|title=Contact Information|publisher=Liberty High School|access-date=2017-11-24|quote=OUR NEW LOCATION: Sharpstown International 8330 Triola Houston, TX 77036}}</ref>
Its previous campus was in Suite A of the 6400 SW Freeway shopping complex,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.houstonisd.org/Domain/2126|title=Home|publisher=Liberty High School|date=2017-08-30|access-date=2017-11-24|quote=6400 SW Freeway, Suite A Houston, TX 77074-2213|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170830202043/http://www.houstonisd.org/Domain/2126|archive-date=2017-08-30}}</ref> off the Hillcroft Avenue exit of U.S. Route 59 (Southwest Freeway),<ref name=Kragie/> in the vicinity of Gulfton and Sharpstown,<ref name="History">"[http://libertyhs.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=51&Itemid=55 About Liberty HS]." Liberty High School. Retrieved on December 8, 2011.</ref><ref>"[http://houstonisd.org/HISDConnectDS/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=f303f917c5056310VgnVCM10000028147fa6RCRD&vgnextchannel=051bdfb83de94310VgnVCM10000028147fa6RCRD Liberty HS to Use Cameras to Develop Language Skills and Literacy] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120330033527/http://www.houstonisd.org/HISDConnectDS/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=f303f917c5056310VgnVCM10000028147fa6RCRD&vgnextchannel=051bdfb83de94310VgnVCM10000028147fa6RCRD |date=2012-03-30 }}." Houston Independent School District. March 26, 2012. Retrieved on March 28, 2012.</ref> and about midway between Beltway 8 and the 610 Loop. Its former U.S. 59 campus,<ref name=Kragie/> a leased property,<ref name=KennedyHernandez/> previously served as a restaurant; the restaurant's bar was re-purposed as a cafeteria serving line.<ref name=Kragie/> Jacob Carpenter of the ''Houston Chronicle'' stated that the classrooms were "nondescript".<ref name=CarpenterHarvey/> The center of the lot had a group of trees and picnic tables, while a volleyball net was in its periphery. Andrew Kragie of the ''Houston Chronicle'' wrote "Other than a front-door sticker telling visitors to register with the front desk, the building's exterior gives little sign that a school operates here."<ref name=Kragie/>
==School culture== The school has a debate team and participate in school sports activities. At the US 59 campus students used the school's parking lot for pickup soccer. When the school was established, officials believed that the students would be unable to participate in extracurricular programs due to being busy with out-of-school employment and care for family members, but they established extracurricular programs upon discovering student interest.<ref name=Kragie/>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{Portal|Texas|Schools}} * [http://www.houstonisd.org/Domain/2126 Liberty High School] * {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://libertyhs.org|title=Liberty High School}} {{Houston ISD}} {{Houston High Schools}} {{Southwest Management District}}
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Category:Houston Independent School District high schools Category:Public high schools in Houston Category:2005 establishments in Texas Category:Educational institutions established in 2005 Category:Charter schools in Houston