Demographic Study

Tiffani White
EDAD 6291, Internship in the Principalship
Houston Baptist University

1. Historical Background of the Community and the School

A. Edna M. Carrillo Elementary is located east of downtown on Wayside Drive between

Lawndale Avenue and Polk Street. In 1819, Wayside Drive, a road off Telephone Road
leading to Harrisburg, was desolate. By 1926 the building of the 69th Street bridge made
Wayside a main access road to the Port of Houston. Wayside was considered a middle class
community until the area became low income in 1980.

B. The original Houston Country Club and Golf Course was one of the first
establishments located on Wayside Drive. It is now a city-owned golf course known as the
Gus Wortham Park Golf Course. Minute Maid Park, on the east side of Downtown Houston
has contributed to the development of the East End.

C. Gus Wortham donated the golf club to the city in 1950. In addition, Charles Sims owned a
large estate that was once the site of the former Parker Memorial Methodist Church. It is
across the street from the Gus Wortham Park Golf Course.
D. Because the school is fairly new, there is no record of historical events to date.
E. There are 92 schools in the district. 10 early childhood centers and 43 facilities classified
as other.
F. In January of 1993, Carrillo Elementary was opened.
G. The campus was named after Edna M. Carrillo. Ms. Carrillo was the first Hispanic
principal in Houston ISD. She served at Franklin Elementary until 1972, before she passed away
of cancer. The district chose to continue her legacy by naming the school in her honor.
2. Campus Governance

A.

Princip
al:
Mary P
Hallin
Magnet Coordinator:
an
Aurora Deluna
H.
Title 1 Coordinator:
Karen
Hallinan
Pampell
Classroom Teachers

B. Carrillo Elementary has such a small student population that the school did not receive
funding for a vice principal. Therefore, Ms. Hallinan, principal of Carrillo Elementary, holds all
authority and decision making power.
C. SDMC elections are made by peers, teachers, and paraprofessional staff. Every month, Ms.
Hallinan invites committee members to the SDMC meeting. While there, members openly
discuss school related items, such as the campus budget and initiatives for the school
improvement plan. Ms. Hallinan listens to parents and faculty input. She takes the
recommendations into consideration, but she makes the final decision.
3. Enrollment/ Growth/ Achievement
A. The 2014-2015 Facts and Figures report indicates that there were 215,157 students enrolled in
HISD. Of that significantly large enrollment, the Hispanic student population makes up 133,638
students. 53, 556 student enrolled are African American. HISD also serves 17,731 Anglo
American students. 403 students are American Indian/ Alaskan Native. The smallest subgroup is
Native American/ other islander with 181 students enrolled. There was no data available on the
district demographics by socioeconomics or grade level.
B. Carrillo Elementary currently has 616 students enrolled. 600 students are Hispanic, 12 are
Anglo American and 6 students are listed as African American. 530 students are labeled as
socioeconomically disadvantaged. There was no data available on the demographics of
enrollment by grade level.
C. The 14-15 STARR data shows that students weakest areas are in reading. 3rd and 4th, grade
students averaged at 74% satisfactory. Specifically, 4th grade was the lowest performing, scoring
57% satisfactory on the state reading exam. In math, 81% of 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students

showed satisfactory. Although, 4th grade had the lowest satisfactory percentage, yet again. 73%
of 4th grades student performed on a satisfactory level.
4. Political and Geographical Characteristics of the School Attendance Area
A. Since the early 80s, Wayside area has remained a low income community. 86% of students
that attend Carrillo Elementary are labeled as socio-economically disadvantaged.

B. Family involvement is considerably high. 2-3 times a year, families help the PTO to
implement programs catered to the schools needs. On average, 30 general body members attend
the monthly meeting. Additionally, those in the community volunteer their time to develop and
host successful school events and activities.

C. The PTO consists of parents, teachers and staff. Presently, there are 2 presidents, 2 vice
presidents, 2 parliamentarians, 2 secretaries, and 2 members at large on the PTO committee. All
board members have children currently enrolled at Carrillo Elementary. Monthly PTO meetings
are held where members discuss how to build relationships among parents, teacher and the
school through the use of volunteer opportunities and parent education events.
D. There are several local taverns within a 5 mile radius of the school. The principal has
informed me that she had to personally remove students from the establishment, due to parent
neglect. In addition, the neighboring apartment complex which zoned a large number of students
to Carrillo, increased the monthly rent rate considerably. Since then, student enrollment has
declined because many low income families could no longer afford the rent and had to relocate
from the property.

5. Professional Staff
A. Professional Staff: Carrillo Elementary has approximately 37 teachers and staff. 31
teachers are female and the remaining 6 are male. There is 1 counselor and 5 educational
aides. Last years staff attendance rate, was 96% (the lowest it has been since the 20102011 school year).
1.

More than 26 teachers have 11 or more years of experience. 8 teachers have less
than 5 years of experience and 2 teachers have between 6 to 10 years of

experience. The average years of teaching experience is 16.

2. 9 teachers have obtained their masters in education. To date, no one has received
their doctorates.
3. Carrillo Elementary has 6 African American teachers, 21 Hispanic teachers, and 9
teachers of Anglo American descent.
a) The professional staff demographic has played a significant impact on the
school culture. Because the majority of the staff population is composed of
experienced teachers, high expectations have been made a standard for not
only students, but all teachers as well. These knowledgeable and skilled
educators have seen firsthand that all children are able to learn given the
proper instruction and resources. Therefore, they have consistently provided a
quality education that meets student individual needs. Less experienced
teachers continually seek professional development opportunities that will
develop them into becoming just as effective as their veteran colleagues.
6. Artifacts
a) TAPR Report: Document is attached.
b) School Improvement Plan: Document is attached.
7. Demographic Summary

A. Due to subpar test performance on statewide reading and math assessments, improving
achieving level should be the main priority. There should also be stricter regulations on the
proximity from an alcohol establishment and Carrillo elementary, because it has placed many
Carrillo students at risk. Teacher and staff attendance rate needs to be addressed and
improvements needs to be made prior to the 2016-2017 school year.
B. Students from low economic backgrounds generally require more academic and emotional
support than that of a student that comes from middle or high class. Therefore, principals that
serve low income student must seek the help from community organizations like Big Brother,
Big Sister. I would also ask various community leaders such as local business owners,
firefighters, and coaches to volunteer to mentor and counsel students and other students who are
in need of emotional support.

C. In order for an administrative leader to improving school performance, he/she must first gain
a keen understanding of the school and families perspectives, values and assumptions on
education prior to the first day of school. I would meet with families in order to understand their
educational values and how that relates to the schools vision. I want to ensure all families that
they are a valuable and necessary component to their childs academic success. Once that is
created, I believe their commitment to their childs academic success will come into play and it
will be easier to implement high academic expectations. As a trickling effect, student should be
motivated into exceeding the expectations of not only their parents, but teacher standards as well
because of the continued support, and encouragement from such influential parties.

I also began to consider how teacher attendance and professional development

opportunities play out in the improvement of the educational environment. It is my belief that a
teachers attendance plays a critical role in student learning and should be considered when
seeking to improve school achievement. Because, when teachers dont attend school, their
student are negatively affected. If I were the principal, I would provide incentives for teachers
with good attendance record. Simple rewards such as free dress day, or duty free recess could
poor attendance habits. I would also provide teachers the opportunity to attend quality trainings
in the content area of reading and math. I would encourage teachers to attend trainings that are
given over a course of time. By doing so, teachers can implement new techniques then determine
what they need further support in at the upcoming training.