There’s no secret that Kingwood Park is home to the most transfer students in Humble ISD. One out every four students were not originally zoned to attend school at Kingwood Park. So why would they move? And for the 75% of students who haven’t attended a 6A school, what are the major differences between the overpopulated schools of Humble ISD compared to Kingwood Park?
When attending my fall meeting with my house counselor Jenny Van Horn handed me a transcript from last year’s second semester. She paused to look at the amount of sophomores in my class – 1,045.
“Just in your class? We only have 1,800 students here,” she said.
It’s crazy to think that at Summer Creek, the sophomores could have made up more than half of the student population at Kingwood Park.
The struggles of not having Flex Hour have not affected me. When students in my class questioned how lunch would work on a late arrival Thursday or how clubs could survive without Flex, I already knew. Summer Creek, Atascocita and Humble have never given students the privilege of Flex Hour. I’ve always had to stay after school to go to a Student Council meeting or I would have to ask my swim coach if I could skip morning practice to make up a test.
However, because Kingwood Park is a smaller school, less advanced classes are offered. My freshman year, I was able to take advantage of an advanced fine art: dual credit theatre. It is the only advanced fine art offered in the whole district. Not to mention that Summer Creek has additional AP classes that students can take as electives. When my junior year schedule transferred over to Kingwood Park, I had to change out AP Environmental Systems for journalism, an on-level class. Additionally, my sophomore year I took a second science class – advanced anatomy and physiology. Going into my senior year, I will have both my math and science graduation requirements filled.
This can be a positive change though. Kingwood Park is a less competitive environment, one where taking an on-level class won’t ruin your rank. For this reason, personally, I’ve seen a lot more students in CTE classes. They are learning about future careers and taking classes they actually want to take. Without loading as many APs and dual credit classes as possible, students have more time on their hands to get involved with the school’s community and the diverse clubs and organizations that Kingwood Park has to offer.
Now, we all know there is a humongous difference between sports. Summer Creek is one of the top 6A football programs in the state of Texas, Atascocita High School is too. Even Kingwood is rising in the rankings. Summer Creek’s student section is filled to the top, everyone joins in on the cheers, you can feel the stands rumble when the Bulldogs score a touchdown. Even at Atascocita’s homecoming game against Summer Creek, the visitor side was full of students, you couldn’t find a place to stand. Turner Stadium tickets sold out in the first hour. Dubbed the “Battle of the Beltway,” the game was filled with exciting plays and back and forth touchdowns between the football superpowers.
Compared to 6A schools, the student section at Kingwood Park is underwhelming. Well, yes, as I already established, Kingwood Park High does not even have half of the total number of students at Summer Creek. But, many students leave at half time or sit down during and don’t cheer during volleyball games.
Well, since Summer Creek is so great, why did you even move schools? The truth is Summer Creek’s large population is overwhelming. The main hallway is crowded with students. It feels like you’re touching shoulders with other kids just to get to your next class. You see thousands of students in the hallways and might see someone once and never see them ever again.
Community is very important; it’s the foundation of school. Teachers actually ask how their students’ sports events went. Trust me, last year I had a teacher who I would’ve bet $100 that she didn’t even know my first name by the end of the school year.
In a school like Kingwood Park where everyone knows everyone else, it’s hard to get left behind. The teachers and students are so friendly and welcoming, it’s understandable why there are so many transfers. The truth is, I have no regrets about moving. Kingwood Park has been amazing.
