Welcome to William B. Travis Elementary School!

Our mission...

It is the purpose and mission of W.B. Travis Elementary to provide all of its students with an educational program that will allow them to develop to their potential intellectually, physically, and socially in order to be responsible citizens and contributing members of society. Inherent within this purpose and mission is the belief that all students can learn and that school can make a difference in the lives of its students. It is the belief of Travis Elementary that each student will complete fifth grade as a successful student.

At Travis we believe:

• Children are worthy of respect.
• Children are responsible for their own behavior.
• All children can learn and should have equal opportunity to succeed.
• Teachers must have high expectation for their students.
• Students, teachers, and parents share responsibility for student success.

Academic programs and services include...

• General Education
• Bilingual Education
• Gifted and Talented/Venture Education
• Special Education
• Dyslexia Teacher
• Title I Reading/Social Studies Peer Facilitator
• Title I Writing Peer Facilitator
• Title I Math/Technology Peer Facilitator
• Title I Science/Bilingual Lead Teacher Peer Facilitator
• Family Involvement Coordinator
• Counselor
• Librarian
• Nurse
• CATCH
• Successmaker
• Read Naturally

Incentives that ensure a safe and orderly learning environment...

• School-wide Discipline Plan
• "Paw-way" Behavior
• "Caught Being Good"
• "Tiger of the Week"
• The Big Deal
• HOPE Team
• Super Citizen Picnics
• 40 Developmental Assets
• Keystone Character Education

Activities that support instruction...

• Family Reading Nights
• Book Fairs
• Academic Family Nights
• UIL
• Accelerated Reader
• Recycling
• Choir and Ensemble
• Rodeo Art
• Junior Achievement
• Math Computer Lab
• Reading Computer Lab

Travis parents are involved at all levels of their children's education. Many families take advantage of the monthly Reading Family Nights and join us for our eventful "Wild About Learning" Family Academic Night. There are several parents who volunteer on a regular basis by preparing materials for teachers to use with our students. The PTO sponsors two fund raisers a year to boost the instructional program. With PTO fund raiser profits, our students are given the opportunity to attend the out-of-town field trips that enrich their education. This year as a "thank you," we provided a Drive-by On-the-Go Breakfast for parents who dropped their children off at school in the morning and a Drive-by On-the-Go Snack to those who picked up their children after school. We continue to strive for new ways to keep parents involved.

Another big plus for our students at Travis is the Partner in Education (PIE) relationship that ExxonMobil Refinery and Travis Elementary have sustained over the course of the past 20 years. In 2005-06, ExxonMobil Baytown Refinery/Travis Elementary were selected Partners of the Year. That was the year that our partner purchased a palludarium for our school. Our partner supports the instructional program in a variety of ways such as: sponsoring The Big Deal, ribbons on Red Ribbon Week, incentives for the Accelerated Reader program, etc. The fifth grade girls took advantage of attending the Sally Ride Conference held at Rice University. Our PIE sponsored the girls and purchased "Wild About Science" T-shirts for them to wear as they learned about science and the wonders of space travel. We are indeed proud of this community-based union.

Facts about our school...

• Tigers are the mascot.
• Our colors are orange and black.
• Our motto is "work hard; be nice."
• Our theme is "Wild About Learning."
• Our most recent honors include:
  • Texas Education Agency (TEA) Recognized Campus for the past three years (2005-2007)
  • Gold Performance Recognitions:
    • Commended Performance in Writing (2004)
    • Commended Performance in Science (2005 and 2006)
    • Commended Performance in Mathematics (2006 and 2007)
    • Comparable Improvement in Reading/ELA (2007)
    • Comparable Improvement in Mathematics (2007)

A message from our principal...

W.B. Travis exemplifies a true learning community. Each morning 750 eager Travis Tigers (21% White, 62% Hispanic, 16% African-American, 1% Other) enter our safe state-of-the--art building ready to learn. They are greeted by 90 kind and caring faculty and staff members who are dedicated to educating and meeting the needs of the whole child. For over 50 years, Travis has demonstrated a tradition of excellence in education. Join us and experience for yourself how this tradition of excellence continues.

Brenda H. Gongora
Principal