Daycare & Public School ABCs for Cottage Grove Residents
Not sure where to start with a search for a new daycare for your child? Curious about HISD and its different offerings and live in Cottage Grove? Look no further than this post for all the answers you need to get started!
Let's Start with Daycare...
Finding a daycare spot for a kiddo under 4 can be a real challenge, but there are plenty of schools in the area with great reputations.
This is by no means an exhaustive list, but here are some childcare options located in the area that have been recommended by Cottage Grove residents. Many require applications and have waiting lists, so be sure to take a tour and get on the list as soon as you can!
1100 Roy St, Houston, TX 77007
Full and part time programs for children 6 weeks to 4 years old; afterschool programs only for kindergarten through 5th grade
7450 Memorial Woods Dr, Houston, TX 77024
Infants through 8th Grade
1525 W 25th St, Houston, TX 77008
Infants (3 months) through kindergarten (6 years)
880 W 28th St, Houston, TX 77008
Infants (6 weeks) through kindergarten
620 Shepherd Dr., Houston, TX 77007
Infants (6 weeks) through 8th grade
Messiah Lutheran Early Childhood Center
5103 Rose St, Houston, TX 77007
Infants (2 months) through Pre-K
2931 W 12th St, Houston, TX 77008
Infants (6 weeks) through 5 years old
St Theresa Early Childhood Center/School
6500 Durford St, Houston, TX 77007
Infants (2 months) - 35 months (Early Childhood Center); 3 years old through 8th grade (School)
Houston ISD Has Its Own Language!
When your child is eligible for Pre-K or older, they can be considered for schools in Houston ISD (HISD), the local public school district.
It can be confusing to understand the language of HISD, because many of the terms used are unfamiliar. Here are a few helpful definitions:
Neighborhood (Zoned) School: This is the school to which you are zoned based on attendance boundaries. You can enroll in this school by going to the school to register. If the school has a Magnet program, your child still needs to apply and be accepted to attend, even if it’s within the Neighborhood school.
Magnet Program: A Magnet program “attracts” kids from all over HISD and allows them to participate in a number of special opportunities. These programs are located within many schools, and there are many specialties (especially in elementary), such as International Baccalaureate, STEM, music, and more. Your child must apply and be accepted through a lottery. You apply in the fall before the school year in which you wish to enroll, rank your choice of schools, and cross your fingers that you’ll get into one of them. More information is on this website. It is very hard to get into many of these programs - the 3 typical entry points are kindergarten, 6th, and 9th grade.
Vanguard: This means gifted & talented. Your child must apply and take a test and pass it to be considered Vanguard, which makes them eligible to be in the Vanguard program in their Neighborhood school or eligible to apply to a Vanguard Magnet program. The difference with the Vanguard Magnet program is that you have to pass the Vanguard test AND be accepted by lottery into that school’s Magnet program to attend.
Houston ISD Neighborhood (Zoned) Schools
If you live in Cottage Grove, you are zoned to the following schools in Houston Independent School District:
Pre-K-5th Grade:
Cottage Grove South, West, and Central: Memorial Elementary* - Dual Language English/Spanish program
Cottage Grove East: Love Elementary
6th-8th Grade: Hogg Middle School - School-wide International Baccalaureate program; Vanguard (Gifted/Talented) offering; STEM Magnet School
9th-12th Grade: Waltrip High School - Research and Technology Magnet
*Pre-K is a special program for 3 and 4 year olds offered by some HISD schools, including Memorial Elementary. You must apply, and to receive free Pre-K services, you must be economically disadvantaged or meet a special set of criteria. If there are any spots left after these spots are filled (there usually are), they are offered to people who can pay tuition. Tuition for the 2020-2021 school year was approximately $5,600. The program is full day, and Memorial Elementary has both an English and Spanish speaking dual language curriculum. You must apply (do this as early as possible in the fall prior to the year your child would enroll) and then be accepted through a lottery system. Visit this site for more information.
NOTE: Zones can change by the year! Visit this page on HISD's website to look at the zoning maps to be sure where your house is zoned.
We hope this information is helpful to you! If you found it useful, please consider joining Cottage Grove Civic Association to support our work in developing resources like this.
