Special Schools

HCDE operates four special schools—Academic and Behavior Schools East, Academic and Behavior Schools West, Highpoint School East, and Fortis Academy—serving three populations of students:

those with severe emotional or physical disabilities;
troubled or adjudicated youth;
and students recovering from addiction.

The Schools Division partners with Harris County school districts to offer individualized learning through small-group instruction in highly structured classes. The goal is always for students to return to their home schools to graduate.

How can I enroll my child in an HCDE school?

Thank you for your interest in HCDE schools. Students attending our schools have been referred to us by their home districts. If you're interested in having your child attend one of our schools, please get in touch with your school district.

Our Schools

ABS East and West

Academic and Behavior Schools (ABS) East and West

Academic and Behavior Schools (ABS) East and West provide an educational environment for students with multiple disabilities including autism and profound emotional, behavioral and/or intellectual special needs.

Classes are specifically designed to help special education students to function successfully in all environments. Staff members at the Academic and Behavior Schools use data-driven behavior management techniques emphasizing positive reinforcement.

Fortis

Fortis Academy

Fortis Academy is the first public recovery high school in the Houston area. The school seeks to change the paradigm from punishment to support, and provides students with drug or alcohol addiction with high-quality education in a sober environment.

Fortis provides rigorous academics, accredited rehabilitation treatment, and individualized counseling and support. The school also offers unique programming, including a state- of-the-art culinary arts program with a commercial kitchen.

Highpoint

Highpoint School East

Highpoint School gives expelled or adjudicated youth a second chance at success. Featuring individualized learning or small group instruction in highly structured classes, our schools prepare students to return to their home schools to be successful and ultimately graduate with their classmates.

Schools Division Resources

2025–2026 Academic Calendar

2025–2026 HCDE Special Schools Parent/Student Handbook

Bacterial Meningitis Flyer

What is Meningitis?

Meningitis is an inflammation of the covering of the brain and spinal cord. It can be caused by viruses, parasites, fungi, and bacteria. Viral meningitis is most common and the least serious.

Meningitis caused by bacteria is the most likely form of the disease to cause serious, long-term complications. It is an uncommon disease but requires urgent treatment with antibiotics to prevent permanent damage or death.

Bacterial meningitis can be caused by multiple organisms. Two common types are Streptococcus pneumoniae, with over 80 serogroups that can cause illness, and Neisseria meningitidis, with five serogroups that most commonly cause meningitis.

Download flyer for more information

Bullying Complaint Form

Curriculum, Compliance, and Course Connections Placement and Enrollment Guide

Incident Report and Request to View Video Recording

Pursuant to Section 29.022 of the Texas Education Code (“TEC”), in addition to certain eligible parents and employees described in the TEC, the following individuals may request to view a video recording of a self-contained classroom or other special education setting:

appropriate Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (“TDFPS”) personnel as part of an investigation under TFC § 261.406;
the following individuals, in response to a report of an alleged Incident OR an investigation of district or school personnel OR a report of alleged abuse committed by a student:
1. a peace officer;
2. a school nurse;
3. a district or school administrator trained in de-escalation and restraint techniques;
a Human Resources Staff Member designated by the Board; and
appropriate TEA or State Board for Educator Certification personnel or agents as part of an investigation.

Download Form D1: HCDE Incident Report and Request to View Video Recording

Learn About SPEDTex

Request for Video Surveillance

On the request of an eligible parent, staff member, principal, assistant principal, or the Board of Trustees, the Department must provide video equipment, including video cameras with audio recording capabilities, to campuses in accordance with Section 29.022, Texas Education Code, 19 T.A.C. § 103.1301, and Board Policy EHBAF. Campuses that receive equipment must place, operate, and maintain video cameras in certain self-contained classrooms or other special education settings. Video surveillance is solely for the purpose of promoting student safety. Regular or continual monitoring of video recordings is prohibited by law. Video recordings are confidential by law and may only be accessed or viewed by certain individuals under very limited circumstances as defined by the Texas Education Code. An approved request for video surveillance is only valid for the current school year. The school will notify the parents of each student in the classroom or setting under video surveillance, no later than the 10th day before the end of the school year, that the operation of the requested video camera(s) will not continue during the following school year unless the person eligible to make a request for the next school year submits a new request.

Download Form A1: HCDE Request for Video Surveillance

Student Learning Objectives (SLO) Resources

Excellent teachers regularly set learning goals for their students and use a variety of data sources to monitor progress towards these goals throughout the year. The Student Learning Objectives process aims to capture this best practice as a means to allow teachers and teacher appraisers to determine and reflect on a teacher’s pedagogical strengths and areas for growth.

Student Learning Objectives are:

Student growth goals set by teachers
Focused on a foundational student skill that is developed throughout the curriculum
Tailored to the context of individual students
Designed to help teachers better understand the impact of their pedagogy
For the purposes of refining instruction.

Review SLO Resources

Texas Teacher Evaluation and Support System (T-TESS) Resources

What is T-TESS?

T-TESS strives to capture the holistic nature of teaching – the idea that a constant feedback loop exists between teachers and students, and gauging the effectiveness of teachers requires a consistent focus on how students respond to their teacher’s instructional practices. For those reasons, each of the observable domains in T-TESS focuses on teachers and students rather than separating them out into separate domains. Ultimately, T-TESS is a process that seeks to develop habits of continuous improvement, and the process itself best leads to that outcome when appraisers and teachers focus on evidence-based feedback and professional development decisions based on that feedback through ongoing dialogue and collaboration.