High School for Law and Justice

Coordinates: 29°44′19″N 95°20′50″W﻿ / ﻿29.7386°N 95.3473°W﻿ / 29.7386; -95.3473

High School for Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice (former campus on Dickson)

High School for Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice (former campus on Dickson)

High School for Law and Justice (HSLJ), formerly the High School for Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice (LE/CJ in short), is a high school located in Houston, Texas, United States. The school serves grades 9 through 12 and is a part of the Houston Independent School District.

The current campus is in East Downtown.[1]

HSLJ is an all-magnet high school that has Houston ISD's magnet program for law enforcement and criminal justice. Children from surrounding neighborhoods are not automatically eligible for HSLJ; pupils in the surrounding area are zoned to Wheatley High School. Prospective students are required to take a test for admission.

Students enrolled a HSLJ are taught how to operate in either the Law Enforcement or Criminal Justice Fields.

In 2014 the HISD board voted to rename the school the High School for Law and Justice.[2] This was effective in 2016.

## Contents

* 1 History
* 2 Location
* 3 Demographics
* 4 School uniform
* 5 Clubs
* 6 Notable alumni
* 7 References
* 8 Further reading
* 9 External links

## History[edit]

Houston ISD, the Houston Police Department, and the Mayor's Office cooperated to establish the law enforcement program on three separate campuses. By 1980 the district decided to consolidate the program to one campus.[3] HSLECJ opened on Monday, January 19, 1981 in the former George Washington School building. It became the first law enforcement special curricula high school in the United States.[4]

In 2012 an item to rename the school "High School for Law and Justice" was removed from the HISD board agenda.[5] In the fall of 2012 the HSLECJ campus had an estimated value of $26 million.[6]

A new HSLECJ was built to replace the former campus,[7] near the intersection of Coyle and Scott.[8] It was scheduled to open in 2016, when the name change was to take effect.[9] HISD board president Diana Davila appeared at the site while it was under construction and ordered the removal of an already-installed wall; the removal had a cost of $20,000.[10] The current 105,000-square-foot (9,800 m2) facility opened in 2018.[11]

## Location[edit]

HSLJ was located on an 11-acre (4.5 ha) property at the intersection of Shepherd Drive and Memorial Drive, adjacent to St. Thomas High School, a private Roman Catholic high school.[12] In July 2013 St. Thomas High School and the investment group AV Dickson Street were engaged in a dispute over the acquisition of the HSLECJ property.[12] On Thursday July 18, 2013 the HISD board rejected both requests. David Thompson, the HISD board attorney, stated that both bidders violated the district's code of silence policy.[13] On October 15, 2013, Elk Mountain Ltd. made a cash bid of $47,927,114,[7] while St. Thomas had made a bid of $45 million.[6] In November 2013 St. Thomas offered $60 million for the campus.[14] The final deadline for bids was November 1, 2013. Gary Hansel, the HISD real estate manager, stated that he did not know if Elk Mountain and AV Dickson Street were the same group, but that they shared a broker.[7] In November of that year HISD sold the former HSLECJ to St. Thomas.[15]

## Demographics[edit]

In 2012 the school had 710 students.[12]

## School uniform[edit]

HS L.E.C.J. requires school uniforms.[16] School requires the wear of navy, black, grey, or white polo shirt with school insignia, and navy or black trousers, they may also wear blue jeans all week long. On Fridays, students are permitted to wear a Friday shirt (such as club shirts and class shirts).

In 2007 principal Carol Mosteit said that the uniforms were intended for students to, in the words of Sarah Viren of the Houston Chronicle, "look the part" for law enforcement jobs that the students may take in the future.[17]

## Clubs[edit]

* Anime Club
* United States Army JROTC
* Explorers
* Alma Latina
* Adventurer Club
* Business Professionals of America (BPA)
* Salsa Club
* National Honor Society (NHS)
* Debate

## Notable alumni[edit]

* Analia Wilkerson - Judge in Harris County Criminal Court Number 9[18]

## References[edit]

1. ^ "Downtown / Intown Residential Development Since 1995" (PDF). East Downtown. Retrieved 2020-06-02.
2. ^ "HISD Board of Education approves renaming of High School for Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice." Houston Independent School District. August 14, 2014.
3. ^ "School Histories: the Stories Behind the Names Archived 2011-07-10 at the Wayback Machine." Houston Independent School District. Accessed September 24, 2008.
4. ^ Stancill, Nancy (January 21, 1981). "HISD is first in opening law enforcement School" (PDF). Houston Chronicle. p. 12\. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-05-25. Retrieved February 3, 2017.
5. ^ "MAY 10, 2012 SCHOOL BOARD MEETING." (Archive) Houston Independent School District. 3 of 6. Retrieved on June 14, 2012.
6. ^ a b Daugherty, Deon. "HISD board weighing bids for law enforcement school property." Houston Business Journal. October 17, 2013. Retrieved on November 5, 2013.
7. ^ a b c "Final bid for Law Enforcement HS set for Nov. 1." (Archive) The Leader. October 24, 2013. Retrieved on November 5, 2013.
8. ^ "HISD completes land purchase for new law and justice school" (Archive). KTRK-TV. Wednesday March 11, 2015. Retrieved on November 21, 2015.
9. ^ "Law, justice high school goes through changes." Houston Defender. August 18, 2014. Retrieved on December 7, 2015.
10. ^ Downing, Margaret (2019-08-09). "Upon Further Investigation, TEA Appears Ready to Oust the HISD Board". Houston Press. Retrieved 2019-08-10.
11. ^ "High School for Law and Justice celebrates new building with grand opening". Houston Independent School District. 2018-08-28. Retrieved 2021-06-19.
12. ^ a b c Willey, Jessica. "Old HISD building center of property fight." (Archive) KTRK-TV. Tuesday July 16, 2013. Retrieved on July 18, 2013.
13. ^ Mellon, Ericka. "HISD board rejects both bids for high school property." Houston Chronicle. July 18, 2013. Retrieved on July 18, 2013.
14. ^ Mulvaney, Erin. "St. Thomas offers $60 million for Houston ISD building for sale." Houston Chronicle. November 1, 2013. Retrieved on November 5, 2013.
15. ^ Wray, Dianna (2013-11-18). "HISD Sells High School for Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice to St. Thomas". Houston Press. Retrieved 2021-06-20.
16. ^ "DRESS CODE / GROOMING Archived 2010-05-10 at the Wayback Machine." High School for Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice.
17. ^ Viren, Sarah. "Demographics may dictate uniformity." Houston Chronicle. Monday September 3, 2007. A1. Retrieved on May 13, 2010.
18. ^ "Distinguished HISD Alumni Archived 2012-05-15 at the Wayback Machine." Houston Independent School District. Accessed October 11, 2008.

## Further reading[edit]

* "Old HISD building center of property fight." KTRK-TV (video)
* "Thursday letters: Rising interest in this school ..." Houston Chronicle. July 17, 2013.

## External links[edit]

* Texas portal
* Schools portal
* Law portal

* High School for Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice
* High School for Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice at the Wayback Machine (archive index)

* v
* t
* e

Houston Independent School District (Campuses)

K–12 schools|

* T. H. Rogers (alternative, magnet)

6–12 schools|

* Jane Long Academy (middle school zoned, high school not zoned)
* Leland (alt.)
* Sharpstown Int'l (alt.)
* Y.W.C.P.A. (alt.)

High schools|

* Austin
* Bellaire
* Chávez
* Furr
* Heights (ex-Reagan)
* Sam Houston
* Kashmere
* Lamar
* Madison
* Milby
* North Forest
* Northside (ex-Davis)
* Scarborough
* Sharpstown
* Sterling
* Waltrip
* Washington
* Westbury
* Westside
* Wheatley
* Wisdom (ex-Lee)
* Worthing
* Yates

Alternative and
magnet
high schools|

* Carnegie Vanguard
* Challenge Early College
* DeBakey
* East Early College
* Eastwood Academy
* Energy Institute
* H.A.I.S.
* H.S.E.P.
* H.S.P.V.A.
* Jones Futures Academy
* Barbara Jordan
* H.S.L.J.
* Liberty (Newcomer)
* Mount Carmel Acad.
* North Houston Early College
* South Early College

K–8 schools|

* Baker (formerly Woodrow Wilson)
* Gregory-Lincoln
* Wharton
* Mandarin Immersion (magnet only)
* The Rice School (magnet only)

Middle schools|

* Key
* Lanier
* Pershing
* BCM Academy at Ryan (magnet)
* Las Américas Newcomer School (alternative)
* Others

Elementary schools|

* Cage
* Cornelius
* Harvard
* Kashmere Gardens
* Lantrip
* Poe
* River Oaks
* Travis
* Walnut Bend
* Arabic Immersion (magnet only)
* Others

Former alt. K-12/6–12 schools|

* C.L.C.
* Kay On-Going
* Leader's Acad.
* Pro-Vision Academy (no longer affiliated with HISD, still in operation)
* V Prep

Former high schools|

* San Jacinto
* Carter Career Center (alternative)
* DeVry Advantage Academy (alternative)
* Gulf Coast Trades Center (no longer affiliated with HISD, still in operation)
* Middle College (magnet)

Former middle and K-8 schools|

* Edgar M. Gregory K-8
* Ryan MS
* The Lawson Academy (no longer affiliated with HISD, still in operation)

Athletics|

* Delmar Fieldhouse
* Delmar Stadium

Literature|

* Brown, Not White
* Make Haste Slowly

Superintendents|

* Edison E. Oberholtzer
* Billy Reagan
* Joan Raymond
* Frank Petruzielo
* Yvonne Gonzalez (interim)
* Rod Paige
* Abelardo Saavedra
* Terry Grier
* Richard A. Carranza

* v
* t
* e

High schools in the City of Houston

Houston Independent School District

Zoned schools|

* Austin
* Chávez
* Furr
* Heights (ex-Reagan)
* Sam Houston
* Kashmere
* Lamar
* Madison
* Milby
* Northside (ex-J. Davis)
* North Forest
* Scarborough
* Sharpstown
* Sterling
* Waltrip
* Washington
* Westbury
* Westside
* Margaret Long Wisdom (ex-Lee)
* Wheatley
* Worthing
* Yates

Magnet/alternative schools|

* Carnegie Vanguard
* Challenge Early College
* DeBakey
* East Early College
* Eastwood Academy
* Energy Institute
* H.A.I.S.
* H.S.E.P.
* H.S.P.V.A.
* Jones Futures Academy
* H.S.L.J.
* Leland
* Liberty (Newcomer)
* Mount Carmel Acad.
* North Houston Early College
* T.H. Rogers
* Sharpstown Int'l
* South Early College
* Y.W.C.P.A.
* Barbara Jordan Career Center

Public schools not in Houston ISD

Aldine ISD|

* Aldine
* Carver
* Eisenhower
* Victory Early College (magnet)

Alief ISD|

* Elsik
* Hastings
* Kerr (magnet)
* Early College (magnet)

Clear Creek ISD|

* Clear Lake

Fort Bend ISD|

* Willowridge

Humble ISD|

* Kingwood
* Kingwood Park

Pasadena ISD|

* Dobie

Spring Branch ISD|

* Northbrook
* Spring Woods
* Stratford
* WAIS (magnet)

State charter|

* Harmony Public Schools (multiple campuses)
* Houston Heights
* KIPP Texas (multiple campuses)
* Pro-Vision
* George I. Sanchez (two campuses)
* YES Prep (multiple campuses)
* Yes Prep Northline (beginning in 2020)
* Yzaguirre School

Independent

Secular private|

* Alexander-Smith Academy
* Awty
* Briarwood
* Houston Sudbury
* Monarch
* Post Oak
* Rainard
* River Oaks Academy
* School of the Woods
* St. John's
* The Village School

Religious|

* Al-Hadi School
* Bay Area Christian
* Beren Academy
* Christian Life Center Academy
* Covenant Prep
* Cristo Rey Jesuit
* Emery/Weiner
* Grace Christian Acad.
* Houston Christian HS
* Iman Academy
* Incarnate Word Academy
* Lutheran High North
* Lutheran South
* Memorial Private
* Saint Agnes
* Second Baptist
* St. Francis Episcopal
* St. Pius X
* St. Thomas
* St. Thomas' Episcopal
* Strake Jesuit
* Tenney
* Westbury Christian

| High school closed|

* St. Stephen's Episcopal

|

This list is incomplete.
This list only includes schools in the Houston city limits. Multiple schools with "Houston, Texas" addresses are not in the city limits.

Authority control

General|

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National libraries|

* United States

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