Houston ISD is transforming C. Martinez Elementary into a Future 2 School with hands-on learning, AI tools and a redesigned school day.
HOUSTON — A Houston elementary school on the district’s northside is preparing for a major transformation next year. Houston ISD has announced that C. Martinez Elementary will become one of the district’s new “Future 2 Schools,” a model designed for students impacted by recent school closures and consolidations.
District leaders say the new approach will change what the school day looks like for students while keeping core academic instruction in place.
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A different kind of school day
C. Martinez Elementary will still begin the day with traditional classroom learning.
Students will receive core instruction from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., followed by lunch and recess.
But according to the school’s newly named principal, Chandra Reed, the biggest changes will happen in the afternoon.
Students will rotate through six-week hands-on experiences focused on real-life skills.
Those activities could include teamwork projects, using artificial intelligence tools, building architectural models or learning dining etiquette.
Students will also participate in workshops such as playing on a sports team, taking swimming lessons or learning to play a musical instrument.
Maintaining academic standards
During an interview, Reed said the school will still be held to the same academic benchmarks as other campuses in the district.
“We’ll be participating in the same assessments, we’re preparing kids for the year 2035 and making sure they’re successful once the time comes,” she said.
Artificial intelligence is also expected to play a role in the school’s future curriculum.
Reed said supporting teachers as they learn to incorporate those tools will be a key focus.
“That’s my job, to support and train teachers, learning and growing together,” she said. “Next year will be learning and growing together, mastering AI and be that leader to help our kids do the same.”
Principal hopes to inspire future careers
Reed said she was drawn to the role because it offers an opportunity to help shape how students prepare for the future.
“I’m excited to break new ground, I’m a lifelong learner, I like challenge and I like success. I hope I’m building our future doctors, AI workers, I hope I’m able to inspire that spark and they know career-wise a little quicker from their experiences here at C. Martinez.”
What families should know
Reed said the school will offer both on-level and accelerated academic options, and the district is investing additional resources to support the Future 2 model and curriculum.
Families zoned to C. Martinez Elementary will automatically be enrolled in the new program.
However, parents who prefer a different option can choose another elementary or middle school within the district.
Houston ISD officials say they are currently holding parent meetings and sending direct communication to families about the upcoming changes.
More information about the program is available on the district’s Future 2 information page at HoustonISD.org.
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