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School History

🏫 About Arabic Immersion Magnet School (AIMS)

Founded in August 2015, the Arabic Immersion Magnet School (AIMS) is a first-of-its-kind public school in the United States, offering a rigorous dual-language program in Modern Standard Arabic and English. Operated by Houston Independent School District (HISD), AIMS is committed to preparing students to be bilingual, bicultural, and globally competitive.

📜 History & Growth

AIMS opened its doors in the Houston Heights in the fall of 2015, starting with just Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten students. It was housed in the renovated former Holden Elementary / Energy Institute High School building at 812 W. 28th Street, which quickly became a vibrant hub of language learning and cultural exchange.

As the school grew, it added one grade level each year. By the time AIMS reached fourth grade, it had outgrown its original location. In 2019, HISD relocated the school to a much larger and historic facility—the former Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts (HSPVA) campus in Montrose, located at 4001 Stanford Street. This move allowed AIMS to continue its expansion through middle school and accommodate a greater number of students.

Since then, AIMS has continued to thrive and evolve, and has now proudly graduated two classes of 8th graders. The school currently serves students in Pre-K through 8th grade, and continues to add depth and innovation to its language immersion programming.

🌍 Community & Diversity

AIMS serves a highly diverse community, drawing students from more than 40 ZIP codes across Houston. While Arabic is the second most commonly spoken foreign language in HISD households, the majority of AIMS students come from non-Arabic-speaking homes, showcasing the school’s broad appeal and inclusive mission.

🏢 Campus & Facilities

  • 2015–2019: Original campus in The Heights (former Holden Elementary)

  • Fall 2019–present: Relocated to the former Kinder HSPVA building in Montrose, a spacious and centrally located facility equipped for Pre-K through 8th grade learning