In 2022, the school was given an Overall Accountability Rating of 'B' (88) by the Texas Education Agency, with distinctions earned for Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Comparative Academic Growth, Postsecondary Readiness, and Comparative Closing the Gaps.[8]
North Shore opened in fall 1962 with grades 10–11 at a time when 9th grade students were typically located at junior high schools in Texas. In May 1965, the school graduated its first class of seniors that had spent all three years at North Shore. In 1999, a new larger campus was opened approximately 1.5 miles (2.4 km) north of the original. The original campus retained grades 9 and 10, and grades 11 and 12 moved to the new campus. In 2008 grade 10 was moved to the newer campus, and the original location became the North Shore 9th Grade Center.[10] In 2018, the school separated the 10th grade students into the then new North Shore 10th Grade Center.
North Shore 10th Grade Center
As of 2019[update] the two campuses combined had 4,775 students, making it the largest high school by student population in Greater Houston as well as the largest in the Texas Education Agency (TEA) Education Service Center Region 4.[11]
Athletics
North Shore's sports teams are the Mustangs, and they compete in the following UIL sports:[12]
North Shore Senior High School has several fine arts programs such as band and percussion, choir, theater, dance, cheer, drill team (Scarlets), Colorguard, and art
Band
The North Shore Senior High School Marching Band enrolls over 300 ninth through twelfth grade students every year and is one of the largest organizations on campus. The band has received 40 consecutive UIL Sweepstakes awards, many Best in Class recognitions, and has advanced to the Texas State Marching Band Championships six times. In 2016, the band was a State Finalist and UIL Area F Champion. In the spring, students perform in one of the five concert bands: Cadet Band, Concert Band, Philharmonic Band, Symphonic Band, and the Wind Ensemble. The North Shore concert bands have all consistently earned sweepstakes awards at the UIL Concert and Sight Reading events. In addition to their involvement in the concert bands, each student must participate in the Texas Music Educators Association's Region, Area, and All-State band and orchestra performances and the GPISD Solo & Ensemble Contest. In 2017, the North Shore Senior High School Wind Ensemble was invited to perform at The Midwest International Band and Orchestra Conference in Chicago, Illinois.
Choir
The North Shore choir consists of 9 ensembles, 8 of which go to the UIL contest and are consistent sweepstakes winners. The Chamber Choir is made up of the most elite Chorale members. The Chamber group is a consistent participant of the Madrigal Festival in San Antonio.
Colorguard
The North Shore Colorguard performs with the Marching Band in the fall and does an ensemble in the winter and spring. The Winter Guard is under the direction of Mr. Bucky Flores. The Guard is a consistent top finisher at Texas Color Guard Circuit events and is the 2015 and 2023 TCGC Scholastic silver medalist. They also perform in the GPISD Solo and Ensemble contest at the end of the school year.
Percussion
In addition to being a part of concert ensembles, percussion students are also in the Indoor Drumline. The North Shore Senior High School Drumline is under the direction of Mario Sanchez. The ensemble is a two-time Winter Guard International Scholastic World finalist and seven-time Texas Color Guard Circuit Scholastic World state champion.
Theater
The theater department is a member of International Thespian Society as Troupe 1639. They put on a musical and play in the fall, and compete in U.I.L One Act Play, where students consistently win best actor, lights, stage management, or sound nominations all the way up to the Area level of competition.
^Arnold, Robert (May 9, 2019). "Tracking reports of fights, drugs and gangs at Houston-area schools". KPRC-TV. Retrieved May 26, 2019. District administrators point out North Shore is the largest school in our region and the number of fights reported is small when compared to a student population of 4,775 students.
