Health and Physical Education Major Initiatives
 
CATCH - Coordinated Approach to Child Health
CATCH is a coordinated school health program designed to help foster healthy eating and physical activities behaviors. Its major components 1) classroom curriculum, 2) physical education curriculum, 3) child nutrition services, and 4) family involvement come together to provide a comprehensive program for better health and better living.

Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS)
This nationwide survey is conducted biennially among random sample of 6th through 12th grade students. The YRBS has widespread support from local, state, and national organizations. It is sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and the U.S. Public Health Service with the cooperation of numerous federal agencies and state/local departments of education.  In Houston, the survey is conducted through the district's Health and Physical Education Department.

The survey focuses on health-risk behaviors established during youth and result in significant mortality or morbidity during both youth and adulthood.  The survey provides information on (1) behaviors that result in unintentional and intentional injuries; (2) tobacco use; (3) alcohol and other drug use; (4) sexual behaviors that result in HIV infection, other sexually transmitted diseases, and unintended pregnancies; (5) dietary behaviors; and (6) physical activity. Survey data is utilized to strengthen the district's comprehensive health education programs and support prevention/intervention initiatives that target youth behaviors. This data can also be used by individual schools when developing School Improvement Plans.

Survey results are as follows:

Middle School High School
Unintentional/Intentional Injuries Unintentional/Intentional Injuries
Tobacco Use Tobacco Use
Alcohol and Other Drug Use Alcohol and Other Drug Use
Sexual Behaviors Sexual Behaviors
Dietary Behaviors Dietary Behaviors
Physical Activity Physical Activity