HISD students engage with politics through presidential debate watch parties

A recent Harvard poll indicates that more than half of young Americans between the ages of 18 and 29 definitely plan on voting in this November’s Presidential election. For many high schoolers, this November will mark the first major election in which they will be eligible to vote, and excitement is high in HISD. High school students turned out by the dozens on Tuesday night to watch the debate between former president Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris at several campus-based watch parties throughout the District.

Wheatley, Milby, and Kashmere High Schools invited students to gather after hours to watch the spirited debate among their peers, providing snacks or meals to fuel them through the long televised event. Wheatley’s 40-student watch party was kicked off with a performance by the school’s marching band. Nearly 150 students packed into the Milby commons to watch.

“It was great to see so many students in attendance and the excitement was in the air regarding this historical moment,” said HISD Community Partnerships Coordinator Eduardo Elizondo. “It is our goal to promote voter education and awareness among students.”

Events like these watch parties are just one example of the ways in which HISD works to keep students excited about their civic duty. The district partners annually with various community partners to hold the Civic Youth Summit, an event that connects students of and near voting age to community resources that will help them stay informed and vote with confidence.