Many Houston-area kids head back to school

Safety top priority for school districts

HOUSTON – Monday marks the end of summer and the beginning of boarding buses and stuffing backpacks for many students in the Houston area.

With more than 210,000 students, the Houston Independent School District is the largest public school system in Texas and the seventh largest in the country.

The district's newly appointed superintendent, Richard Carranza, said he's excited about his first day in Houston.

"I understand I'm going to cover 60 miles (and) six different schools, so I'm really excited about it," Carranza said. "You can tell a lot about a school when you walk in and how it feels, so I'm going to be looking for how schools feel."

VIDEO: Back-to-school with Klein ISD

Police are also on the look out for students and their safety. Klein Independent School District Police Chief David Kimberly said his department has been preparing for the school year all summer.

"The first week of school is always going to be heavier than normal traffic until everyone gets into a routine," Kimberly said. "We make sure we have officers available in the morning and the afternoon to assist with traffic control (and) to help parents in and out."

Klein ISD Superintendent Bret Champion said his 50,000 students need to know how they're getting to and from school and what they're going to eat while they're at school.

Champion also emphasized the importance of attendance.

PHOTOS: KPRC viewer's share their back-to-school pics

"We're able to to teach them when they're in school, so we need to work together, partner together, to make sure that happens."

In Humble, the Real-Mayorga family had five children to get ready for the first day of first grade.

Mother Veronica Real-Mayorga said she's got getting her quintuplets ready for school down to a science, and it's all about preparation. She said she uses the night before each day to get things ready for her kids.

Despite all the hectic mornings in her future, she said she's excited for the opportunities awaiting her children.

VIDEO: Humble quintuplets get ready for first grade

"Even though it's a long ride to the school they're going to, they will learn violin, and three of them were doing it last year. Hopefully, all of them will learn violin this year." Veronica Real-Mayorga said. "They have dance and other activities that I know they will like."

While most students in the Houston area start school Monday, some students begin their school year Tuesday.