high-school-age children zoned to Sharpstown chose to attend a different Houston ISD school. From 2002 to 2009, the graduating rate increased from 73.5% to 75.4%. Gretchen Gavett of Frontline said that the gain was "small." By 2010, Sharpstown High School had improved to a 587th U.S. national ranking. Texas Governor Rick Perry held a press conference on August 24, 2010 at Sharpstown HS to discuss education initiatives. Sharpstown was the focus of a PBS Frontline episode called "Dropout Nation," about a program implemented at Sharpstown to prevent dropouts. The episode followed four Sharpstown students at risk of dropping out. Youth criminal gangs Charles Rotramel, the owner of the nonprofit program Youth Advocates, stated in a 2006 Houston Chronicle article that Lee High School, Westbury High School, and Sharpstown High School have suffered from the actions of youth criminal gangs. By January 2006, on one internet bulletin board, gangs stated that they "run" Sharpstown High School; Terry Abbott, the Houston ISD spokesperson, denied all such statements. 2010s In 2012 the nonprofit Children at Risk ranked Sharpstown High as the second best "urban" (meaning a school with 50% or more of its student body being low income) comprehensive high school in the Houston area. In 2013 principal Rob Gasparello was charged by Harris County prosecutors with three counts of failing to report child abuse, and therefore he stayed off campus all year. In October of that year prosecutors dropped the charges, telling him that if he does not get into further legal trouble they would not charge him. In February 2015 HISD reassigned Gasparello after he was accused of hitting several students. In 2016 the board of education decided to terminate Gasparello's employment. A new Sharpstown High School facility opened in 2018. Campus By 1996 there were thirty-nine temporary buildings due to overcrowding, housing over 50% of the students on campus at a time, and the library also held classes. At that stage some teachers did not have their own dedicated classrooms. The building features were wearing out during that period. A bond passed in 1989, Renewal A, meant that the toilets had already been renovated by that time. Demographics As of 2003 the school had 1,650 students, most of them Hispanic and Latino, and African American. As of 2012 92% of the students were classified as low income. 2022 Rankings #10,384 in National Rankings #921 in Texas High Schools #165 in