Oaks parents who wanted to send their children there. Academics and gifted and talented designation Donald R. McAdams wrote that in 1995 River Oaks was "not really full of gifted children". He cited the fact that, at the time, HISD put ethnic balances on the gifted and talented roster, with no more than 35% White and Asian and at least 65% Black and Hispanic overall, leading many White and Asian children to be excluded. In addition McAdams cited the mechanisms for gifted testing at the time. As of 1995, under Texas state law a gifted child was defined as one in the 95th percentile. Testing for gifted and talented status took place at Kindergarten. McAdams wrote that many children identified as gifted under this formula were simply well-educated by their parents and that this became apparent in the third grade. However a school would not dismiss a child already identified as gifted at that point. In 1997 HISD removed the ethnic guidelines to Vanguard enrollment after a reverse discrimination lawsuit was filed in a federal court. McAdams wrote that in 1995, compared to other Vanguard programs River Oaks test scores were on the "low" side. McAdams stated that eight neighborhood schools in trustee district 5, his district, had higher average test scores than River Oaks. Those schools had minority enrollments from 27% to 52%. Attendance boundary and feeder patterns All students who are zoned to River Oaks are also zoned to Lanier Middle School, and Lamar High School. One condominium complex zoned to River Oaks Elementary is The Huntingdon. Notable alumni Jeff Bezos, former richest man in the world, founder and CEO of Amazon.com Linda Ellerbee Adrian Garcia (member of the Houston City Council) John Gray, author of Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus Fred Hofheinz (former Mayor of Houston) References Ferguson, Cheryl Caldwell. Highland Park and River Oaks: The Origins of Garden Suburban Community Planning in Texas. University of Texas Press, 2014. , 9780292759374. Kirkland, Kate Sayen. The Hogg Family and Houston: Philanthropy and the Civic Ideal. University of Texas Press, September 21, 2012. , 9780292748460. McAdams, Donald R. Fighting to Save Our Urban Schools-- and Winning!: Lessons from Houston. Teachers College Press, 2000. , 9780807770351. Ulmer, Francita Stuart. "Introduction." In: Becker, Ann Dunphy (contributor: George Murray). Houston's River Oaks. Arcadia Publishing, April 29, 2013. , 9780738596693. Notes https://www.houstonisd.org/domain/12283 See also External links River Oaks Parent Teacher