Spotlight Series Texas: High-Poverty Schools That Are Raising The Bar

It is widely acknowledged that students from low-income backgrounds often face significant barriers to accessing quality education, and these challenges have only been exacerbated by the disruptions brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Demography does not, however, always have to equal destiny. Despite systemic inequities, there are shining examples of schools with high percentages of students from low-income backgrounds that have achieved remarkable success in either student proficiency, student growth, or both.

This report aims to showcase that strong academic achievement is attainable even within Texas’s highest poverty schools.

READ MORE on how Texas is RAISING THE BAR!

By examining the strategies and practices implemented by these “spotlight schools” via surveys and interviews with school leaders, we seek to uncover what has worked to achieve these positive academic outcomes. We identified 62 high-poverty schools that have achieved high proficiency rates or demonstrated significant growth in math and/or ELA on the 2023 Student Assessment for Academic Readiness (STAAR).

While there is no singular formula for fostering academic excellence, leaders of these Texas spotlight schools shared four common themes:

Data-Driven Decision-Making: Frequent data cycles and live data are vital for monitoring mastery of state standards, informing appropriate student interventions, and providing targeted professional development and coaching. This strategy requires that principals build data literacy among fellow administrators, teachers, and students so that they understand how to collect and utilize data to improve outcomes.
Small Group Instruction: Identifying students who are falling behind and providing tailored, small-group instruction to address knowledge gaps is essential to support all students in achieving mastery of state standards.
High Quality Instructional Materials: Evidence-based curricula coupled with aligned educator supports are essential for providing effective core instruction.
Capacity Building: Competitive salaries, meaningful professional development, and targeted coaching are vital components of attracting, retaining, and supporting effective teachers.

To encourage these school- and district-level strategies, Texas has statewide policies aligned with each of these four themes, including: strong, aligned state standards through the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS), High-Impact Tutoring (HB 4545 & HB 1416), High-Quality Instructional Materials (HB 1605), and the Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA). Spotlight schools participated in these opportunities at higher rates than other, lower-performing schools, leveraging state funding and guidance to launch new initiatives.