At a recent Willis Independent School District (WISD) board meeting, trustees unanimously approved improvement plans for four campuses that received the lowest grades in the state’s A‑F accountability system. The plans, presented by Susan Clardy, the district’s Executive Director of Continuous Improvement and Accountability, lay out specific math and reading targets that the schools must meet before the Texas Education Agency reviews their progress in June.
Schools and Current Grades
Hardy Elementary earned an F with a composite score of 58. Cannan Elementary slipped to a D (67) after a C (78) the prior year. Brabham Middle School held a C (74) but was flagged because students identifying as two or more races missed state targets. Lynn Lucas Middle School, the district’s success story, rose from a D (64) to a C (78) this year.
Math Focus for Hardy Elementary
Hardy’s turnaround plan centers on the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) math component. Of the 115 students who took the test, 101 remained in the “did not meet expectations” category. The campus currently scores 30 on the STAAR math component; the district aims for a 42, which would lift the school to a C rating. Additionally, Hardy targets a 40 % “meets expectations” rate in math, up from the present 24 %.
Re‑Elevating Cannan Elementary
Cannan’s overall score of 67 reflects an 11‑point drop from last year’s 78 and falls three points short of the 70 needed to retain a C rating. The improvement plan calls for raising the STAAR component exam score from 41 to 47. Math growth currently sits at 44 %; the district’s goal for 2027 is a 61 % growth rate.
Closing Gaps at Brabham Middle School
Although Brabham maintained its C rating, the district highlighted disparities for students of two or more races, who missed federal benchmarks. The school’s current “meets expectations” rates are 47 % in reading and 32 % in math. The plan sets a target of 55 % in both subjects by June 2027 and includes tracking the progress of multiracial students individually.
Sustaining Success at Lynn Lucas Middle School
Lynn Lucas Middle School will focus on sustaining its recent gains. After climbing from a D (64) to a C (78), the school’s year‑two goal is to maintain growth in math, narrow achievement gaps and improve attendance rates.
Board Action and Next Steps
At the close of the presentation, the WISD board of trustees voted to adopt all four improvement plans, which will be implemented over the next school semester. The district will submit a detailed progress report to the Texas Education Agency in June, allowing state officials to assess whether the schools have met their targets.
What This Means for Willis Families
Parents and community members can expect more focused instruction, data‑driven monitoring and transparent reporting as the district works to lift these campuses out of the low‑scoring bracket. The plans reflect Willis ISD’s commitment to academic excellence and to providing every child—especially those who have struggled—with the resources needed to succeed.
Original reporting: Community Impact — Houston — read the source article.
