San Antonio Independent School District officials walked through Graebner Elementary on Oct. 21 to showcase the new “High 5” teaching model that will be used in every classroom from preschool through high school. The rollout, announced at the start of October, is a centerpiece of Superintendent Adrian Bustillos’ effort to reverse a wave of failing school ratings and avoid state intervention.
What the “High 5” entails
The model rests on five principles: a uniform board configuration, frequent checks for understanding, professional learning communities, rigorous data tracking, and regular walk‑throughs by principals and district leaders. Teachers will use the same core lessons district‑wide, arrange desks in groups of at least two for “turn‑and‑talk” discussions, and employ daily exit tickets to pinpoint student struggles.
Each desk is marked “A” or “B,” and students are prompted to discuss a question every seven to eight minutes. Whiteboards are used for practice problems, and a “RACE” strategy (Restate, Answer, Cite evidence, Explain) is posted on every desk to guide responses.
Why the district is pushing the change
Currently, 34 of SAISD’s 80 schools carry a failing rating from the Texas Education Agency, with three schools posting four consecutive failing scores. State law threatens a district‑wide takeover if a fifth failing rating is recorded in the 2026‑27 school year. Bustillos warned, “If we keep everything the same, the status quo, our destiny is already selected for us.”
By standardizing instruction and data collection, the district hopes to raise schools like Graebner Elementary—last year a D‑rated campus—up to a B rating. Principal Laura Hernandez‑Lopez believes the model will help her teachers focus on core skills while still allowing flexibility to add enrichment.
Union criticism and district response
The San Antonio Alliance of Teachers and Support Personnel, the district’s union, called the plan “unnecessarily prescriptive” and “too rigid,” arguing it stifles teacher autonomy. Union president Alejandra Lopez said the district should concentrate resources on the most troubled campuses rather than impose a one‑size‑fits‑all system.
District leaders counter that the standards represent a minimum baseline, not a ceiling. “The High 5 standards are the minimum teachers can do, and they can always add to the lessons and personalize instruction,” said Hilarion Martinez, SAISD’s Chief of Schools. He added that the model is designed to give students more voice in their learning, noting that “we want to be intentional about the students being able to have that opportunity to have discourse.”
Data‑driven accountability
Teachers meet weekly in professional learning communities that include principals and academic coaches to review student progress. At Graebner, administrators conduct classroom walk‑throughs at least three times a day, offering coaching and feedback.
Students maintain “data binders” that track their STAAR scores, quiz results, and unit test performance, allowing them to set personal goals and see class‑wide trends on wall‑mounted charts. This focus on transparent data is intended to keep every campus—whether A‑ or F‑rated—aligned with district expectations.
Implications for school choice
SAISD, known for its robust school‑choice options and out‑of‑district enrollment, says the High 5 will strengthen its appeal to families. “The High 5 alone will not move this district forward, but we believe that when our students see consistent, high‑quality instruction, it reinforces why families choose SAISD,” Martinez said.
With 33 schools already earning A or B ratings, district officials argue that elevating the remaining campuses will protect the district from state takeover and preserve the autonomy that allows families to select schools beyond their neighborhood zones.
Looking ahead
Implementation will continue through the 2026‑27 school year, with district leaders monitoring test scores, teacher feedback, and parent input. While the union remains skeptical, Bustillos and his team are confident that the “High 5” framework provides the structure needed to turn around academic performance and keep SAISD under local control.
Original reporting: San Antonio Report — read the source article.
