Hello Abilene ISD,

The 2026-27 school year is right around the corner, and we’re excited to welcome our students and families back into our schools! Our mission is to equip every learner to make a positive impact in their world through relevant, innovative, and challenging learning experiences. As we strive to accomplish that mission in every classroom every day, it is critical that we share how we are doing with our community so you can continue to be our partners in educating our children. 

Today, I want to uphold our commitment to transparency by sharing the latest A-F accountability ratings information with you ahead of their public release by the Texas Education Agency. Together, we will celebrate our progress while taking ownership of areas where our performance does not yet meet the high standards we have set for Abilene ISD schools. I will also offer concrete examples of work that is already underway to address opportunities for improving systems and instruction across AISD.

Our district once again increased our overall rating to a score of 76. Our continued progress signals our momentum and demonstrates the value of developing instructional leaders at every level, investing in our teachers and classrooms, and accepting the challenge to innovate in service to our students. As of today, 30% of Abilene ISD students learn in A- or B-rated schools; our North Star Goal remains to increase that number to 75% by the 2028-29 school year. I am confident we have the people, resources, and determination necessary to make it happen.

High Schools Lead in Abilene

Abilene ISD is home to more than 3,800 high school students, and I am proud to share that every one of them has the opportunity to learn on an A- or B-rated campus:

• Abilene High School was the highest-rated comprehensive high school in Abilene in 2025 and once again improved its score to an 87. 

• Cooper High School raised its rating by five points to an 84, representing a nine-point improvement over two school years.

• ATEMS continues to sustain a tradition of academic excellence, scoring an incredible 97 and a fifth consecutive A rating.

• The Woodson Center for Excellence earned a second consecutive B rating with a score of 83.

These outstanding results are evidence of what is possible in Abilene ISD when campus leaders, teachers, support staff, and parents unite around promoting positive student outcomes, no matter what.

However, we also know that our responsibility to our students and families does not end when our graduates earn a diploma. We are committed to ensuring that every Abilene ISD student walks the graduation stage fully prepared for life after high school. That’s why I am thrilled to be able to say that every AISD high school improved in every College, Career, and Military Readiness (CCMR) measurement in 2025, and among our three degree-granting high schools, 89% of the Class of 2025 graduated college-, career-, or military-ready.

Taken together, our latest accountability ratings and CCMR successes mean that more Abilene ISD students than ever are receiving an outstanding high school education and leaving the district with college credit, industry credentials, military readiness, or other experiences that prepare them to take their next best step after high school.

Middle and Elementary Schools in Focus

Middle and elementary school performance continues to be a priority for Abilene ISD. We know that families want and expect a learning experience in grades K-8 that helps their children grow personally and achieve academically.

Mann STEAM Academy was launched as part of our focus on innovating how we offer learning experiences that best suit student needs. Led by Principal Chad Drake, Mann’s emphasis on student engagement in a new learning model showed tremendous results, as Mann improved its rating by nine points in one year to a score of 75. Craig continues to be the highest-rated middle school in AISD with a score of 76, and Madison (69) and Clack (67)  both continue to make progress with improved scores this year.

At the elementary level, the Bonham Elementary Bulldogs continue to lead the way by maintaining their B with a score of 82, a strong testament to the instructional leadership and high expectations of Principal Kevin Wellborn and his team.

Accelerating Improvement

Moving forward, improving academic outcomes for our elementary and middle school students is a critical focus point for Abilene ISD. Bold system-level changes like the implementation of a STEAM learning model at Mann have already shown significant and positive results. The launch of STEM academies at Bowie and Purcell elementaries is a similar step designed to offer enhanced learning experiences for more students.

The district also continues to invest in our instructional leaders and programs they are building to fit the teaching and learning needs of our campuses. To better support their work, we have secured a LIFT grant through the Texas Education Agency that will allow AISD to partner with Big Rock Education Services, a group that has helped districts across the state realize significant gains in student outcomes. Specifically, working with Big Rock will help us increase student engagement in every classroom, strengthen instruction and academic rigor, and develop instructional leaders at the district and campus levels.

Finally, like many Texas school districts, math instruction continues to be a challenge for Abilene ISD. However, I want to be clear: statewide trends do not change our responsibility to improve outcomes for our students. This year, we will implement a new elementary math curriculum and support our teachers with the training and resources necessary to deliver high-quality math instruction.

Students First, Always

I want to close by reminding you that these ratings provide one measure of our progress, but they do not tell the entire story of a student, a school, or our district. In Abilene ISD, we continue to believe that no single letter grade can capture everything that makes a school successful. At the same time, we believe in transparency and accountability for positive student outcomes as we pursue our North Star Goal.

We have work ahead of us to reach that goal, but I am encouraged that our strongest performing schools have shown us that it can be done. Reaching our North Star Goal will require the continued dedication of our educators, students, and leaders, along with the partnership and support of our families and community. We invite you to be part of that work as we continue building stronger schools and more opportunities for every student.

I am proud of the progress our students and educators have made. Our commitment to you is that we will do the work necessary to honor the choice our families make to attend Abilene ISD schools. Together, we will continue accelerating our momentum.

Have a great year, Abilene ISD!

Joe Waldron, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools