It's easy to feel discouraged after the mixed results from the latest STAAR data set. Last month, the Texas Education Agency released results showing that progress has slowed, with the percentage of students meeting standards dropping by one percentage point in Dallas County and across the state.

While this stagnation in reading and math scores on state school tests suggests that pandemic-related learning losses persist, a closer look at Dallas County school districts shows that some are bucking the trend.

One such outlier is Cedar Hill ISD, and its above-average performance is worth a closer look. In this district, the number of students meeting state standards in reading and math in fourth grade increased by more than five percentage points year over year. In sixth grade, the number of students meeting reading and math standards increased by over 10 percentage points, the Commit Partnership reported. The district has consistently improved its academic performance over the years.

What is Cedar Hill ISD doing? The answer points to a mix of practical academic strategies, consistency in school leadership, parent involvement and accountability. The old adage holds true: it takes a village. The progress is remarkable for a school district where two-thirds of the student body is economically disadvantaged.

Amber Shields, executive director of Early Matters Dallas in Commit, highlighted several strategies the district of about 7,000 students has implemented. These include early intervention for students at risk of failing a subject, professional development for a younger teaching staff and high-quality classroom materials. The district has also improved engagement with parents. Cedar Hill ISD conducts workshops to keep families informed and provide them with resources and materials for at-home support.

“That means these students are on track to achieve a living wage. … It starts with our students reaching those important milestones in school,” Shields told us.

Most importantly, the district has had consistent leadership. Gerald Hudson of Cedar Hill is one of three superintendents in Dallas County with tenures of five years or more. The other two are Ricardo López of Garland ISD and Magda Hernandez of Irving ISD.

Cedar Hill is not the only bright spot: According to Commit, performance gains in the DeSoto, Irving, Lancaster and Mesquite school districts also exceed the national average.

Across Texas, the overall picture is grim: Only 40% of eighth-graders are scoring on grade level or better in math. This picture urgently needs to change. The state's economic dynamism and innovation depend on a strong local talent pool.

While parents in other Dallas County districts may be disappointed with these districts' results, there is a silver lining: Many districts are using the right strategies to improve student scores, Shields said. But it takes time for results to become apparent.

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