Navigating the System

EAGLE STADIUM, ALLEN

LITTLE ELM ISD

SIZE: 7,768 students, pre-K through 12 KEY ATTRIBUTES: Little Elm ISD offers a smaller community feel with big opportunities for students and families. We are a one-high school district where we are all Lobos. This unique characteristic sets us apart from other districts in our area. We offer a multitude of opportunities for our students, families, and community to explore a robust educational experience. PHILOSOPHY: The Mission of Little Elm ISD is: to engage, equip, and empower each student to realize their full potential. The vision of the Little Elm ISD community is to be “THE destination district.”

LOVEJOY ISD

SIZE: 4,400, pre-K through 12 KEY ATTRIBUTES: Lovejoy ISD is one of four school districts in Texas achieving the high rating of an A and 97 percent. Lovejoy ISD will always be a district with just one high school, with a projected enrollment not to exceed 1,900 students. Lovejoy is a Pre-AP-for-all school district and requires each senior to complete a senior project to satisfy the Lovejoy ISD graduation requirements. PHILOSOPHY: The mission of the Lovejoy ISD is as follows: A school in partnership with parents and community, committed to providing opportunities for students to reach their academic and personal potential in a changing world. In Lovejoy we work to ensure that each student is: intellectually equipped, open to the challenges of learning, well-rounded, fair and respectful of others, engaged in a healthy lifestyle, and working for justice through community service.

MANSFIELD ISD

SIZE: 35,256 students, pre-K through 12 KEY ATTRIBUTES: Mansfield ISD is a Texas Education Agency “A” Rated School District. Mansfield ISD is a highly sought-after school district, and the community recognizes that it’s a great place to live, learn, and teach. The district spans across Johnson and Tarrant County and encompasses sections of Mansfield, Arlington, Grand Prairie, and small portions of Burleson, Fort Worth, Venus, Alvarado, and Kennedale. PHILOSOPHY: Mansfield ISD is a destination district committed to excellence. The mission of Mansfield ISD is to inspire and educate students to be productive citizens. The values of the district are: students first, continuous improvement, integrity, communication, positive relationships, and resiliency. Vision 2030, Mansfield ISD’s current strategic plan, started in July 2021.

PHOTO: ANDREW SMITH

MAYPEARL ISD

SIZE: 1,165 students, pre-K through 12 KEY ATTRIBUTES: Maypearl ISD is located west of Waxahachie and south of Midlothian in scenic Ellis County. Maypearl ISD is a smaller district that offers great opportunities for our students without losing the hometown environment. We may be small, but we have a big future ahead! PHILOSOPHY: Our staff work hard to teach and care for each of our students like they are our own. We have a very positive and supportive environment among our parents and community. The mission of Maypearl ISD, a tradition-rich community, is to cultivate the unique potential of all students through innovative education. The vision of Maypearl ISD, where all learners will embrace their unique potential to excel, is for students to serve others and own their future. At Maypearl ISD, we value: every student as our first priority; building relationships; safe, secure environments; collaboration and teamwork for all; and a commitment to excellence.

MCKINNEY ISD

SIZE: 24,700 students, pre-K through 12 KEY ATTRIBUTES: McKinney ISD is one of the few school districts in Texas that establishes middle and high school attendance-zone boundaries based on socioeconomic factors. This approach allows the district to maintain greater socioeconomic parity among its secondary schools, and this results in greater opportunities for all of our students. MISD boasts a number of innovative career and technology education programs. The district offers an aviation program and is one of the few public high school programs in the country featuring an FAA-approved flight simulator upon which students can log flight hours toward their pilot certification. Aviation course offerings prepare students to pursue careers as pilots or aviation mechanics. The district also offers a dual-language program affording students an opportunity to become fluent in both English and Spanish at the conclusion of the program. The program is currently offered at Caldwell Elementary in all grade levels. The classes at Caldwell comprise approximately one-half native English speakers and one-half native Spanish speakers. Students learn the academic curriculum through both languages simultaneously. Students serve as language models for each other, while accelerating their learning. PHILOSOPHY: We are a cohesive, diverse community providing engaging learning experiences for all. We will provide engaging learning experiences so students can become effective communicators, quality contributors, and socially responsible citizens.

MESQUITE ISD

SIZE: 40,000 students, pre-K through 12 KEY ATTRIBUTES: A cultural shift is underway in the Mesquite ISD community thanks to Mesquite ISD’s ReadPlayTalk (RPT) initiative. RPT is our research-based, community- supported initiative to champion early childhood literacy among our students. Through volunteer, business, organization, and campus partnerships, we are encouraging parents and guardians to read, play, and talk with their children from birth. Our goal by 2020: all third-graders will be on a grade 3 reading level. Reaching this milestone statistically quadruples the odds for these students to graduate high school. In Fall 2021, MISD opened Vanguard High School,a school of choice serving students who are interested in a nontraditional high school experience. Students can choose from 16 different programs of study and earn multiple industry certifications, as well as dual credit. The campus opened with 500 freshmen and 500