Celebrating districts: how Cedar Hill ISD continues to make strides in education

As we highlight Dallas County districts demonstrating strong academic improvement in key areas that lead to the best student outcomes, the Cedar Hill Independent School District stands out for its significant progress in several critical subjects during the six-year tenure of Superintendent Gerald Hudson. Through his leadership, and the support of an engaged board of trustees, students now have access to more opportunities meant to ensure they are well-prepared for success beyond the classroom.

One of Cedar Hill ISD’s most impressive accomplishments is the remarkable growth students have shown in Texas Success Initiative (TSI) readiness. The TSI is an assessment measuring how well students are prepared for postsecondary education in the subjects of reading and math. Cedar Hill ISD has seen notable gains, growing the number of students meeting “college ready” standards by 42 percentage points from 2021 to 2023.

For students to graduate ready for life after high school, it is critical that they meet grade-level expectations in key subjects like math and reading.  From 2021 to 2024, Cedar Hill ISD saw an 11-percentage point increase in the number of students meeting grade level expectations in third grade reading on the STAAR assessment. These students demonstrated even more significant growth in math, with the percentage of students meeting standards in 4th grade math climbing 16 points in the same three-year period.

Cedar Hill ISD is building a strong foundation that sets students on the path to future success, and this progress is reflected across the district. According to internal Commit  analysis of district and campus performance that adjusts for student demographic factors such as student mobility and economic disadvantage, the outcomes produced by CHISD’s college preparatory campuses ranks them in the top 25% of the entire state.  This same performance analysis also demonstrates that Waterford Oaks Elementary, Permenter Middle School, and Plummer Elementary were some of the most rapidly improving campuses in Dallas County from 2021 to 2024.

Key to their success are data-driven interventions for struggling students and targeted professional development for teachers. The district was an early adopter of high-quality instructional materials and also benefits from the Teacher Incentive Allotment, which rewards and retains highly effective educators. Finally, the stability of leadership under Dr. Hudson – one of only two Superintendents in Dallas County with a tenure over five years – has ensured a consistent strategic vision that has been recognized and rewarded by school community members by the recent passage of major tax ratification and bond packages.

Their forward-thinking approach is creating high-quality educational experiences for its students. With strong leadership, dedication, and a supportive culture, Cedar Hill ISD will continue to set high standards and create opportunities for all students to thrive in higher education and beyond.

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