Highlands Elementary posts academic growth, principal cites house system and targeted strategies

Victoria Collins, principal of Highlands Elementary, presented a campus spotlight to the Cedar Hill ISD Board of Trustees outlining academic gains, demographics and ongoing challenges.

Collins reported Highlands moved from a TEA rating of 61 (D) to an 81 (B) year‑over‑year. She attributed gains to improved attendance, Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS), a house system to build student belonging and targeted instructional strategies such as the campus use of a “redraw” strategy for math problems and a district‑adopted math curriculum (Bluebonnet) that now is taught campus‑wide. Collins said math growth increased from 51% to 73% of students demonstrating growth on the STAR assessment and reading growth figures rose from 60% to 69% for meeting growth targets.

Campus demographics presented by Collins included approximately 67% Hispanic/Latino and about 30% Black/African American students, with roughly 50% of students enrolled in bilingual programs. Collins said 44 staff members were uncertified and that 50% of core tested teachers were uncertified — an ongoing staffing challenge the campus plans to address through coaching, targeted weekly planning and use of experienced mentors. She also cited classroom instructional resource gaps, new math curriculum adaptation for staff, and two classrooms with non‑functioning air conditioning that need attention.

Collins described campus supports: a new science lab developed with the innovation team, staff celebration and retention efforts, house rallies and family engagement events, and plans to track a set of 15 students for accelerated progress. Trustees praised the turnaround and asked follow‑up questions about sustaining growth and supports for uncertified staff.

Collins closed by saying the campus will continue to prioritize belonging, instructional coaching and parent engagement to aim for an "A" rating in the coming year.