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El Paso ISD reports attendance and graduation gains, will launch Safe Horizons with $1 million DOJ grant
Summary
Diana Saavedra, superintendent of the El Paso Independent School District, told the board this month that the district’s 2023–24 Texas academic performance report showed gains in attendance, a reduction in chronic absenteeism and an increased graduation rate in 2023 compared with the prior two years.
Diana Saavedra, superintendent of the El Paso Independent School District, told the board this month that the district’s 2023–24 Texas academic performance report showed gains in attendance, a reduction in chronic absenteeism and an increased graduation rate in 2023 compared with the prior two years. She also announced the district has been awarded a $1,000,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Stop School Violence program to launch Safe Horizons, a school safety initiative at four campuses.
The superintendent said the academic report and related financial summaries provide “an overview of our district's performance, financial reports, and progress toward our House Bill 3 goals.” Saavedra described the DOJ grant as funding that will “promote a positive school culture, improve campus safety, and enhance student support services” at Bowie High School, Guillen Middle School, Irvin High School and Magoffin Middle School.
Saavedra said the board received an update on the district’s partnership with the Holdsworth Center, describing it as the second year of a four‑year leadership-development collaboration meant to strengthen district and campus leadership, strategic problem solving and talent management. “Investing in leadership is investing in the future of our students,” she said.
The board took several formal approvals related to district operations. Saavedra said the board approved targeted improvement plans for campuses identified to receive comprehensive and focused support grants from the Texas Education Agency for the 2024–2025 school year, approved El Paso ISD’s participation in the Texas Spain Visiting Teacher Program to recruit educators for the district’s dual‑language work, and adopted the 2026–2027 academic calendar while approving revisions to the 2025–2026 calendar. The superintendent asked the public to review the full academic performance report on the district website, episd.org.
Votes at a glance: the board approved (vote tally not specified) the 2024–2025 targeted improvement plans for campuses identified by the Texas Education Agency; approved participation in the Texas Spain Visiting Teacher Program (vote tally not specified); and adopted the 2026–2027 academic calendar and approved revisions to the 2025–2026 calendar (vote tally not specified).
Saavedra closed by thanking families, staff and the community for their support and emphasizing the district’s priorities of student success, safety and expanded bilingual learning opportunities. “Transparency and accountability are essential as we strive to provide the best possible education for our students,” she said. For district materials and the full report, Saavedra directed the public to episd.org.
