Belton ISD reports midyear gains; district projects exceeding some House Bill 3 goals
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Summary
District staff told trustees midyear literacy and math indicators are improving, with projections showing third-grade reading and growth targets above House Bill 3 benchmarks; fourth grade was identified as a focus for additional intervention and targeted supports.
Belton ISD presented a midyear academic progress update at its Feb. 2 board meeting in which district leaders said Renaissance and district benchmark data point to measurable gains in both math and reading for the 2025'26 school year.
Gabby, the district's academic lead, told trustees that the district projects 60% of third-graders will perform at "meets" or above in reading at year end, exceeding the district's House Bill 3 target of 52%. She said the district is also on track for growth measures that indicate at least 50% projected growth for students in grades 3 through Algebra 1.
On math, the district reported larger movements in the masters band and said Algebra 1 gains are significant at the high school level. Gabby said the district is using a set of vertically aligned "priority standards" to focus instruction and to move students from concrete to abstract problem solving.
Fourth grade flagged as a target: Trustees and staff noted that fourth grade shows more cognitive complexity and is an area for prescriptive, campus-level responses. District staff said they have identified individual students and standards of concern and are providing targeted supports, professional learning communities (PLCs), and coaching to improve outcomes.
Hope Squad and partnerships: The presentation also highlighted districtwide implementation of "Hope Squad" (student peer-support groups) at all levels and 21 community partnerships that support learning opportunities, including a research partnership with UMHB to measure program effectiveness.
Next steps: District staff said they will continue to monitor benchmarks and implement targeted interventions, replicate high-growth campus practices, and provide monthly progress checks to the board.