Dear KISD Family,
We want to be clear and transparent about state accountability requirements and what they mean for our community. Killeen ISD recently received a letter from the Texas Education Agency (TEA) directing us to submit campus turnaround plans for Manor Middle School, Palo Alto Middle School, and Eastern Hills Middle School by November 14, 2025.
Turnaround plans are required when schools receive consecutive “unacceptable” state accountability ratings. The plans require campuses to improve student outcomes through specific interventions such as staff changes, enhanced training, curriculum adjustments, and, in some cases, a modified school day or a restart model.
Manor Middle School and Palo Alto Middle School are currently in year three of earning an F rating, while Eastern Hills Middle School is in year two.
This work matters to the entire district, even if you are not directly connected to one of these school communities.
Under state law, persistent unacceptable ratings trigger escalating interventions: after three consecutive years, the commissioner may appoint a conservator to provide oversight, which reduces local control. If a campus reaches five consecutive years, the commissioner must either appoint a board of managers to govern the district or order the closure of the campus.
District leaders are evaluating proven options and innovative approaches, including ACE (Accelerating Campus Excellence) and SB 1882 Partnership models. Community feedback will inform our recommendation to the Board of Trustees in October. We have already gathered input through three District Optimization town hall meetings, and additional discussions will be scheduled for late October – watch for more details soon.
If you haven’t already, be sure to complete our District Optimization Survey by October 3 at killeenisd.org/optimization-survey. This is an important way to share your perspective on the options the district is considering.
Thank you for standing with our schools. I strongly believe that Killeen ISD is up to the challenge, but it will take the entire community working together to support our students and educators.
Sincerely,
Dr. King Davis
Interim Superintendent