The RISE Initiative is HISD’s plan to improve three of its most challenged schools. We will be implementing the Accelerating Campus Excellence (ACE) Initiative at each RISE Strong campus: Patrick Henry Middle School, Highland Heights Elementary School, and Wheatley High School. 

• We chose the schools by utilizing various data points including: records of state student achievement and growth, state ratings, and other contextual data including but not limited to: attendance rates, discipline, and mobility rates. 
• We know that all schools in the District deserve intensive supports. We hope to learn from best practices in this small-scale implementation and expand the program in the coming school years. 

Your student will have access to the most effective teachers and school leaders in HISD, high quality learning materials, more advanced placement courses, after school tutoring and enrichment, and social and behavioral supports to help them learn.

Every RISE Strong school will have after school programming available to every student, free of charge. Each school will also provide breakfast, lunch, and dinner for every student. RISE schools will have a dedicated campus-based wraparound specialist to address family needs. Additionally, each campus team will design and host monthly family engagement and support sessions to address the needs of individual campus communities. Every student at a RISE Strong campus will have access to after school tutoring and enrichment activities with transportation and an evening meal provided.

Any student currently attending one of these schools will still be able to attend that campus. 

ACE is one of the most effective school improvement strategies in the country and it was developed right here in Texas. It has a track record of improving student outcomes in Dallas and Aldine ISDs and we believe it is the quickest way to help these campuses do better for students.

ACE is designed to transform the entire school experience. It doesn’t just add new or different positions, it fully redesigns that staffing at a school to match the best educators with the kids who need them most. Unlike previous initiatives, it then goes one step further and provides new curriculum materials, extended learning time, and real time teacher coaching and progress monitoring to make sure teachers are reaching every student. 

Schools will participate in the RISE Initiative for a minimum of three years and will remain in the Transformation Schools Cohort for a minimum of five years. 

More information can be found on the HISD RISE Website and https://bestinclass.org/toolkits/ace.