The Rewards of Perseverance: A Case Study of Aldine Independent School District (AISD)

The Rewards of Perseverance tells the story of a district with a clear vision, stable leadership, and deliberate evolution in response to change. Located just north of Houston, AISD has faced daunting challenges since the 1990s—including a significant increase in high-need students, and more rigorous state tests. At the same time, the district has achieved impressive student outcomes, narrowed achievement gaps, and maintained a high graduation rate. 

Rather than address challenges one school at a time, AISD took a long-term, "whole-system" approach to reform focused on creating the conditions for great teachers and school leaders to succeed.

This case study is the second in a series where we track the transformation journeys of leading districts in the context of School System 20/20. After a decade of partnering with urban school districts nationwide, ERS has seen an array of challenges but also beacons of hope. Drawing from this experience, we created School System 20/20, a vision for school system success and a series of asssments that allow districts to measure and monitor how well they use their resources—people, time, and money—to support excellent instruction. 

Our first case study, Back from the Brink, examined the rapid, encouraging progress of Lawrence Public Schools, located in the Boston area.

Executive summary of The Rewards of Perseverance (PDF)

Full case study of The Rewards of Perseverance (PDF)

Take Action:

• School System 20/20 Discussion Questions for District Leadership Teams: Form a small discussion group to consider the lessons that LPS and AISD provide for your district.
• ERS Circles Discussion Thread: Post your comments and read those of other education leaders. Debate, question, and expand your thinking. 
• The School System 20/20 Overview: Learn more about School System 20/20.
• Resource Check: Assess how well your district uses its resources—people, time, and money—using School System 20/20 as a guide.
• School System 20/20 Diagnostic Assessments: Take a more in-depth look at your district's practices and policies, using the diagnostic assessment used in the case studies.

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