Reagan High School senior Lily Vargas smiled widely after her first cheerleading performance of the 2013–14 school year Aug. 26.

"We did better than we thought we would," she said.

Vargas, one of the 86,000 students in Austin ISD heading back to school Aug. 26, cheered on the Reagan Raiders as part of a kickoff ceremony at the campus with the drumline, cheerleaders, dance line, AISD staff and board members. Superintendent Meria Carstarphen discussed district plans for the year, reminded attendees about safety in school zones and noted academic achievement has improved at schools throughout the district, including Reagan.

"Reagan has made such a tremendous effort to turn itself around," Carstarphen said, explaining: "Only five years ago, this school had graduation rates hovering around 50 percent, and now the graduation rate for Reagan is 81 percent. You've done a great, great job."

Carstarphen noted Reagan's early college high school program, now in its third year, has been successful in helping students earn credits for college. For the 2013–14 school year, the district will continue that program and others emphasizing a college-ready culture.

Not all Austin ISD schools met the Texas Education Agency's 2013 district standards for postsecondary readiness, student achievement, student progress, and closing performance gaps, according to the TEA's accountability summary released Aug. 8.

Carstarphen said AISD plans to shift away from a culture based around high-stakes testing and instead build a college-ready culture. Among the key focus areas AISD has identified for the new year is increasing its emphasis on literacy, Carstarphen said.

Chief Academic Officer Pauline Dow said literacy is not only about reading, but is also about reinforcing students' abilities to think, learn and express ideas.

"When all of our students can develop strong literacy skills with no missing links, then it's totally possible to provide our students with an educational experience that would shatter the achievement records, rapidly increase graduation rates and really ensure that every student that walks across the stage [at graduation] has what they need to be successful, productive, family-supporting citizens ready for college and career."

For Vargas, one of the biggest challenges of her senior year will be waking up early for cheerleading practice, she said. Still, she aims to remain focused, as she hopes to attend a Texas university and study nursing after graduation.

"I'm scared of slacking off, like, just lowering my grades down," she said. "But I think cheerleading is going to help since I have to be on top [of my grades] to do it."