The initiative began last year after the district received the School Action Fund grant from the Texas Education Agency. After one year focused on planning, several campuses are now in the first of a two-year implementation process.
The background
Spring Meadows Elementary and Woodlake Hills Middle School have adopted a college preparatory focus with rigorous academics and leadership development.
These two schools were selected to create a Pre-K through 12th-grade pipeline focused on future and college readiness. During the planning year, the campuses explored what a college prep model would look like, including how to implement and evaluate it effectively.
The goal is to build a strong, replicable model that can be scaled across the district to boost student outcomes, Accountability and Innovation Director Denise Jones said.
Each school received $200,000 for the planning year and $1 million to support the first two years of implementation, funding professional learning, staff development and resources like the Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program.
How it’s going
These innovative models aim to empower students with the tools and experiences they need to thrive in high school, college and future careers.
“We're ultimately getting students ready for post-secondary success, whether that's going to college, a technical school or the military, we want them college and career ready,” Jones said.
Jones said these new initiatives have increased enthusiasm for teachers at multiple campuses.
“We see people who are falling in love with teaching even more with this embedded support and these high-quality materials,” Jones said. “You can tell when you walk onto the campuses.”
Spring Meadows College Prep Academy Principal Sharon Balderas said the program has similarly impacted teachers at her school.
"The [grant] has improved our teachers because they are growing stronger relationships with one another, curriculum, students, and families,” Balderas said. “The teachers are making learning fun and meaningful."
John Griffin, Principal at Woodlake Hills College Prep said the new initiatives have increased student engagement in the classroom as well.
“Because of the hands-on activities—specifically in math—our students get excited as they are learning new concepts,” he said.
Balderas said she has also seen more collaboration in the classroom.
“It is pretty impressive to see two 5 year olds turn and have a conversation with one another,” she said. “You can see them engaging in academic conversation.”
What’s next
The district is gradually phasing in the model by grade level and newly designed school models, allowing time for proper training and adjustments to ensure success.
As part of this phased-in approach, individual campuses are piloting key elements of the curriculum in advance.
In preparation for the 2025–26 school year, Griffin said Woodlake Hills College Prep has begun training staff and piloting the Carnegie curriculum with seventh grade students. This pilot has helped the seventh grade team build familiarity with the material and gain valuable experience ahead of full implementation next year.
"We want the families to know that we are committed to the important task of preparing the students with a strong foundation so that they are not only on grade level, but by the time they leave SMCP that the majority of students are above grade level,” Balderas said. “This ensures our students are prepared for middle school, high school, and college. Spring Meadows College Prep students will be able to choose any pathway they want in life."
Looking ahead, Judson ISD hopes to continue expanding school choice options across the district. Through strategic planning and community partnerships, district leaders aim to equip students with the tools, resources, and real-world experiences they need to thrive.
Find out more
Applications for the 2025-26 school year at Spring Meadows College Prep Academy and Woodlake Hills College Prep are now open.
“Our mission is to empower students with the knowledge and skills needed to excel in high school, college, and their careers,” Griffin said. “We believe students learn best when they have access to rigorous academics, real-world application and responsive instruction.”
Families interested in enrolling their child in Judson ISD can explore school options and complete the registration process online at www.judsonisd.org/registration.
The above story was produced by Multi Platform Journalist Mary Katherine Shapiro with Community Impact's Storytelling team with information solely provided by the local business as part of their "sponsored content" purchase through our advertising team.
