Superintendent’s Message — A Season of Joy and a Celebration of Progress

Disponible en: Español

Dear Aldine ISD Family,

When I hold my grandson in my arms, it fills me with joy and reflection. He will graduate in 2043, and our current kindergarteners in 2038. As we celebrated Aldine ISD’s 90th anniversary, I thought about how these milestones reflect our ongoing commitment to shaping futures. We must continue to ensure the next generation — including my little “prince” and yours — has even more choices and opportunities than ever before.

As 2025 comes to a close, my heart is full of gratitude. This has been one of the most exciting years in Aldine ISD’s history. Our students are achieving at high levels, our educators and leaders are earning statewide and national recognition, and our community continues to support our mission. Most importantly, the data tells our story: Aldine ISD is on a powerful upward trajectory — and we are just getting started.

Before we head into midwinter break — thank you to all the student performers who brought the holiday cheer — I want to celebrate what we’ve accomplished together, thank each of you, and encourage rest, reflection, and renewal. Looking ahead, we remain committed to expanding opportunities and supporting student success, now and for years to come. Your dedication fuels our progress, and I am excited for what we will achieve together in 2026.

Putting Students First
Our mission is clear: every student graduates with choices and opportunities. In 2025, we saw that vision in action.

College, Career, and Military Readiness: Our CCMR rate has nearly doubled in recent years, climbing from about 45% to more than 80% for the Class of 2024. More graduates are leaving Aldine ready for college, high-wage careers, and military service.
GEAR UP Program: Middle school students now receive early, sustained support for college and career readiness through advising, tutoring, test preparation, exposure opportunities, and family engagement — helping them stay on track academically and make informed choices through their first year of college.
College Success Program: In partnership with the Young Women’s Preparatory Network, Aldine High School and Avalos P-TECH, students receive one-on-one guidance with college applications, financial aid, career pathways, and parent engagement — supporting up to 200 students each year.

The Class of 2025 earned more than $318 million in scholarships. For the first time, we celebrated graduates from 11 high schools, including La Promesa, a school created for recent immigrant and newcomer students. “A school called hope” is now a reality.

Our choice schools and specialized pathways are opening doors to futures once out of reach:

HEAL Program at Nimitz High School: Students prepare for careers in five healthcare pathways, gaining real-world experience, paid internships, and mentoring. Phase 2 groundbreaking this fall added specialized classrooms, a library, and a learning hub.
Davis High School Aviation Program: Students log flight hours and learn directly from industry professionals.
Cybersecurity 2+2 P-TECH Pathway: Students can earn a high school diploma and an associate degree while in high school, then transition seamlessly to a bachelor’s degree at the University of Houston-Downtown.

Across 30+ choice and specialty schools, students are pursuing engineering, fine arts, dual-language programs, single-gender leadership, CTE, early college, International Baccalaureate, and more, including partnerships such as the Accelerated College Academy with Lone Star College.

Recognition followed these efforts: Avalos P-TECH, Blanson CTE, and Victory Early College high schools were ranked among the nation’s best in the 2025–26 U.S. News & World Report Best High Schools. For the second consecutive year, Aldine ISD earned CTAT CTE District of Distinction, reflecting strong leadership, innovation, and workforce readiness.

From robotics and esports to mariachi, theater, orchestra, advanced academics, and athletics, Aldine students shone locally, statewide, and nationally. Programs like Destination Imagination, Academic Decathlon, and national arts competitions highlighted that talent is everywhere — and when given opportunity, it rises.

This is the heart of our Students First priority in the Accelerate strategic plan, our Portrait of a Graduate, and our Leadership Definition. Every decision must expand opportunities, remove barriers, and keep children at the center.

Leading With Instructional Excellence
One of the proudest moments of 2025 was leading the state in reading gains. Our success is driven by tracking progress and using data to guide instruction.

A few years ago, nearly half of our campuses carried D or F ratings. Thanks to the hard work of teachers, leaders, and students:

The number of F-rated campuses dropped from 21 in 2023 to just 4 in 2025 — with no F-rated elementary schools and no D/F-rated high schools.
Overall accountability scores rose 12 points, the highest in Region 4, meaning 26,000 more students are learning in higher-rated schools.

Following the state’s accountability appeal process, final district and campus ratings were confirmed, reflecting continued progress across Aldine ISD. While accountability systems continue to evolve, our focus remains steady: ensuring more students are learning in higher-rated schools and receiving the instruction and support they deserve. These results affirm the work happening every day in our classrooms.

This progress is the result of intentional focus on instructional excellence:

High-Quality Instructional Materials (HQIM): All classrooms have rigorous, standards-aligned lessons.
Teaching and Coaching: Strengthened strategies, walkthroughs, and coaching put principals and leaders where they are needed most — in classrooms supporting teachers and students.
Innovation: AI-powered supports, literacy initiatives, and programs for emergent bilingual students accelerate learning.

Organizations such as Children at Risk recognized Aldine as one of the most improved districts in the Houston area, highlighting our strong performance for economically disadvantaged students.

From early language development programs like OWL Labs with Rice University to advanced literacy initiatives, our students are responding to high-quality instruction and dedicated educators — showing that when we combine heart, hard work, and high-quality teaching, students thrive.

Thriving Teams Changing Lives
A thriving district depends on a thriving team. Aldine ISD’s nearly 9,000 employees are the heartbeat of our schools.

Through the Teacher Incentive Allotment, 754 teachers earned stipends, some exceeding $25,000, and over 100 now earn six-figure salaries while staying in the classroom. In total, $7.6 million went directly into teachers’ pockets last year.
Programs like SHINE Academy, campus mentors, and ongoing professional learning strengthened teacher growth.
Our staff continues to earn recognition across Texas and nationally, highlighting the talent and dedication of our teams.

Culture matters too. This year, we launched The Aldine Promise, a districtwide initiative emphasizing Prompt, Professional, Polite, and Proactive service. Whether on the phone, on campus, or at events, we want everyone to feel welcome, respected, and supported. Excellence extends beyond classrooms to every interaction.

Aligned Systems and Strong Stewardship
Even in a year of celebration, we remain honest about challenges, particularly declining enrollment, which impacts school funding. Aldine ISD’s history of strong financial stewardship ensures that classrooms and services are protected.

Through the Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas (FIRST), Aldine has consistently earned the highest rating, reflecting careful budgeting and responsible use of taxpayer dollars.
Bond 2023, a $1.8 billion investment, is transforming schools with major projects, including the rebuilds of Carver High, Aldine Middle, and Aldine High School, along with upgrades to technology, safety, and facilities.
The Aldine ISD Police Department earned state accreditation, enhancing safety across campuses.

Our Board of Trustees earned a 100% Master Trustee designation and the inaugural TASB Legacy Award, demonstrating a commitment to governance, continuous learning, and student success.
Aligned systems ensure that structures, budgets, facilities, and services work together to support teaching and learning.

A Community Writing Our #AldineStory
This year, our hashtag shifted to #AldineStory, and it has been inspiring to watch the story unfold.

Families engaged through initiatives like volunteering in schools, the Family Learning Summit and Family & Community University courses.
Partners, including Memorial Hermann, Bloomberg Philanthropies, EMERGE, Joe V’s Smart Shop, Texas Children’s Health Plan, universities, nonprofits, and businesses, invested time, resources, and expertise in our students.
The Aldine Education Foundation raised record-breaking funds for scholarships and innovative classroom projects.
Superintendent Ambassadors from all 11 high schools advocated for peers and shared student perspectives, helping us see Aldine through their eyes.

Each of these moments adds a chapter to #AldineStory — a story of resilience, progress, and deep love for children, learning, and our community.

Rest, Reflect, and Recharge
As we head into midwinter break, I speak directly to each of you:

Students: I am proud of your hard work in the classroom, on stage, on the field, and in your communities. Take time to rest, read, spend time with loved ones, and return ready to finish the year strong.
Teachers and Campus Staff: You are the heartbeat of Aldine ISD. Thank you for your commitment, relationship-building, and belief in our students. Please unplug, rest, and recharge — you cannot pour from an empty cup.
Leaders and Central Office Staff: Thank you for making hard decisions with students at the center and ensuring systems and resources support campuses. Your leadership makes a measurable difference.
Families and Community Partners: Thank you for trusting us, challenging us, and walking alongside us. Whether through volunteering, mentoring, sponsoring programs, or encouraging your child’s learning, your support was vital.

As 2025 closes, I am more hopeful than ever about Aldine ISD’s future. We are leading in reading gains, expanding opportunities, elevating teaching and learning, strengthening systems and customer service — and above all, doing it together.

From my family to yours, I wish you a Merry Christmas, happy holidays, and a joyful New Year. May this break be filled with rest, laughter, and moments that remind us why our work matters.

Thank you for being part of this incredible journey. I cannot wait to see what we accomplish together in 2026 as we continue to write the next chapter of our #AldineStory.

With gratitude,

Dr. LaTonya M. Goffney
Superintendent
Aldine ISD