Key Strategies for Improving Struggling Schools

For school leaders, turning around a struggling district can seem overwhelming. The challenges—such as academic underperformance, disengaged students, and overworked teachers—may seem impossible. But in my experience leading a district from an “F” to a “B” rating (we use an A–F accountability scale in Texas), I found that focused, targeted action rooted in transparency and data can truly make a difference. It’s not about doing everything at once; it’s about focusing on a few critical strategies and doing them well.

In this article, I’ll share the two most impactful strategies I’ve used: building trust through radical transparency and implementing targeted academic interventions using real-time data. While these strategies sound simple, their execution requires strong leadership and a willingness to address challenges head-on. For other school leaders facing similar struggles, focusing on these strategies can be a powerful catalyst for change.

Build Trust through Radical Transparency

One of the most critical steps in our district’s turnaround was building trust—not just with teachers but also with students, parents, and the broader community. This trust provided the foundation for all future change. However, building trust required radical transparency, which wasn’t always comfortable.

Keep an open dialogue with stakeholders. Too often, school leaders avoid difficult conversations about underperformance, assuming they will lead to resistance from teachers and parents. However, we found that opening a dialogue actually built stronger relationships. We invited feedback through town halls, surveys, and small group discussions, where we candidly discussed the district’s problems. This transparency allowed us to engage the entire community in the turnaround process.

For instance, during one of our first forums, teachers voiced frustrations about outdated curricula and a lack of support for struggling students. On the other hand, parents expressed concerns about the district’s poor communication. By openly acknowledging these issues in a public way, we showed the community that we were listening—and, most important, committed to addressing their concerns. This kind of engagement created the trust we needed to move forward.

Present data honestly. Being transparent about poor performance data is never easy, but it’s crucial for creating a sense of urgency. We confronted our district’s academic struggles head-on by presenting the data openly to our staff and parents rather than sugarcoating the situation. This allowed us to gain trust and mobilize support for necessary changes.

When we first shared the district’s academic data, we didn’t shy away from the reality that our students were underperforming in key areas like literacy and math. However, we paired the data with a clear, actionable plan for how we would improve. This transparency shifted the conversation from blame to problem-solving. The honesty we showed about our weaknesses gave the community confidence that we were serious about improving things—and helped them become part of the solution.

Implement Academic Interventions with Data-Driven Adjustments

While transparency set the stage, the real transformation came from focusing on specific academic interventions. Instead of tackling every problem at once, we concentrated on literacy as the foundation for overall academic improvement, using real-time data to guide and adjust our interventions.

Focus on literacy as a core academic intervention. Reading is fundamental to academic success in every subject. Our data showed that low literacy rates held our students back, so we prioritized literacy improvement. We implemented after-school tutoring, reading programs, and teacher professional development to ensure that students received support.

For example, we set a district-wide goal to increase reading proficiency by 10 percent in one year, though we knew that with consistent effort we could push that increase into the double digits—potentially 12 percent or more. To meet this target, we offered after-school tutoring for struggling readers and provided teachers with high-quality professional development through professional learning communities. We capitalized on school improvement funds to pay teachers for their after-school tutorial sessions, ensuring that their time and efforts were compensated. Concentrating on this single area showed notable improvements not only in reading but also in math scores, as well as boosting students’ overall academic confidence.

We also went into our communities and asked local vendors to donate incentive items, such as fast-food coupons and small prizes. As students mastered key concepts, they earned “Panther Bucks,” which they could use to enter a weekly prize drawing. This system motivated students to stay engaged, creating a positive reinforcement loop that kept them excited about learning.

At the same time, as teachers gained confidence in their instructional delivery—reflected in improved student outcomes on interim assessments, exit tickets, and other formative measures—their confidence shot through the roof. This was the boost they needed to feel valued, seen, heard, appreciated, and supported. As a result, this focused approach allowed us to make measurable progress where it was needed most.

Monitor progress with real-time data. To ensure that our interventions worked, we used real-time data to track student progress and adjust as needed. Implementing programs and hoping for the best wasn’t enough—we needed to be proactive in identifying what worked and what didn’t.

Every two weeks, we held data meetings with principals and teachers to review student performance. We used formative assessments and quick quizzes to track how students responded to the literacy and math interventions. When the data showed that certain students or schools weren’t making progress, we adjusted our approach—whether by adding more support for specific students or refining instructional methods. This constant feedback loop allowed us to course-correct quickly and ensure that we were continuously improving. 

Revitalize Your School Culture with Positive Behavioral Supports

Academic success doesn’t happen in a vacuum—school culture is critical to student outcomes. As part of our overall strategy, we introduced Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) to improve school culture and create an environment that fostered academic growth.

For instance, after implementing PBIS, we saw a significant reduction in behavioral issues, translating into more focused learning environments. With fewer disruptions, students were more engaged in class, which directly impacted their academic performance. By addressing academic and behavioral challenges, we created a school culture where students could thrive.

Real Change is Within Reach

Turning around a struggling school district is no easy act. Still, real change is achievable by focusing on building trust through radical transparency and implementing targeted academic interventions guided by real-time data. These two impactful strategies were the foundation of our district’s success and can serve as a blueprint for other school leaders facing similar challenges. 

The path to improvement may be difficult, but the results can be transformative with the right focus and a commitment. If you’re leading a district through tough times, my advice is simple: Be honest with your community and let data guide your decisions. The effort is worth it, and the impact on your students’ lives will be profound.