LISD report puts English learners' graduation rate at a five-year high, with 209 classrooms still expected to need certification waivers

Lewisville ISD's students who are learning English graduated at a 91.1% rate, the highest in five years, according to the district's annual review of its bilingual and English as a Second Language programs.

The evaluation is on the agenda for trustees on Tuesday, Oct. 13, when the board's regular session begins at 6 p.m. State rules require districts to evaluate these programs every year and present the results to the board before Nov. 1. Lewisville ISD's campuses include The Colony High School and other schools in the city.

What the numbers show

The report, which mostly covers the 2025-26 school year, says 846 students were reclassified as English proficient in 2026, a rate of 8.4%. Students who leave the programs are still monitored, and those former English learners scored 95% at Approaches or above on STAAR, 82% at Meets or above and 46% at Masters.

Results for students still in the programs are lower. In 2025, the district's bilingual programs reported 26% of students at Meets or above and 8% at Masters, while ESL programs reported 34% and 11%. Staff note that state TELPAS English proficiency results shift as reclassified students leave the group and newcomers enter at different levels.

Elementary campuses use one-way and two-way dual language models, and ESL is delivered through pull-out and content-based classes. Pull-out ESL served 54% of students receiving ESL services last year, content-based ESL 33%, and an alternative program tied to waivers 13%.

The certification gap

The district still relies on state exceptions and waivers when it cannot staff classrooms with certified bilingual or ESL teachers. Last school year, 100 teachers serving 1,478 students worked under bilingual exceptions, and 172 teachers serving 975 students worked under ESL waivers. That was down from 145 and 174 teachers the year before.

For 2026-27, the district expects 94 bilingual exceptions affecting 1,521 students and 115 ESL waivers affecting 530 students. Of the teachers in last year's exception and waiver groups, 110 earned certification, and 310 teachers and 30 aides took part in summer training. The district's stated goal is to cut exceptions and waivers by 25%.

The evaluation does not cover the district's separate Spanish Immersion Program. The item is listed for information and discussion, with no vote required.

Sources

meetings.boardbook.org

meetings.boardbook.org

meetings.boardbook.org