State would take over district if two Nacogdoches ISD schools don’t improve

NACOGDOCHES, Texas — Two Nacogdoches ISD elementary schools have failed state standards for four years in a row, leaving the district one year to improve before the state takes over.

Mike Moses Elementary and Brook Quinn Jones Elementary have received failing grades for four consecutive years, according to the district.

According to the Texas Education Agency, if a school’s campus fails five times consecutively, the state intervenes, even if the district-wide grade isn’t failing.

Nacogdoches ISD Superintendent Grey Burton said the district ultimately dropped the ball.

“I think that it was hard for us to get where we needed to be last year. I think we’re in a better spot this year moving forward,” Burton said.

“I just think that we didn’t, for a few years, make a focus priority on those students being successful. I think that we just took our eye off the ball for a minute and so we’re trying to focus in on that now,” Burton said.

District implements new programs

The district has started implementing Bluebonnet curriculum, an optional plan written by the state. The district has also put in a new program that tracks student progress in real time and has held district-wide strategic planning meetings.

This is Burton’s second year as superintendent. One of the reasons he was hired was to help address the failing schools.

Burton said handing the district to the state would not benefit the students.

“We want to make sure that Nacogdoches controls Nacogdoches’ destiny, not Austin. We don’t want the state coming and saying, ‘Hey, this is what you’re going to do now to get your kids to be successful.’ These are our kids. We want them to be successful more than anybody,” Burton said.

District demographics

Nacogdoches ISD is largely diverse. In 2026, 79% of students attending were economically disadvantaged. According to data provided by Raise Your Hand Texas, 72% of students are at risk of dropping out.

“I think the students, regardless of where they come from, it may take them longer or may look different for them to be successful, but they can all be successful. So we’re not going to use that excuse,” Burton said.

Teacher retention affected

Burton said the possibility of a state takeover has started affecting teacher retention.

“Well, no one wants to go work in a district where, you know, hey, the state may be coming. So, they’ve kind of put us in an issue,” Burton said.

The district has reached out to retired teachers, who are willing to help.

“I’m telling you right now, by the end of this next year, we will be exactly where we need to be. The state will not be here,” Burton said.