42 Collin County Schools Honored for Closing Achievement Gaps

When schools focus on lifting up every student, amazing things happen. Forty-two Collin County schools just earned recognition on the 2025 Texas Honor Roll for doing exactly that.

The Educational Results Partnership, a nonprofit that tracks student success across Texas, analyzed test scores from 2023 to 2025 to find schools that excel at closing achievement gaps. These aren't just high-performing schools. They're places where students from lower-income families and historically disadvantaged communities are catching up and excelling.

Frisco ISD led the county with 13 schools on the list, followed by Wylie ISD with nine schools. Plano ISD earned six spots, while Allen and McKinney ISDs each claimed four. Lovejoy ISD added three schools, and Prosper, Princeton, and Melissa ISDs each contributed one.

Statewide, only about 15% of Texas schools made the cut. That means Collin County is punching well above its weight when it comes to educational excellence.

The Honor Roll doesn't just reward schools where students score high on tests. It recognizes schools that show consistent improvement over time and actively work to ensure no student gets left behind, regardless of their zip code or family income.

"Many educators across Texas are already delivering rigorous instruction that equips students with the fundamentals they need to succeed in the workforce and in life," said Dr. James Lanich, who chairs the Educational Results Partnership board. The goal is to spotlight schools that are getting it right so other districts can learn from their success.

The Ripple Effect

When schools close achievement gaps, they're not just changing individual lives. They're reshaping entire communities for the better.

Students who succeed academically are more likely to graduate, pursue higher education, and contribute meaningfully to their communities. When schools ensure every child has access to quality education regardless of their background, they break cycles of poverty and create pathways to opportunity that didn't exist before.

The recognition also helps business leaders identify education models that work, creating partnerships between schools and the private sector that benefit everyone. When 42 schools in one county demonstrate that closing achievement gaps is possible, it sets a powerful example for the entire state.

These Collin County schools are proving that excellence and equity can go hand in hand.