Texas School Earns First B Rating Since 2018

Coldspring-Oakhurst High School in East Texas is celebrating a milestone that seemed out of reach for years. The school earned an 86 (B) accountability rating, the first B rating any campus in the district has achieved since Texas began its A-F grading system in 2018.

The jump didn't happen by accident. Students and staff worked together to produce a 24-point increase in the Closing the Gaps category, which measures how well schools serve all student groups. Strong gains showed up across English, Algebra I, Biology, and college and career readiness metrics.

The same district is seeing another quiet success story unfold at its intermediate school. Two science teachers with completely different backgrounds are proving that collaboration beats competition every time.

Justin Jackson grew up in Coldspring, then taught advanced engineering courses in Spring ISD before returning home. He arrived with experience teaching students who already knew the material inside and out. Now he's learning to meet fifth graders where they are, adapting his approach to spark curiosity in younger minds.

Amy Perryman took the opposite journey. She started her career teaching reading and writing, then brought those skills into the science classroom. Her students are discovering that understanding scientific texts and writing clear explanations matters just as much as knowing the periodic table.

Together with Science Instructional Coach Melanie Jackson, the pair has tailored the curriculum to fit what Coldspring students actually need. They're not just teaching facts. They're building critical thinkers who can read complex material, ask smart questions, and explain what they've learned.

The Ripple Effect

What's happening in Coldspring matters beyond one small Texas town. When schools figure out how to combine different teaching strengths, students win. When districts commit to steady improvement instead of quick fixes, real growth follows.

The high school's B rating represents seven years of work, not seven weeks. The intermediate school's approach shows what happens when educators value each other's expertise instead of sticking to silos.

Other districts watching Coldspring's progress are seeing a roadmap: hire teachers with diverse backgrounds, give them time to collaborate, and trust the process. The results speak for themselves.

These students are learning that success comes from persistence, not perfection, and that's a lesson that will serve them long after they leave East Texas.