After two years of testing a four-day school week, Kingsville Independent School District (ISD) has returned to a traditional five-day schedule for the 2025-26 academic year. The school board made this decision during its May 6 meeting, reversing a significant shift that initially drew widespread support from teachers and staff.
From Innovation to Reassessment
In 2023, Kingsville ISD launched a four-day instructional model. Students attended school Monday through Thursday, and Fridays were reserved for staff development and optional student enrichment activities. These voluntary programs included tutoring, makeup work, and extracurricular participation.
Teachers generally welcomed the extra planning and training time, prompting the district to continue the shorter school week for the 2024-25 year. Despite the initial enthusiasm, district officials began re-evaluating the model in early 2024 as academic performance concerns surfaced.
Concerns About Academic Outcomes Prompt Review
In March 2025, the Kingsville ISD school board reviewed two calendar proposals for the 2025-26 year, continuing the four-day format. However, board member Joe Mireles raised questions about the academic impact on students. Then, Superintendent Cissy Reynolds-Perez noted that only limited data was available, as the shortened week had only been in effect for a year.
Subsequently, Reynolds-Perez announced her retirement, and Interim Superintendent Paula Gama-Garcia stepped in, signaling support for a return to the five-day week.
Meanwhile, a February 2025 Texas Education Agency (TEA) study compared campuses on four-day and five-day schedules. It showed that students in grades 4–8 on four-day schedules underperformed in core subjects like math and reading. Although this report did not include Kingsville ISD data, it contributed to concerns about the long-term viability of a shorter week.
Shift Backed Without Survey Input
On April 16, district leaders presented two five-day calendar options modeled after the 2022-23 school year. Board members requested a survey to gather feedback from the community before a final decision.
However, district officials revealed at the May 6 meeting that they had not conducted the survey. Still, the board approved a five-day calendar, with four members—Mireles, Garcia, Chapa, and Salinas—voting in favor. Coufal and Ruiz were absent, and Perez voted against the measure.
Under the approved schedule, the 2025-26 school year begins on August 11 and ends on May 21. It features 167 instructional days and three early release days. The district included six wellness days to support staff and student well-being.
Looking at Student Performance and Accountability
Whether the four-day week improved or harmed academic performance remains unclear. The most recent available accountability ratings from the 2022-23 school year—before the calendar shift—gave Kingsville ISD an “F” rating (score of 58), down from a “C” (score of 78) the year prior.
Notably, under new state scoring guidelines, the district would have scored a 68 in 2021-22, which is still a failing grade by state standards.
Although ongoing litigation over the state’s accountability system has delayed the 2023–24 ratings, Kingsville ISD has released its projections. These suggest modest improvements, with the district expecting a 64—a “D” rating. Though still below passing, the data indicates slight gains in several campuses.
For example:
- H.M. King High School: Remained at 69
- Gillett Middle School: Improved from 50 to 57
- Perez Elementary: Improved from 62 to 67
Test Scores Show Small Fluctuations
According to Kingsville ISD’s Texas Academic Performance Report (TAPR) for 2023-24—the first year under a four-day schedule—there was a minor decrease in standardized test performance:
- Students scoring “Approaches Grade Level” or higher on STAAR exams fell from 56% to 54%.
- Regional results dropped from 75% to 73%.
- Statewide scores dipped from 76% to 75%.
Performance in math and reading declined slightly, while science and social studies saw slight gains. Notably, the percentage of students reaching the “Mastery” level remained steady, consistent with state trends.
Other metrics, such as attendance, dropout, and graduation rates for 2023-24, are still pending. However, outgoing superintendent Reynolds-Perez said anecdotal feedback suggested improved daily attendance during the four-day week.
Final Thoughts
Kingsville ISD’s decision to return to a five-day school week highlights school districts’ challenges when balancing innovation with accountability. While the four-day schedule was well-received by staff, academic performance data and state assessments raised enough concern to prompt a return to a more traditional model.
As the district prepares for the 2025-26 school year, all eyes will be on how these changes will affect student success in the future.