Discover how Prosper ISD is managing rapid growth and seeking more control from state lawmakers.
Prosper ISD has exploded in population. This year, a brand new high school is opening its doors and new construction continues to pop up across the area. The district has grown to meet the demand but this year they admit they have to be smart not to grow too much.
"Really thinking about that signaling that's coming out of Frisco, of the declining enrollment. And then what does that look like for Prosper ISD?" said Superintendent Holly Ferguson of Frisco, which is dealing with an enrollment decline. Ferguson says career & technical education is a big focus for the district. They're adding cosmetology, cyber security and electrical engineering as well as providing a pipeline to the workforce for those who don't want to see college as part of their plans. It's one way Ferguson says Prosper ISD can compete with private schools."What you want is an educational palace. You want a place where kids are excited about coming, that they're proud about their school," she said. Ferguson says academically, there's always room to grow everywhere, but overall, she's pleased with how her students are performing. Her concern and focus lie much further south in the state capital. "I'm not sure that I 100% believe that they want to hear what we want," she said, referring to legislators' comments that they are listening to school leaders."I feel like for years in public education, we've been saying what we want and what we want is local accountability."Tale of two districts as education commissioner compares Dallas and Fort Worth ISDs "I have to stop and think, Well, why would we not be doing well in a certain area? And it might be the time we're spending on legislative things that have come from Austin that sometimes don't really add up and don't really make sense for our students," said Ferguson."I think that it is an archaic system that tests a child on one day and then defines that child," she said."I've never had somebody run up to me after they've graduated be like, 'Remember that time I knocked it out of the park on my EOC?' I've never had that happen, but they will certainly come and tell me about their experience when they were in the drill team or in the CTE course that they took." Ferguson says her focus remains on her bright shiny new buildings, the courses they offer and building a culture to proud of.
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