Letter from Superintendent Herbert O'Neil
Dear Bobcat Families & Staff,
Hempstead ISD Receives Distinction Designation for Academic Achievement for the first time in almost a Decade
We are proud to see the historic academic growth, and for the first time since 2022, there are no ‘F’ rated campuses.
The Texas Education Agency will release 2024–2025 A–F Accountability Ratings on Friday, August 15. The district’s double-digit gains since the 2023 refreshed TEA accountability framework have earned Hempstead ISD a D (69) rating, a 10-point improvement. Hempstead ISD students are showing the fastest academic gains in Waller County.
We are proud of the continued progress our students and staff have made. However, there is much work ahead. Student success remains our top priority. The most important work happens in our classrooms. Together, we will continue building a culture of high performance that starts where learning begins. Our teachers and instructional leaders are doing intentional work to increase student outcomes across the district.
Campus Highlights
Hempstead Middle School (Grades 6–8) | Rating: 77 ( C )
Increased from 66 to 77 in one year (D → C) — an 11-point increase in campus accountability
Earned a Distinction Designation for Academic Achievement in Social Studies
8th Grade U.S. History: +35 point increase
8th Grade Science: +18 point increase
8th Grade Math: +10 point increase
7th Grade Reading: +14 point increase
8th Grade Reading: +19 point increase
Hempstead Elementary School (Grades K–5) | Rating: 68 (D)
Improved from F (59) → D (68) — 9-point increase
Focus campus for turnaround in 2025–2026
3rd Grade Math: +17 point increase
4th Grade Reading: +6 point increase
Hempstead High School (Grades 9–12) | Rating: 71 (C)
Improved from F (59) → C (71) — a dramatic 12-point increase
Algebra I: +14 point increase
College, Career, and Military Readiness (CCMR):
2024: 33% (F) → 2025: 79% (B)
District Strategic Focus for Continued Growth
Mathematics Achievement: Strengthen math instruction across all grade levels to close performance gaps and accelerate student success.
Sustained Campus Turnarounds: Maintain and expand gains at all campuses while providing targeted support for our focus campus and continued growth at each campus.
Thank you to our dedicated educators, hardworking students, and supportive families. Hempstead ISD is building lasting momentum. The future is bright in Bobcat Nation, and we will continue to Be Bold and go to Higher Heights together.
With Bobcat Pride,
Herbert O’Neil
Superintendent
Hempstead ISD