WICHITA FALLS, Texas — School districts across the state are wrestling with how to improve campuses that keep falling behind. In Wichita Falls, district leaders are taking a bold approach, turning over three of their lowest-performing schools to a private company. It’s a decision that comes with big hopes and big questions.

What You Need To Know

This year, Wichita Falls Independent School District began partnering with Third Future Schools, a Colorado-based charter school operator founded by former Dallas Independent School District Superintendent Mike Miles

Now, three months into that partnership, the district is handing over two more struggling campuses, citing ongoing hiring challenges

Third Future Schools, established in 2016, is known for intensive teacher coaching, extended school years and programs like “The Art of Teaching,” designed to boost engagement and critical thinking

Under Texas law, districts can hand over low-performing schools to private operators for extra funding and a two-year reprieve from state intervention

Wichita Falls Independent School District Superintendent Dr. Donnie Lee says he’s tired of hearing the same promise year after year.

“Next year we’ll get it. We did X, Y and Z, and we got it this year. Everyone rallies around ‘next year,’” Lee said. “Well, next year came, and it’s an F. Then it’s another F.”

After repeated failing grades from the Texas Education Agency (TEA), the district faced the risk of a state takeover. When Lee took over in 2022, he presented an alternative plan to turn things around, starting with Hirschi Middle School.

This year, Wichita Falls ISD began partnering with Third Future Schools, a Colorado-based charter school operator founded by former Dallas Independent School District Superintendent Mike Miles.

“Every teacher was out. Every principal we had was out. Every employee,” Lee said. “They started from scratch and built it from the ground up how they wanted it.”

Now, three months into that partnership, the district is handing over two more struggling campuses, citing ongoing hiring challenges.

“We realized we were really going to have to partner with someone,” Lee said.

Third Future Schools, established in 2016, is known for intensive teacher coaching, extended school years and programs like “The Art of Teaching,” designed to boost engagement and critical thinking.

While Miles no longer runs Third Future, he remains connected to the network as he focuses full time on his current role as the Houston Independent School District’s TEA-appointed superintendent.

The company’s track record across Texas shows mixed results.

In Midland, Sam Houston Collegiate Prep jumped from a “C” to an “A.”
In Austin, Mendez Middle School moved from a “C” to a “B.”
But in Beaumont, the partnership ended early with several campuses still getting failing ratings.

Third Future Schools did not respond to Spectrum News’ request for comment.

Under Texas law, districts can hand over low-performing schools to private operators for extra funding and a two-year reprieve from state intervention.

“The bottom line was nothing was working. The academic needle was not moving forward,” Lee said.

The partnership costs Wichita Falls ISD about $400,000 per campus each month, a steep price that district leaders hope will pay off.

“The proof will be in the pudding in May,” Lee said. “If you come back in May or June and we are a C or better, it’ll be the first time since A–F accountability ratings came out in history.”

Wichita Falls ISD hopes the early improvements seen at Hirschi Middle School can be replicated across all three campuses before state intervention becomes unavoidable.