Greetings!

We are at the halfway mark, as the first semester for this school year has ended. We continue to have great things happening in Azle ISD. Christmas programs and activities, fall and winter sports, and state and benchmark testing mark the halfway point of the school year. Our students, staff, and families are looking forward to the upcoming break.

Thank you for your patience and understanding on the morning of Tuesday, December 13, as we started the school day with threatening weather. I am proud of how quickly our staff, including our transportation department, responded to help ensure the safety of our students. I am thankful we did not encounter any severe weather and resumed normal school activities once the storms passed. A special thank you to Liberty Elementary students, parents, and staff. Not only were they dealing with storm issues, but also water issues because of a water line break on a Community Water Supply main line.

We recently had our fall 2022 demographic update. While not a surprise to most, our Zonda demographics report shows Azle ISD to be on track for a record year for new home starts and closings. The average price for a new home is $435,622 and the average price for an existing home is $340,969. In looking at the current district enrollment of 7,082 students, our student density per county includes approximately 54% Tarrant County, 44% Parker County, and 2% Wise County. The demographers show Azle ISD to continue to grow in the 3% range for the next several years, or a little over 200 hundred students per year. Growth continues across the entire school district, in all elementary attendance zones.

On Monday, January 9, we will host our second attendance re-zoning community meeting at 6 p.m. in the Swarm Conference room of the Azle ISD administration building. Our school district’s growth has resulted in adjustments needed in the elementary attendance zones and feeder patterns as we prepare to open Hilltop Elementary at the start of the next school year. For more information, I encourage you to visit our website where you can find the community presentation, along with the map of the proposed new attendance zones - www.azleisd.net/AttendanceZoneUpdates23-24

While re-zoning is never a popular topic, it is exciting to welcome and open a new campus. The last new elementary campus to open in Azle ISD was Cross Timbers Elementary in 1998. Amy Rollmann, a veteran Azle ISD principal and AHS graduate, will lead Hilltop Elementary. Mrs. Rollmann has 15 years of experience as a campus leader and 24 years of experience in Azle ISD. We will staff Hilltop Elementary with existing Azle ISD teachers and staff from our other elementary campuses.

Our first semester ends on Wednesday, December 21, followed by Christmas break starting on Thursday, December 22. Kicking off our second semester, Azle ISD staff will return on Thursday, January 5, and students will return on Monday, January 9.

I sincerely hope for a safe and restful Holiday season for all. On behalf of the Board of Trustees and myself, we wish everyone a Merry Christmas and

Happy New Year.

We Are Azle!

Todd Smith

Superintendent of Schools

The Azle ISD 2023-2024 Academic Calendar was approved by the Azle ISD Board of Trustees on December 19, 2022.

Thank you to the DLT (District Leadership Team) for all their work in putting calendar options together for all staff to vote. The DLT includes representatives from each campus, parent representatives, and a community representative. 

The first day of classes for students will be on Wednesday, August 16, 2023. The first semester will be from August 16-December 21, 2023, and the second semester will be from January 10-May 23, 2024.

Student and staff holidays are September 4, October 9, November 20-24, December 22-January 5, March 11-15, March 29, and May 27.

Early release days are December 21, March 7, and May 23. The calendar also includes two bad weather make-up days, February 19 and May 28, 2024. 

Review the key at the bottom of the calendar for additional details such as teacher workdays/staff development days (student holidays), nine-week grading periods, and school start and dismissal times. Download a copy of the 2023-2024 calendar.

The Azle ISD community is invited to the Azle Education Foundation's 11th Annual Red Solo Cup BBQ fundraiser on Saturday, January 28, 2023. The event will take place from 7-11 p.m. at The Orchard event venue, which is located at 1421 Northwest Parkway in Azle. 

Attendees can look forward to a fun evening of dining, dancing, and a unique live auction. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Azle Education Foundation, which in turn will benefit the teachers and students in Azle ISD through scholarships, teacher and campus grants, and new teacher gift cards.

Various sponsorship opportunities are available, or guests may purchase individual tickets for $25 each. Donations are being accepted by AEF as well.

Contact Meg Arnold at AzleRedSoloCup@gmail.com for information on table sponsorships, individual tickets, and donations.

EECU Surprises Eagle Heights Employee with $150

Azle ISD partnered with EECU Credit Union to offer an Employee Perfect Attendance Award this holiday season. All full-time district employees with perfect attendance between Nov. 14 and Dec. 14, 2022, were entered into a drawing to win $150 cash from EECU.

The drawing was held on December 15, and the winner was surprised on Friday, December 16.

Congratulations to Veronica Merrill from Eagle Heights Elementary on winning the $150 cash from EECU!

SMU Visits AHS for Research Project

Using VR in Geometry

Southern Methodist University visited Azle High School during the week of December 12 for a research project using mixed-reality headsets to explore geometry.

Two students from each geometry class period had the opportunity to explore some TEKS-aligned simulations for learning high school geometry called “Flatland XR.” As part of the research study, participants were video recorded while playing in the simulation either using an AR headset or an iPad to examine how the students used the simulation and the feedback they have about the technology. Students also took short post-tests about their demographic background, interest in math and geometry, and spatial reasoning skills. Read more.

Azle ISD Partners with Tarleton for New Teacher Residency Program

Azle ISD, along with Tarleton State University, welcomed six new teacher residents to our district on Wednesday, December 14.

Starting in January, they will be paired with cooperating teachers at Cross Timbers, Eagle Heights, and Walnut Creek Elementary Schools for a year-long residency and will complete the program in December of 2023 to become certified teachers.

We are looking forward to this year-long partnership with Tarleton State University's teacher education program. Please join us in welcoming these new teacher residents to Azle ISD!