Birdville ISD is proud to announce that Haltom Middle School is one of fewer than 70 campuses in the state of Texas to carry the Schools to Watch distinction from the Texas Association of Secondary School Principals (TASSP). Haltom Middle was recently redesignated as a Texas School to Watch, a recognition they initially earned in 2020. 

The TASSP Schools to Watch, along with the National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform, name identified schools to this prestigious list that meet rigorous standards of academic achievement, developmental responsiveness, social equity and sustainable organizational practices. Haltom Middle earned this distinction through a demonstrated commitment to continuous improvement, exceptional leadership, innovative instruction and supports that ensure access for all students. 

“I could not be prouder that the Texas Schools to Watch observers recognized the high-quality instructional practices our staff demonstrates every day,” said Carrie Welborn, Haltom Middle principal. “This recognition reflects the excellence of our teaching, the relationships we build, and the culture we create for our students. I am confident that as we continue this work, we will build on our strong foundation of student success.” 

The Schools to Watch selection process is based on a written application that requires schools to show how they met criteria developed by the National Forum to Accelerate Middle Grades Reform. Schools that appeared to meet the criteria were then visited by state teams, which observed classrooms, interviewed administrators, teachers, students, and parents, and looked at achievement data, suspension rates, quality of lessons, and student work. Launched in 1999, Schools to Watch began as a national program to identify middle-grades schools across the country that were meeting or exceeding 37 researched based criteria developed by the National Forum. 

Less than 500 schools from across the country are named as a School to Watch. The TASSP noted Haltom Middle’s focus on academic excellence, strong leadership exhibited by their principal, Carrie Welborn and various structures in place to ensure student success, including built-in tutorial time and a transition program to support incoming sixth-grade students. 

“We congratulate Haltom Middle principal, Ms. Carrie Welborn, her staff, students, and parents for being a campus that does great things for all their students,” said Dr. Joe Coleman, State Director for Schools to Watch in Texas and TASSP Associate Director for Middle-Level Services. “This school has demonstrated that a high-performing middle school is a place that focuses on academic growth and achievement. Haltom Middle is a place that recognizes the importance of meeting the needs of all students and ensures that every child has access to a challenging, high-quality education.”

As a Campus to Watch, Haltom Middle will serve as a model and mentor – sharing best practices and hosting visits from educators across the state. 

In addition to recognition at the state level, Haltom Middle will be celebrated during the upcoming Making Middle Schools Matter Symposium hosted by TASSP in Austin in March 2026. They will also be recognized nationally along with all other recognized Schools to Watch campuses in Washington D.C. at the National Forum of Schools to Watch Conference in June 2026.