Building a Stronger Science Experience
 

In the heart of West Texas, surrounded by the sand dunes of Monahans Sandhills State Park, Monahans-Wickett-Pyote Independent School District (MWPISD) is proving that small districts can make big strides when educators share a common purpose.

This rural district of just over 2,000 students has seen a dramatic rise in science performance, including an almost 20-point jump in eighth-grade STAAR science scores in a single year.

This remarkable gain came from a districtwide shift toward cohesive, hands-on, standards-aligned science instruction. This success was driven by several key factors: the adoption of Experience Science — a high-quality science curriculum from Savvas Learning Company, robust implementation support, a clear focus on fidelity, and the dedication of its passionate educators.

“Our teachers are always willing to go above and beyond for the kids,” said Chief Academic Officer Kimberley Thomas. “They don't see it as a job. It’s more of a passion for the students.”

Rising to Meet New Expectations in Science Instruction

In 2021 and 2022, Texas introduced its revised science Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS), the state-mandated curriculum standards for public schools. The update prompted districts to rethink how science instruction was delivered.

For MWPISD, the new standards created an opportunity to reevaluate science instruction districtwide. Leaders knew student performance was not where they wanted it to be, and the revision offered a chance to identify changes needed to improve outcomes.

The district’s review revealed a key challenge: because science is not tested until fifth grade, early-grade instruction had become inconsistent and often secondary to other subjects. As a result, students entered testing grades with uneven foundational knowledge, gaps that only widened by eighth grade. Strengthening science instruction in the early grades, the district leaders determined, would create a ripple effect, building the foundation students need for success in later testing years.

Another challenge they uncovered was the fact that there also wasn’t one set curriculum among science teachers; everyone used their own self-created lessons. This meant that ensuring continuity in instruction from year to year had become increasingly difficult.

“It just never was consistent and the students couldn't get into a pattern,” said Jennifer Hagler, principal of Walker Junior High School. “So our big push was to get everybody on board.”

Luckily, the change in standards prompted a new curriculum adoption cycle for Texas public schools, which meant that the district could start looking for high-quality instructional materials that met what they knew they needed to help students succeed.

A Collaborative Solution: Teacher Voice, Strong Support, and Clear Expectations

District leaders knew that they needed a modern, cohesive science program that was teacher approved, supported hands-on learning aligned tightly to TEKS, and provided the structure required to close skills gaps across all grades. Finding the right materials, however, required thoughtful planning and cross-functional collaboration among the district’s administrators and teaching staff.

Teacher-Led Selection for Real Buy-In

Rather than selecting a new curriculum from the top down, MWPISD created a collaborative adoption committee with two to three representatives from every school, spanning kindergarten through high school. The team reviewed all available options by attending a centralized materials showcase to evaluate each program side by side.

The result was a unanimous vote where every committee member selected Savvas Learning Company’s Experience Science.

“Everyone wanted Savvas for the adoption,” said Thomas, chief academic officer. “Teachers were very eager to use the program. They really were excited.”

Professional Learning with Purpose

Before the school year began, Savvas provided three full days of in-person professional development, organized by grade bands. Teachers spent time internalizing lessons, understanding the program’s structure, and building confidence with hands-on components. Throughout the year, additional webinars and follow-ups ensured that support didn’t end once the school year started.

Instructional Coaches: The Drivers of Consistency

MWPISD relied on instructional coaches to ensure continuity and fidelity. The coaches joined Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) every three weeks to dig deeply into lesson plans, unpack the TEKS, and ensure that teachers were conducting labs in accordance with the curriculum and following the district’s year-at-a-glance pacing.

Support from instructional coaches was especially crucial in eighth grade, where instability in staffing had historically made it difficult to maintain consistent instructional quality. The combination of coaching and a clear, structured resource helped stabilize expectations and strengthen teaching across classrooms.

“We hear everybody's different ideas in our PLCs,” said Hagler. “Adding Savvas gave us something to help us be all on the same page, teaching the same TEKS at the same time. That really created a good foundation for us.”

Fidelity First: A Clear and Shared Commitment

From the beginning, the district made its expectations transparent: every teacher would use the program in full for the entire year. Rather than picking and choosing components, teachers were asked to implement the lessons as designed. Only after a full year of fidelity would the district revisit what, if anything, needed to be adjusted.

Teachers responded positively, in large part because they had helped choose the resource. This empowered them to commit fully instead of guessing or piecing together supplemental materials.

Momentum for the Future

MWPISD anticipated the typical “implementation dip” that often occurs when a district adopts a new program because teachers and students are still learning the materials and routines in that first year. Instead, they saw the opposite. They saw an increase in test scores and student engagement.

Significant Growth in 8th Grade Science Achievement

Within just one year, the district’s eighth-grade science scores rose across every performance category on the STAAR assessment, in particular there was a nearly a 20-point jump among students approaching grade level:

• Approaches Grade Level: increased from 45% to 64%
• Meets Grade Level: increased from 20% to 33%
• Masters: rose from 6% to 8%

District leaders attribute these gains to teacher buy-in, strong instructional coaching, and consistent use of the program’s full lesson structure.

Renewed Student Engagement

Teachers found the program also really engaged students right from the beginning of class to the very end.

“They love our lab days,” said Desiree Munoz, a 7th and 8th grade science teacher who has witnessed her students connect ideas from her classroom lectures to the hands-on work in their labs. “The lab days have really, really helped with that disconnect for students and made them say, ‘Okay, now, I get it.’”

A More Coherent, Connected K–12 Science Experience

Perhaps most importantly, the district now has a unified, vertically aligned science pathway. Students receive consistent, TEKS-aligned instruction beginning in the earliest grades, better preparing them for the rigor of fifth- and eighth-grade testing.

This transformation has given MWPISD a replicable model, one grounded in teacher voice, purposeful coaching, strong partnership with Savvas, and a shared commitment to fidelity.

With momentum building and teachers energized, district leaders anticipate continued growth in the years ahead.

“Savvas gave us all the missing pieces that we needed to have for those kids,” said Thomas. “I think this year we'll even see more growth.”