September 2026 Parent Newsletter

On the cover: Jessica Lazaro was doing what she loves most—teaching students at Cole Elementary—when a whole team of people barged into her classroom in the campus gym with an exciting announcement: she had been chosen as one of San Antonio’s best teachers. Lazaro, a physical education teacher, is Northside ISD’s 2026-27 EXCEL Award winner. Read about this amazing teacher here.  Pictures from the surprise are found here. 

Across Northside ISD, our campuses are making enormous strides in student achievement—and that progress deserves celebration.

This year, Northside students:

• outscored the state in Reading at every tested grade level. 
• increased their performance in both Math and Reading at the higher Meets and Masters levels, 
• demonstrating meaningful growth in the skills and knowledge that prepare them for success.

That progress extends across our student population. 

Northside students receiving Special Education services are outperforming the state in Reading, another powerful sign of the impact happening in classrooms across the district.
Many campuses also improved significantly in their overall accountability ratings, 

• with several moving a full letter grade (or even two) from 2025 to 2026. 
• But while those results are important, a letter grade is only one measure of a school's story. 
• Every Northside campus has areas to celebrate, opportunities to grow, and students whose individual progress matters.

While NISD has asked voters to approve bond issuances in the past to address aging facilities, it has never put a VATRE on the ballot. So, what is the difference?

While a VATRE and bond election are often discussed together, they serve different purposes.

Voter-Approval Tax Rate Election (VATRE)

A VATRE is designed to provide additional funding for a school district’s day-to-day operations. If approved by voters, the additional revenue would support the district’s contingent (pay) employee compensation plan for this current school year, and help reduce the district’s budget deficit.

Bond Election

A bond election is different from a VATRE. Bonds are used to fund major, long-term capital investments in facilities, infrastructure, technology, and other large-scale projects.

Watch the video below for additional information. In addition, visit nisd.net/bond26. 

Northside ISD Earns Top School FIRST Rating for 24th Consecutive Year

Northside ISD has earned the highest rating available through the School Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas (School FIRST) for the 24th consecutive year, continuing a longstanding record of excellence in financial stewardship and accountability.

School FIRST is the financial accountability system used by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to evaluate the quality of financial management practices in Texas public school districts. The system is designed to encourage sound financial practices, promote transparency, and ensure districts effectively manage resources in support of student instruction.

For the latest rating cycle, Northside ISD earned an A – Superior Achievement rating with a score of 98 out of 100. The state awards an A rating to districts earning between 90 and 100 points.

School FIRST evaluates districts on a range of financial indicators, including annual financial reporting, debt obligations, cash and investments, budgeting, long-term financial solvency, internal controls, compliance, and required financial disclosures. Northside ISD met all four critical indicators included in the latest state evaluation.

“This recognition reflects our continued commitment to responsible financial management, careful stewardship of taxpayer dollars, and maintaining the financial stability necessary to support our students, staff, and schools,” said Interim Superintendent Jessica Palomares.

“Earning the highest School FIRST rating for 24 consecutive years is a tremendous accomplishment and speaks to the consistency and dedication of the people who manage our district’s resources,” Palomares added. “Our community entrusts us with significant resources, and we take that responsibility seriously. We will continue to make thoughtful, strategic financial decisions that keep students at the center of everything we do.”

NISD celebrates 7th consecutive year among Texas’ Top Visual Arts Programs

Northside ISD continues to set the standard for excellence in visual arts education, earning the Texas Art Education Association (TAEA) District of Distinction honor for an impressive seventh consecutive year.

The recognition places Northside ISD among the top 1.3 percent of visual arts programs in Texas and in an elite group of just 16 school districts statewide that have earned the distinction every year since the award was established.

PSAT Exam to be given on Oct 21

Registration is open!

On Wednesday, October 21, the PSAT/NMSQT exam, a College Board assessment, will be administered at high school campuses to NISD-enrolled students in 10th and 11th grade who register in advance and choose to participate in this optional assessment. There is a fee for Grade 10 students; there is no fee for Grade 11 students since the PSAT/NMSQT exam is the route of entry to the National Merit Scholarship Program for 11th-grade students.

Be sure to sign up before September 23, 2026, to avoid a late fee. Late registrations from September 24- 30 will incur a $5 late fee.

Responsible Use of AI

As we kick off the new school year, Northside ISD is committed to empowering innovative learning while ensuring thoughtful, ethical, and safe use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for our secondary students. To help align our efforts at school with conversations at home, we invite families to partner with us in guiding responsible digital habits.

• Permission First: Understand when to use AI on their own, when to ask for help, and how to keep their work honest.
• Support, Not a Replacement: AI is a great tool for brainstorming, but it should never replace a student's own thinking or original work.
• Verify Before You Trust: Teach students to fact-check AI outputs, as these tools predict patterns rather than state absolute truths.
• Focus on How: Shift home check-ins from "Did you finish your homework?" to "How did you complete it?" to foster transparency.

In addition, sign up for a free nationwide event and opportunity, The Family AI Game Plan, a practical framework outlining District and parent shared guardrails: Reserve Your Free Spot Today!

Use the graphic with your student to help establish positive AI habits together!

Inspire a Child’s Love of Reading—In Just One Hour Per Week  

Adults 50 and older, help a NISD student build confidence and a lifelong love of reading. Volunteer as an Oasis literacy tutor for a first, second, or third grader at a school near you!

Volunteer Tutor Training

• Day 1: Thursday, Sept. 24 | 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
• Day 2: Friday, Sept. 25 | 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
• Attendance at both sessions is required.

Ready to Make an Impact? Contact Gizelle Henricksen at (210) 236-5954 or ghenricksen@oasisnet.org to register or request more details.

September is Attendance Awareness Month, and NISD joins districts across the nation in reaffirming our commitment to reducing chronic absenteeism and supporting student success. As we begin a new school year, Driven With Purpose, we know that showing up every day is one of the most important steps students can take toward reaching their goals. 

“September is the perfect time to shine a spotlight on attendance,” said Kathy Lyssy, Director of the Office of Student Advocacy and School Choice. “When we address absences early—both in the school year and in a child’s academic journey—we have the power to positively shape their path toward success in both attendance and achievement.”

Click here for the whole story. 

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