With the determination of the Little Engine That Could, Thrall ISD in East Williamson County earned its third consecutive “A” rating in the State of Texas Accountability System this year.
TISD — with only about 900 students — is the only A-rated district in 2026 among Williamson County’s 11 school districts.
“I think I can” is not just a line in the child’s storybook. Believing in themselves drives TISD’s success in a rigorous state accountability system, Interim Superintendent Blake Schneider said.
Thrall ISD is small, but its staff, parents, students and community believe it can reach any goal. Mr. Schneider explained the Thrall work ethic.
“We have high expectations of ourselves,” he said. “You tell us what the mark is, and we’re going to get there. And everybody's going to pull their weight and jump in on it — from the parents to our staff members to our kids.
“We all believe no goal is too big.”
In June, Mr. Schneider stepped into the superintendent role to replace Tommy Lee Hooker, who had served as Thrall’s superintendent for the past 15 years but plans to retire in December.
Mr. Schneider said he’s grateful for the recognition that ratings represent, but “to us, it’s more of an indication and a reflection of our culture.”
He said the district is fortunate to have a community that “supports its schools, that believes in public education, and that trusts the teachers.”
Mr. Schneider credits teachers and staff “and everybody that works really, really hard. We have kids with a great work ethic and parents who have high expectations. And you kind of mix all that together, and you get great results,” he said.
The success, Mr. Schneider said,is a product of relationships and the culture and climate of Thrall.
“It’s everybody wanting to be here and everybody wanting to do really well, and just having those high expectations across the board,” he said.
Parents, staff and students are “the trifecta of education — the three groups in alignment to support students and A-rated learning,” he said. “We have that in Thrall.”
Mr. Schneider shared a congratulatory letter he received last week from Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath.
“This achievement reflects the efforts of your teachers, staff, students, families and community members, and highlights the high quality work taking place in your classrooms every day,” Mr. Morath said.
It’s what happens in the classroom that is key, Mr. Schneider said. Class sizes are small. The average elementary class size is 17.
“If you want to get good results, class size is a big component. It all goes back to building those good relationships, and you can do it when you have smaller class sizes,” he said.
This year, TISD had 91% of staff members return. Over the last 15 years, Thrall’s retention rate has always been in the 90% range.
“Our percent of returning teachers outpaces the region and the state,” he said. “Teacher retention supports consistency in instruction and also in maintaining a cohesive staff who work well together. It’s one of our major success components in earning those A ratings.”
This year’s TEA rankings were released on August 14 — Thrall’s first day of the new school year. When Mr. Schneider learned the news about the district’s third A rating, he said they celebrated with “Congratulations” banners for each school to display. He also brought flowers and balloons to each campus in surprise visits.
“It was pretty cool to catch them and their authentic reaction to the news,” he said. “There were a lot of hugs and crying. It was a goal we all worked to achieve together.”
The City of Thrall is also glowing, he said.
“Everybody takes a lot of pride in saying that their kids go to Thrall, and that their family is a part of the district. But it’s not just a school district thing; it’s a community thing. We’re so thankful for them,” Mr. Schneider said.
He also discussed the district’s culture.
“Our culture drives everything, and that's why the kids love coming to school. That’s why staff enjoy coming to work. That’s why the parents feel welcome. I think it’s bringing everybody together for that common goal, and then everybody shares those high expectations.”
The district’s goal for the current school year is to achieve its fourth A rating from the state next fall, he said.
For Thrall ISD, “I think I can” has become “I know I can.”