Ask any student in the La Joya Independent School District what significance a million has and there could be any number of answers for you.

High-achieving students that read more than a million words earn themselves a spot in their schools’ elite Millionaire’s Clubs, celebrated in grand style at the conclusion of the school year. To see a story about the Millionaire’s Club at a La Joya school,
click here.

Or, they might tell you about the district’s most recent accomplishment: At the end of March, nearly 21,700 students at the district’s 30 schools had read more than one million books since August 2006.

District officials are extremely proud of this accomplishment, but they weren’t surprised.

“When you go to a campus, whether elementary or secondary, you see students walking in the hallway reading books or reading a book while eating breakfast. Discussion is heard by students about books and what author they like to read when going to the library,” said Perri Ann Huntley, District Library Media and Textbook Coordinator. “I can honestly say that when a book is checked out from the library during the student’s flexible scheduled library time, it is read—not placed in the desk for next week when it is library time.”

Hispanic students account for over 99% of the district’s enrollment, nearly half of which are ELL students. Accelerated Reader Best Classroom Practices are deeply ingrained in the schools, creating a culture of readers who learn to read as well in English as they do in their native language.

“We have Accelerated Reader in all 30 schools, grades Pre-K-12,” Huntley said. “It’s a district initiative used as a tool to assist students to become lifelong readers and to love reading.”

Certification honors abound for the La Joya schools—24 of the 30 schools’ educators have achieved at least one Model and/or Master certification this school year. In addition, nine schools have reached Master School Certification status, with three achieving Model School.

“Certification falls into place if the teachers, librarians and students are following the Accelerated Reader Best Classroom Practices,” Huntley said. “Reading is happening at La Joya ISD and students feel successful and have learned to love reading for a lifetime.”