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“Romeo and Juliet” is a timeless classic loved by generations of audiences. The Rockwall High School Jackets Act invites the community to experience the Shakespeare classic in a new way — inside a museum.

Watch history come to life as characters appear like pieces of an exhibit. As the story unfolds, they come to life before the audience.

“What I really love about that concept is that it allows us to look at ‘Romeo and Juliet’ as a story that has been preserved and retold for generations,” said Virginia McGuire, Rockwall High School Head Director. “[We want] the audience to feel like they’re not just watching a famous Shakespeare play — they’re discovering the story for themselves.”

Planning for opening day takes months of preparation, from set design to costumes to the backstage crew. Putting together a play is much bigger than the actors seen onstage. Approximately 60 students are working together, with each role critical to telling the same story.

“When an audience comes to see ‘Romeo and Juliet’, they’re really seeing the work of an entire community of students,” said McGuire.

Junior Ava B. prepared for the role of Juliet by watching previous productions to really understand the character.

“Since my first production, I’ve gained so much confidence both on and off stage,” she said.

Ava’s counterpart, junior Gunner H., said reading Shakespeare has helped him learn the language style in preparation for the role of Romeo. For Gunner, the theatre program means more to him than just the stage.

“My confidence and range have grown tremendously,” he said. “It’s a community where you find lifelong friends and good role models.”          

“Romeo and Juliet” will be performed at the Rockwall High School Little Theatre at 7 p.m. on Oct. 8-9, and at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Oct. 10. Tickets are available for purchase at www.jacketsact.com/tickets.

Rockwall ISD proudly announces that 21 high school students have been named Commended Students in the 2027 National Merit Scholarship Program. 

Fourteen Rockwall High School students and seven Rockwall-Heath High School students have been recognized as Commended for their exceptional academic promise demonstrated by their outstanding performance on the qualifying test used for Merit program entry. 

Commended students are placed among the top 50,000 students in the country who entered the competition by taking the 2025 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.

Congratulations to the following students:

Rockwall High School

Syed A.

Claire B.

Benjamin C.

Carleigh H.

Nathan H.

Phoebe I.

Elijah J.

William K.

Eva K.

Allison M.

Brandon R.

Arjun S.

Audrey T.

Bazil Y.

 

Rockwall-Heath High School

Lucas C.

Robert H.

Camden H.

Evelyn M.

Jeet S.

Samara W.

Cora W.

Our science students put fluid density to the test by creating colorful density columns! They watched physics and chemistry come to life right in front of them!🧪

Each morning, before the day gets fully underway, a group of Project LIFE students has an important job to do. 

The students gather in front of the Rockwall ISD Administration Building to raise the American flag, working together to complete a responsibility that has become a meaningful part of their daily routine. For these students, raising the flag is about more than following a set of steps. It is an opportunity to practice responsibility, teamwork and community participation — skills that are essential both in school and beyond the classroom.

Project Life is a transitional program within Rockwall ISD’s Special Education Department that provides students with experiences and activities designed as a results-oriented process to promote the transition from school to post-school activities. Through hands-on opportunities, students develop practical skills that can help prepare them for greater independence, employment and participation in their communities.

 

Four Rockwall ISD high school students have been named 2027 National Merit Semifinalists. Congratulations to Rockwall High School seniors Grady Kobussen and Ainsley Schmitz, and Rockwall-Heath High School seniors Albert Chauvin and Jackson Multer.

These academically talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for approximately 6,700 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $24 million that will be offered next spring. To be considered for a Merit Scholarship® award, Semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the Finalist level of the competition. About 95 percent of the Semifinalists are expected to attain Finalist standing in February, and approximately half of the Finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar® title.

Steps in the 2027 Competition

Over 1.2 million juniors in about 20,000 high schools across the U.S. entered the 2027 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2025 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. The nationwide pool of Semifinalists, representing less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors, includes the highest-scoring entrants in each state.

To become a Finalist, the Semifinalist and a high school official must submit a detailed scholarship application, in which they provide information about the Semifinalist’s academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, and honors and awards received. A Semifinalist must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by a high school official, write an essay, and earn SAT® or ACT® scores that confirm the student’s earlier performance on the qualifying test.

Finalists will be announced in February 2027, and National Merit Scholarship winners selected from the Finalists will be announced starting in April and concluding in July. Merit Scholar designees are selected on the basis of their skills, accomplishments, and potential for success in rigorous college studies.

 

September is Attendance Awareness Month, and Rockwall ISD is reminding families that every school day matters. Regular attendance is one of the single most important ways families can help their children succeed academically and build strong relationships at school. Everyone has a role in improving attendance and ensuring that students are ready to learn and grow each day.

Did You Know?

• Missing just one or two days a month can add up to missing 10 percent of the school year.
• Research shows that chronic absence significantly contributes to weaker kindergarten readiness, including letter recognition and pre-literacy.
• Missing critical literacy instruction in kindergarten and first grade can lead to lower rates of third-grade reading proficiency.
• In Middle School, chronic absenteeism is a major warning sign for failing key classes and is a future risk of dropping out of high school.
• By ninth grade, attendance is a No. 1 predictor of graduation rates.

Tips to Avoid Chronic Absenteeism and Truancy

• Unexcused absences can lead to truancy. Making attendance a priority and communicating with your campus if you anticipate an absence or are having health or transportation challenges can help prevent truancy.
• Scheduling appointments outside of school hours can help avoid students falling behind in school.
• Students can begin to reverse their academic difficulties if they improve their attendance. When students attend school more regularly, they have more opportunities to receive instruction, practice important skills, and participate in experiences that make school meaningful.

Rockwall ISD encourages every family to make attendance a priority all year long, because every day matters!

Coach Blacknall's 6th grade World Cultures students put command, free enterprise, and traditional economies into action through a hands-on index card tower challenge! Students experienced how different economic systems impact rules, choices, and decision-making! Learning by doing! 📚✨

Rockwall-Heath High School student Jamal M. has won first place in his division of the 2026 National School Bus Safety Poster Contest from the National Association for Pupil Transportation (NAPT).

Jamal’s artwork was selected from entries advancing through state-level competitions across the country following the 2025-2026 theme “Level Up.” In his division, Special Education Grades K-12, Jamal earned first place for the regional North Texas Association of Pupil Transportation (NTAPT), advanced to the state Texas Association of Pupil Transportation (TAPT) and earned first place, and advance to the national level where he also earned first place.

A panel of judges representing the three national student transportation associations — the National Association for Pupil Transportation (NAPT), the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services (NASDPTS), and the National School Transportation Association (NSTA) evaluated entries based on safety impact, originality, artistic quality and visual effectiveness.

“Every one of these posters represents more than artistic talent. They represent students thinking about what school bus safety means to them and then sharing that message with the people around them,” said Molly McGee Hewitt, PhD, CAE, Executive Director & CEO of NAPT. “We congratulate all of this year’s national winners and we thank the teachers, transportation professionals, state associations, families and communities who create the opportunity for students to participate.”

The National School Bus Safety Poster Contest has long provided an opportunity for students to play an active role in school bus safety education. State contests help bring the safety conversation directly into schools and classrooms, while national recognition extends those messages across the student transportation community.

About the National School Bus Safety Poster Contest

The National School Bus Safety Poster Contest engages students in creating artwork that depicts school bus safety themes and encourages safe practices on and around the school bus. Students participate through local and state-level competitions, with qualifying entries advancing for national judging. Winning artwork helps promote safer school transportation and student awareness across North America.

About National School Bus Safety Week

Held during the third full week of October each year, National School Bus Safety Week is an active public education program that brings together students, parents, teachers, motorists, school bus operators, school administrators, and other partners to promote the importance of school bus safety.

Our 6th graders started out the year by making lava lamps! Who knew gravity and density could be so groovy?!

Rockwall ISD is celebrating an A-rating following the release of the 2026 district accountability ratings from the Texas Education Agency, a significant academic achievement, increasing its rating by four points in just two years.

Serving approximately 19,000 students across 26 campuses, Rockwall ISD’s increase from an 87 rating in 2024 to a 91 rating in 2026 reflects the commitment and dedication of our students, teachers, staff and families to academic excellence. Everyone plays an important part in working together as a district to help students succeed.

There is more to celebrate! In addition to the District’s overall rating, Rockwall ISD more than doubled the number of distinctions earned from 13 in 2025 to 32 in 2026, including nine Closing the Gaps and eight Academic Growth distinctions. Distinctions recognize exceptional achievement in specific areas, including academic growth and closing achievement gaps, and earning 32 is something worth celebrating!

The District’s three high schools once again earned A ratings: Rockwall High School earned a 96, Rockwall-Heath High School earned a 95 and Rockwall Quest Academy earned a 92.

Superintendent Dr. John Villarreal said the A rating is a reflection of the outstanding teamwork of the Rockwall ISD School Board, staff, community, parents, and, most importantly, the students.

“This work is intentional, meaningful, and forever important because every student deserves our very best in education,” said Dr. Villarreal. “A huge thank you to everyone who works together every day to make a difference for kids.”