Growing Together: How Holy Cross Built Student Success Through Intentional Instruction

At Holy Cross Catholic School, academic success is as much about test scores as it is about the strong sense of community. Last school year, through care, strategy and a commitment to meeting every student where they are, Holy Cross students showed record growth. 

Principal James Laville tackled a challenge many schools face: how to support students with varying learning levels and needs in every classroom and throughout the school. With students testing two or even three grade levels above or below their current grade, he wanted to experiment with new ways of instruction.

“We have a diverse student population in many ways,” Laville said, “and that includes academics. It’s our responsibility to make sure all students grow, regardless of where they start.”

Data-Driven Learning

Consortium students take STAR standardized tests three times throughout the year to measure academic progress in Reading and Math. Starting with a comprehensive dig into 2–3 years of STAR testing data, Laville and his team added another powerful tool to the mix: IXL.

“STAR tests are great, but the three times per year testing periods are spread out. With the new IXL curriculum that came this year, we can do a weekly diagnostic on specific skills that tie into grade-level data and see more in real-time and adjust to see results,” said Laville.

By combining data from both STAR and IXL, teachers formed cross-grade Skills Groups—small clusters of students with similar skill sets and growth goals, regardless of their grade level. Students in grades K-5 participated last year, which will expand to K-8 in 2025-2026. Each group was named by color versus ability, so no child felt out of place. Groups met daily for 30-minutes, moving around the building, diving into targeted instruction with teachers and peers they may not otherwise interact with, and groups changed after six weeks. 

The result? Growth across all levels. Every student advanced, and no one moved backward. 

Results That Speak

Holy Cross saw its highest student growth percentile scores ever during the Winter 2025 benchmarking period, earning the second-highest growth rank in the entire Archdiocese of Omaha. It was exciting to see students who received support through Title I become able to test out of those services and how this approach worked to meet the needs of all students.

The school saw remarkable progress especially among students who were considered on grade level, which was proof that focused instruction can move every learner forward. 

A specific moment Laville mentioned as being rewarding happened during a visit from Superintendent Vickie Kauffold. During a visit, a third grader enthusiastically described to Kauffold what she was learning in her IXL diagnostic session and most importantly, WHY the skill work mattered.  

More Than Scores

Across grade levels and classrooms, teachers shared responsibility for all students, strengthening Holy Cross’s sense of unity. 

With plans to continue Skills Groups in both Reading and Math for the coming school year, the Holy Cross community is set for further academic growth.