Case Study: Stephenville Independent School District achieves S&P Financial Management Assessment upgrade (Management: Standard → Good) with Frontline Education

Stephenville ISD Improves Marks in S&P Financial Management Assessment

Stephenville Independent School District (Stephenville, TX; K–12 enrollment 3,427) needed to strengthen fiscal management to protect staff, community and students and to improve its S&P Financial Management Assessment and bond positioning. Working with Frontline Education, the district adopted Frontline’s Comparative Analytics, Financial Planning Analytics, and Budget Management Analytics to formalize multi‑year financial planning and budgeting.

Using Frontline Education’s tools, Stephenville ISD developed revenue and expenditure assumptions, produced a five‑year forecast for the board, implemented monthly budget‑to‑actual reporting, and adopted an informal reserve policy. As a result, S&P upgraded the district’s Management assessment from “Standard” to “Good,” and the district now delivers clearer monthly investment and budget reports and maintainable five‑year projections — a measurable improvement in financial practices and transparency.

Stephenville Independent School District

Teri Hodges

Executive Director for Finance and Operations