Case Study: Carroll Independent School District achieves record community engagement with Thoughtexchange

Carroll Independent School District engages record numbers with Thoughtexchange

Carroll Independent School District, a K–12 district in the Dallas–Fort Worth area serving 11 schools and over 8,000 students, needed a better way to engage the public as part of a new strategic plan and to inform upcoming attendance rezoning and build‑out decisions. Traditional surveys and town halls produced low turnout, so district leaders sought a tool that could create broad, authentic two‑way dialogue with families and staff.

The district used Thoughtexchange — a hybrid of open‑ended survey, town hall and social interaction — including its Star step to let the community see and prioritize ideas. The effort drew 3,936 participants (about 35% of the district’s email list), generated 9,210 thoughts and 256,577 stars, validated the Strategic Planning Committee’s findings, and established a model the district will use for bond discussions, rezoning and ongoing community engagement.

Carroll Independent School District

David Faltys

Superintendent