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Change.org’s education blog just congratulated Dover Elementary School in Richardson, Texas for its inspiring resurgence after more than two decades of flagging community support and low academic performance.

The Dover story illustrates important conditions of school success and failure. Part of Dover’s history is all too familiar: An influx of immigrant families changes school demographics. Wealthier families flee the public schools. Academic performance drops, and the school labors under a stigma.

That’s where the story takes a different turn:

The school district and school board ushered in a new era of belief that all schools and all students could succeed and achieve. There was strong instructional leadership at the school, as educators and parents became determined to be successful with all students – clearly the hallmark of a quality public school! Current principal Fernando Medina, who identified with many of the students from his early life and who was himself the recipient of a quality education, brought new skills of determination, hard work, and dignity and respect for each student. Academic expectations and results began to rise, bringing with it amazed looks from those who had long ago written off the school. Visits to the school found students returning the dignity and respect that was shown to them, as they exhibited behavior traits that advanced their education profoundly.

Though most come from low-income children, Dover students perform substantially better than Texas students as a whole on state assessments. As the school observes its 50th anniversary, we should all celebrate its story of collaboration among parents, community members, district leaders and school staff.