From FlexTime to Student Success: How Houston County High Boosted Engagement and Improved Behavior with Minga
With Minga FlexTime, Houston County High turned a daily scheduling scramble into a smooth routine that supports intervention, enrichment, and stronger student outcomes. Delivering student success, not just scheduling it.
About Houston County High School
Students
360
Grades
9-12
The Challenge
The Promise of Personalized Learning — Undone by Broken Systems
Houston County High is a small rural Title I school where resources are limited but the demand for student support is high. To bridge learning gaps, school leaders introduced a daily period for intervention, enrichment, and personalized learning: “flex block”. The idea was simple: struggling students would receive targeted help, while others could choose from a range of purposeful activities designed to keep them challenged.
But without the right system, good intentions turned into daily struggles. Teachers and administrators wrestled with complex spreadsheets just to track who belonged where, and even then, students weren’t always placed in the right setting. High-achieving students often landed in filler activities that left them disengaged, while those who needed academic intervention sometimes slipped through the cracks.
Meanwhile, the lack of structure spilled into hallways. Too many students wandered without accountability, and conflicts that began outside school often carried into the building, creating unnecessary disruptions. Instead of maximizing learning time, the school was spending energy managing movement and behavior. Principal Josh Rutherford and his team needed a way to make their flex block meaningful — delivering timely support, purposeful learning, and fewer disruptions.
KEY PROBLEM AREAS:
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When you have 40% of your population that you’re trying to put into study halls, you’ve got 60% that need somewhere else to go. How do we get these kids to know where they have to go and how to get there?”
The Solution
Structure, Support, and Student Success — Made Simple
Principal Rutherford was first drawn to Minga for its digital hall passes and check-in tools, but quickly realized the real breakthrough was FlexTime. Instead of hours spent wrestling with spreadsheets, he could now build and duplicate schedules in minutes. More importantly, students who needed intervention were reliably placed where they’d get support, while others could choose meaningful activities that kept them engaged and connected to school. What once felt like chaos now ran with clarity and purpose.
Beyond scheduling, Minga gave Houston County High something more valuable: a unified way to connect their flex block with behavior, accountability, and student success. Digital hall passes reduced disruptions and prevented problem groups from clustering, while centralized check-ins ensured every student was accounted for. Together, these tools gave staff the visibility and confidence to keep students on track, reduce conflict, and maximize learning time.
The Minga Advantage
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Our flex block used to be chaos — manual tracking, session switching, and spreadsheet adjusting. With Minga, the majority of our flex block issues have been resolved. I can set up our schedule in minutes. I build it once, duplicate it, and it’s done. Minga has taken what was quite a chaotic time by nature and design and given a layer of order to it all.”
The Outcomes
Increased Efficiency Paves the Way for Richer Educational Experiences
“Flex Block” Schedules are Far Easier to Manage
Minga’s FlexTime has streamlined the process of assigning students to study halls and activities. This has saved administrators a ton of time, easily created personalized learning paths, and helped students stay on track and reduce the risk of falling behind.
The Success of “Flex Block” Can Now Be Measured
Minga’s detailed attendance reports allow quick monitoring of student attendance in flex blocks and study hall classes. The school secretary can now verify attendance with FlexTime check-ins, streamlining the process that previously relied on manual tracking.
Providing Choice has Boosted Student Engagement
Giving students the option to pick their own flex block activities has led to a positive shift in attitudes towards learning. This newfound freedom has reduced complaints and made students less likely to skip class, because they’ve chosen the lesson themselves.
More Opportunities for Additional Learning
Teachers now have the option to use part of their planning block to host flex activities, offering extra help or guidance to students. This flexibility also extends to hosting special events, such as guest lectures by visiting professors — creating richer educational experiences without adding administrative burden.
A Better Picture of Student Movement
Digital hall passes have equipped Houston County High with detailed insights on student whereabouts, making it easy to ensure every kid is where they’re supposed to be. With just a quick glance at their phone or computer, teachers and admins can effortlessly confirm a student’s location, eliminating the need to search through the halls.
A Unified Campus Management Platform That Provides Clear Data
Instead of piecing together spreadsheets and apps, Houston County gained a single source of truth with Minga. With clear data on attendance and hallway usage, the school can focus less on chasing down students and more on supporting them — turning saved time into stronger outcomes.
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We have to try to remove obstacles that can get kids in trouble, cause when you write a kid up for being in the wrong place, it just kinda sucks. Giving kids a lot more choice in their schedules has given them the opportunity to do something that’s their doing. It removes that level of control in education — now the kids are choosing where they’d like to go.”