MagicSchool's Districts Leading the Way: Class of 2026

Every year, school district leaders across the country make important decisions on behalf of their students and teachers. They rethink long-standing systems, solve complex challenges, and look for ways to strengthen teaching and learning across their communities.

This report spotlights MagicSchool partner districts helping demonstrate what thoughtful AI implementation can look like in practice. From large urban systems to fast-growing suburban communities, these districts are approaching AI with intention, keeping teachers at the center and students at the heart of every decision.

Meet the 2026 class of MagicSchool's Districts Leading the Way.

Atlanta Public Schools: Keeping relationships at the heart of learning

In Atlanta, district leaders are approaching AI adoption with a strong focus on people. Serving approximately 50,000 students, Atlanta Public Schools has looked at how new tools can help educators provide more individualized support while creating more opportunities for meaningful student engagement.

Across the district, conversations about AI have remained closely connected to relationships: supporting teachers, strengthening connections with students, and helping learners feel seen throughout the educational experience. Atlanta stands out for keeping human connection at the center of its approach to innovation.

Buffalo Public Schools: Creating more capacity for student success

Serving over 29,000 students, Buffalo Public Schools is leading a pedagogical transformation through its Prompt Pioneers initiative. Rather than viewing AI solely as a productivity tool, the district has refocused its Instructional Technology Coaches to serve as instructional design partners who work alongside teachers through Unified Coaching Cycles. 

This human-centered approach empowers educators to use AI as a high-level thought partner for deep lesson design, higher-order questioning, and creating inclusive supports that ensure all learners have access to rigorous, personalized instruction.

Davis School District: Supporting all learners 

North of Salt Lake City, Davis School District serves approximately 70,000 students. District leaders have focused on helping educators create more personalized and engaging learning experiences across classrooms.

Teachers are using AI to help streamline routine tasks, saving them time for creating more opportunities for individualized support. While implementing AI tools in the classroom, Davis has committed to preserving the relationships, responsiveness, and personal attention that help students feel seen and supported.

Denver Public Schools: Expanding access across schools and classrooms 

For Denver Public Schools, conversations around AI adoption have been closely connected to broader efforts to support educators and build culturally and linguistically sustaining practices across the district. Serving approximately 90,000 students, DPS has focused on how new tools can fit naturally into and elevate teachers’ high-quality, equitable, and joyful instruction.

Rather than limiting AI to small-scale pilots, Denver has taken a distributive effort amongst district leaders—from principals to curriculum specialists to department directors—to consider how AI adoption can support educators and students across school systems and classrooms. The result is an approach that strengthens districtwide coherence while honoring the assets, identities, and imaginations of educators, students, and their communities. 

Hillsborough County Public Schools: Helping teachers navigate change with confidence

In the Tampa Bay region, Hillsborough County Public Schools has taken an intentional and thoughtful approach to AI. Serving more than 224,000 students across one of Florida’s largest districts, leaders moved early to identify ways AI could support educators in practical, classroom-ready ways and help teachers navigate growing demands on their time. 

Across the district, educators are finding ways to save time on planning and differentiation while creating more space for student support and engagement. Hillsborough stands out for its willingness to move strategically at scale, recognizing that supporting teachers through change matters just as much as the technology itself.

Horry County Schools: Meeting educators where they are

Stretching from South Carolina's coastline to its inland communities, Horry County Schools serves students across a wide range of communities and learning environments. School leaders have focused on how AI adoption can provide flexible support for teachers and students across the county.

From beach towns to suburban neighborhoods and rural schools, educators face different needs and opportunities. Horry County's work is grounded in a commitment to meeting educators where they are and providing tools that can support teaching and learning across a diverse district.

Northside Independent School District: Making AI part of everyday teaching and learning

In San Antonio, Northside ISD is demonstrating what thoughtful AI adoption can look like at scale. Serving nearly 100,000 students, the district has taken a measured, system-wide approach to supporting educators as AI tools become part of everyday teaching and learning.

Rather than treating AI as a separate initiative, Northside has focused on helping educators incorporate new tools into familiar routines and responsibilities. The result is an approach that feels practical, sustainable, and designed to support long-term success.

Pinellas County Schools: Creating more time for students

Along Florida’s Gulf Coast, Pinellas County Schools has focused its AI efforts on helping teachers make the most of their time. Serving a diverse student population across urban and suburban communities, the district has looked at how AI adoption can help educators differentiate instruction and meet students where they are.

Across Pinellas, teachers are finding opportunities to spend less time on repetitive tasks and more time focused on planning, feedback, and student engagement throughout the school day.

Seattle Public Schools: Helping more students get the learning support they need

Educators across Seattle Public Schools (SPS) are leveraging AI to support feedback, accessibility, and differentiation as part of high-quality, equity-driven instruction. This work is paired with clearer expectations around AI literacy as a key component of digital citizenship and media literacy, helping students better understand AI, its impacts, and how to use it thoughtfully and responsibly.

Serving roughly 52,000 students, the district is taking a strategic approach to AI that prioritizes literacy for both students and educators, in addition to safe and equitable access. Looking ahead, SPS is working toward “becoming America's best urban school district”, and plans to use all of its resources, including AI, to drive meaningful performance improvements for all student groups.

What’s next?

Each of these districts is taking its own path, but a common thread runs through all of them: a commitment to supporting educators and helping students thrive.

Whether the goal is creating more time for meaningful student interactions, expanding access to learning support, preserving personalization as districts grow, or strengthening relationships in the classroom, these leaders are exploring how AI can help make that work more possible.

We're proud to partner with the educators and district leaders leading the way. Their curiosity and openness to new ideas are helping shape what's possible for schools, one classroom and one student at a time.

Inspired by what these districts are building? Whether you’re starting to explore AI or looking to deepen implementation, our team is here to help you navigate what’s possible for your teachers and students. Learn more and explore MagicSchool case studies.

MagicSchool partner districts were selected based on platform engagement and adoption trends, reflecting educators actively integrating AI tools into their instructional practice. Final selections considered district size, geography, and student demographics to ensure representation across a wide range of school communities.