Pflugerville ISD received a "C" rating, scoring 75 out of 100 possible points.
Some context
The accountability rating system was established during the 2017 legislative session under House Bill 22 to "provide a clear picture of how well districts and campuses are educating students," per TEA documents.
District and campus ratings are based on measures of student achievement including state assessments; graduation rates; and college, career and military readiness, or CCMR, outcomes.
"A," "B" and "C" ratings are considered to be passing, while "D" and "F" are failing ratings.
A closer look
PfISD and other school districts last received ratings in 2021-2022. The district was then rated a "B," and dropped to a "C" in 2022-2023.
Of the 32 PfISD campuses that received ratings:
- 5 received an "A" rating
- 10 received a "B" rating
- 9 received a "C" rating
- 6 received a "D" rating
- 2 received an "F" rating
The full list of individual campus ratings can be viewed here.
How we got here
According to recent Community Impact reporting, over 100 school districts, including Pflugerville ISD, joined a lawsuit against the TEA in August 2023, and argued that the agency’s revamped accountability system was “unlawful” and would unfairly harm school districts.
A Travis County district court judge blocked the release of the 2023 ratings that October, but a state appeals court overturned the injunction and ruled April 3 that the ratings could be released.
Many districts joined a separate lawsuit in August 2024, citing similar issues with the accountability rating system, and a judge further blocked the 2024 ratings.
The TEA remains blocked from issuing the 2023-2024 ratings, and the lawsuit is pending in the state appeals court.
In their own words
In a letter to parents on April 24, PfISD Superintendent Quintin Shepherd noted that the State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness, or STAAR, underwent a redesign in 2023, which had a significant impact on district scores.
Additionally, the TEA revised the CCMR indicator, raising the threshold for an "A" from 60% to 88%, and applied the new rule retroactively to the class of 2023 after they already graduated, he said.
"I want to be clear: this [accountability] rating does not reflect the true learning and growth happening in our classrooms," Shepherd said. "The data used in this accountability system is now nearly two years old, and it does not fully capture the daily efforts of our students, teachers, staff and parents."
Shepherd said officials have also been monitoring district-level assessments and internal data, and said there are "positive gains" in student learning and achievement.
"These results tell a much more accurate and current story: one of resilience, growth, and commitment to excellence," Shepherd said.
During an April 22 press call, TEA Commissioner Mike Morath said studies show that "accountability works—the public issuance of ratings for school systems does positively affect the academic and life outcomes of children."
What's next
The TEA intends to release ratings for the 2024-2025 school year on Aug. 15, Morath said, and expects some districts will face state intervention based on the 2023 ratings.
