San Marcos CISD received a C rating in overall performance for the 2024-25 school year, scoring 76 of 100 possible points in the Texas Education Agency’s 2024-25 accountability ratings released Aug. 15.
In addition to overall improvement, the district showed year-over-year gains across its various campuses.
The breakdown
Ratings are calculated based on TEA standards for three performance categories, including student achievement, school progress and closing the gaps—which measures how school districts tackle performance disparities among varying student groups.
The district receives both an overall score and an individual score for the performance categories. SMCISD TEA results show gains in performance from the 2022-23 to 2024-25 school years, jumping from D to C ratings throughout the past three years.
SMCISD’s campuses have also improved since the 2022-23 school year.
For example, Bowie Elementary jumped from two consecutive F scores in 2022-24 to a D in the 2024-25 school year.
DeZavala and Travis Elementary schools and San Marcos High School also improved their previous F scores, jumping to C, D and C scores, respectively.
Improving "unacceptable" scores, including D and F ratings, can help school districts avoid state takeovers, which can stem from campuses scoring failing grades for five consecutive years. Districts and campuses that received a D or F rating in 2024 or 2025 may receive extra resources and support from the state, according to the TEA website.
Other schools—Crockett Elementary with a B score and Miller Middle School with a C score—kept their letter rating but had some numerical grade improvements.
SMCISD Superintendent Michael Cardona said the ratings reflect improvement efforts from the district community.
"These accountability results affirm that our strategic efforts are making a measurable impact," he said in an emailed statement to Community Impact. We remain deeply committed to ongoing growth and to ensuring every student in SMCISD has access to a high-quality education in a safe, supportive environment."
Zooming out
While the 2024-25 ratings were released on time, ratings for the 2023-24 school year were held up in a legal battle between the TEA and over 33 school districts statewide, including SMCISD’s neighboring district, Hays CISD.
The districts challenged the TEA due to concerns that it was “mathematically impossible” for districts to receive an A rating, as the scoring system raised the metrics required to earn that score.
The ratings from the 2022-23 school year had also faced legal battle, citing similar concerns over fair grading and transparency.
Those ratings were released in April, marking the first time schools had received complete ratings since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the lawsuits.
An estimated 31% of 9,084 districts across Texas received higher grades in 2025. Around 55% of districts received the same grade, while 15% received lower scores.
Read about the state breakdown here. Learn more about how Texas lawmakers are working to make it harder for districts to sue the TEA for accountability ratings here.
Learn more
View the state TEA accountability ratings here, and district and campus breakdowns here. For more information about TEA A-F ratings, visit the agency’s website at www.tea.texas.gov.
Hannah Norton and Chloe Young contributed to this article.
