Bastrop ISD earned a C in the Texas Education Agency’s 2026 accountability ratings, but district leaders are aiming higher.
With new support systems, district officials said they hope to raise the district’s rating to a B within two years.
The gist
Following two consecutive years as a C-rated district, Bastrop ISD leaders announced at the State of the District meeting their goal is to reach a B rating with no low-performing campuses over the next two years.
How it works
The TEA Accountability Rating System evaluates campus and district performance with three categories: student achievement, school progress and closing the gaps.
To calculate campus ratings, the higher score between student achievement and school progress accounts for 70% of the overall evaluation, while closing the gaps contributes the remaining 30%.
For district-level ratings, a proportionality method is applied that factors in overall performance across these three domains alongside individual campus scores and student enrollment numbers.
The resulting scaled score, on a 1–100 scale, is converted into a letter grade.
A = 90–100
B = 80-89
C = 70-79
D = 60-69
F ≤ 59
Breaking it down
Student achievement measures graduation rates, student preparedness after high school and whether students met expectations on the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, or STAAR.
School progress evaluates student academic growth over time and student performance in comparison to campuses with similar economically disadvantaged demographics.
Closing the gaps takes into account how well a school or district is ensuring that all student groups are successful, specifically in historically underperforming or vulnerable groups.
What this means
Bastrop ISD demonstrated steady growth in its accountability performance, raising its overall score from 65 to 72 points, a D to a C rating, since the 2022-23 school year.
Compared to the previous year, the district’s overall score rose by one point. District-wide progress showed a three-point gain in student achievement, offset by a three-point decline in closing the gaps.
In the 2025-26 accountability ratings, eight of the 17 evaluated campuses earned an A or B, and five campuses received an F.
When compared to the 2024-25 school year, eight campuses raised their evaluation by at least one letter grade, highlighted by Cedar Creek Middle School's two-grade advancement. During the same period, two campuses experienced a decline of one letter grade.
What they're saying
“This is a moment to recognize the tremendous work happening in our classrooms while also being transparent about where we are,” Superintendent Kristi Lee said in a release. “Our students and staff made real, measurable progress. We know where we need to improve, we have a plan for getting there and we are on a mission to ensure every student and every campus succeeds.”
Going forward
According to the release, the district has already refined campus support systems, tailoring assistance to each campus's needs.
The support systems include:
Monthly campus support team meetings
Weekly one-on-one leadership support directly from the chief academic officer and the directors of elementary and secondary education
Frequent observation of classroom instruction by district leadership
Targeted instructional and leadership support based specifically on the needs of each campus
“Our mission is bigger than a rating,” Lee said. “It is about making sure every child in Bastrop ISD has access to excellent teaching, strong schools and opportunities that prepare them for what comes next.”
