Public school students must perform to at least the “approaches grade level” standard to pass the test. Results from the most recent test were released Aug. 16.
The district is trending way above the state average in grades 3-8 in reading and math. Almost every grade level and subject scored ranged from 96% to 98% at approaching grade level—the lone exception was eighth grade social studies.
The overview
Students in the third through eighth grades demonstrated well-above average scores compared to the state average. For instance, third grade reading had 98% approaching grade level, while the state average was 77%.
- The percentage of students passing reading exams increased in fifth and seventh grade and dipped 1 percentage point in fourth and eighth, though both are at 98% approaching grade level.
- Eighth grade students reading rates were 98%, while the math were 99%, which was an improvement of 2 percentage points in the latter.
- The biggest dip in scores was the eighth grade social studies at 95%, down 2 percentage points from 2022 scores.
Because the STAAR was redesigned in 2023, this year's scores cannot be directly compared to those of previous years. House Bill 3906 in 2019 mandated a redesign “to better align with classroom instruction,” officials said. The redesign was a multiyear collaboration between the Texas Education Agency and state educators, students, parents and community members.
Assessments this year emphasized writing skills, and this was the first year tests were administered almost exclusively online.
