In a nutshell
The TEA’s Financial Accountability Rating System of Texas, or FIRST, rates school districts on several financial factors, adding up to a maximum score of 100. GCISD scored a 94, earning a "superior" rating—the highest in the system according to the TEA’s website.
“The district was in good financial shape in 23-24, we’re in good financial shape today. We’re facing some challenges. That said, the board and the district has done well,” Johnson said.
The details
GCISD lost four points in the solvency category due to a $34 million recapture payment, which added to the district’s financial liabilities, Johnson said.
The district lost an additional two points in the same category for spending about 2.4% more on administrative costs than the state threshold. Johnson noted that while the district is above the threshold, it had decreased since the previous year, from 8.94% to 8.76%.
This improvement in administrative costs caused the district to gain two points from last year’s score of 92, Johnson said.
GCISD did not lose points anywhere else in the rating, gaining all points in other categories such as debt payment, financial reporting and compliance, per Johnson’s report.
Zooming out
GCISD has received the highest possible rating for the past 23 years, district documents state. The TEA’s website shows Carroll ISD scored a 92, Coppell ISD scored a 96 and Irving ISD scored a 100.
“I think Grapevine-Colleyville ISD did very well for the 23-24 fiscal year,” Johnson said.
