The STAAR includes reading, math, writing, science and social studies, while the EOC exams include algebra I, biology, English I, English II and U.S. History. Statewide, student performance slipped from from spring 2019 to spring 2021, performing better in only the English I EOC, English II EOC and U.S. History EOC exams, according to data from the Texas Education Agency. Spring 2020 results are not available because the test was not administered during the pandemic.
WISD students generally saw lower results from spring 2019 to spring 2021 across all subject areas, except for fifth grade reading, sixth grade reading, English I EOC and English II EOC. MISD students scored lower in spring 2021 compared to spring 2019 in all subject areas, save seventh grade writing, English I EOC, and English II EOC. MISD students scored higher than the state average in all subject areas for both years.
Data suggests remote learning contributed to learning loss, particularly for math, which saw a 15% decline in the percentage of Texas students that are doing math at or above grade level from 2019, TEA Commissioner Mike Morath said at a June 28 press conference. Math results had been improving since 2013, when they were at a 34% passing rate, to a 50% passing rate in 2019, but 2021 rates plummeted to 35%.
“The performance decline is noticeable," he said. “... This is probably 800,000 more students in Texas in mathematics that are noticeably below grade level this year as a result of COVID than in normal years.”
MISD and WISD saw their math scores dip across the board, with the highest drop being third grade and seventh grade, respectively.
