After grades 3-8 had across-the-board standardized test score improvements from 2021 to 2022 in Cy-Fair ISD, the district did not see the same levels of academic growth from 2022 to 2023, according to results released Aug. 16.

• The percentage of students passing reading exams slightly declined in third, fourth, seventh and eighth grade but stayed the same or improved in grades five and six.
• Math passage rates improved in grades three through six and eight but dropped 3 percentage points for seventh grade.
• Science passage rates dropped for both grades tested—fifth and eighth.
• Eighth grade social studies passage rates dropped by 1 percentage point.

The Texas Education Agency published the statewide results of the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness on Aug. 16. Public school students must perform to at least the “approaches grade level” standard to pass the test. Families can view their child’s individual exam scores at www.texasassessment.gov.

Statewide, students have recovered from reading and language arts learning loss due to the pandemic. Meanwhile, schools are struggling to bring scores to prepandemic levels in math, according to the TEA. Learn more about statewide results here.

STAAR standardized testing scores for all five high school end-of-course exam subjects—Algebra 1, English 1, English 2, biology and U.S. history—increased this spring compared to last year, showing continued academic recovery in the aftermath of pandemic-related disruptions.

Keep in mind

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 TEA 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.