Prior to the 2022-23 school year, both districts were ranked “A,” according to the TEA.
How we got here
The state’s A-F accountability system was designed in 2017 to measure student progress and preparation for the next grade level, Community Impact reported, with state law requiring that annual A-F ratings be issued by Aug. 15 of each year.
In 2023, over 100 Texas school districts sued TEA Commissioner Mike Morath, claiming updated scoring was "unlawful" and would unfairly harm them, delaying the 2022-23 scores until a court approved their release in April, Community Impact reported. The 2023-24 scores were also delayed nearly a year after 33 districts argued the rising readiness standards made high scores mathematically impossible in August 2024.
The TEA won both lawsuits, with the Chief Justice Scott Brister of the 15th Court of Appeals ruling in July that the system was legal regardless of if “wise or fair," although Morath said “the parents lost” due to outdated information.
“It is great now to have this tool back to help support our families and educators,” he said.
Read more about Community Impact's statewide coverage here.
The results
Texas schools are rated A-F based on student achievement, school progress and closing achievement gaps, per the release. Elementary and middle school ratings rely mainly on State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness, or STAAR, starting in third grade, while high school ratings include STAAR results and post-graduation readiness, according to the release.
For the 2024-25 school year, out of the 74 KISD campuses that received ratings:
- 37 earned an A
- 24 earned a B
- 10 earned a C
- Three earned a D
Meanwhile, out of the 46 LCISD campuses that received ratings:
- 24 earned an A
- 17 earned a B
- Four earned a C
- One earned a D
Digging deeper
Campuses that received a D or F for the 2023-24 or 2024-25 school year are considered “unacceptable” and are mandated to submit a turnaround plan for TEA approval by Nov. 14 according to the TEA. Under state law, schools with five consecutive failing grades must be closed or placed under a board of managers—like Houston ISD, which has been under state control since June 2023 that was extended until 2027, Community Impact reported.
According to the data, KISD campuses to watch include:
- Cimarron Elementary School and Hutsell Elementary School, which have both received a D since the 2023-24 school year
- Leonard Elementary School, which dropped from B in the 2023-24 school year to D in the 2024-25 school year
Zooming out
KISD and LCISD were part of the 85% of campuses statewide that TEA Commissioner Mike Morath said received the same rating or improvement since the 2023-24 school year.
Compared to the state and region, both districts had a high proportion of “A” campuses, with over half or slightly more campuses with the rating compared to under 30%, per the data.
What they’re saying
LCISD Chief Learning Officer Chistri Cottongame said the results highlight the hard work of students, educators and the community, as well as the district’s commitment to student achievement and continuous improvement. She said the district remains focused on supporting all campuses and ensuring every student receives a high-quality education.
“While we celebrate the strong overall performance, we remain committed to supporting every campus in its journey toward success,” she said. “We will continue to analyze the data to identify areas of growth and ensure every student has access to an elite education.”
Community Impact reached out to KISD to discuss the scores, but a comment was not returned by press time.
Looking ahead
Learn more about state, district or campus-specific information on the ratings at www.txschools.gov.
