Within districts in Community Impact’s Greater Houston coverage area, Willis and Houston ISDs saw the largest increases across all categories that make up the overall score, per data released by the TEA on Aug. 15.
The big picture
The data showed that between the two school years, the percentage of schools that received an A rating across the TEA’s Region 4 area, which represents most school districts in Greater Houston, grew from 21.9% to 26.9%. Meanwhile, the percentage of B-rated schools grew from 32.6% to 37.9%, while the number of F-rated campuses shrank from 6.4% to 2.6%.
“Year over year, our schools have gotten better across the state for our kids,” Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath told reporters Aug. 14.
Out of the school districts in Community Impact’s coverage area, only Spring ISD experienced a decline year over year, decreasing from a score of 69 to 65. Meanwhile, Houston and Willis ISDs saw 10-point increases in their overall A-F scores to 82 and 77, a B and a C, respectively.
The scores arrived after over 30 school districts said in a 2024 lawsuit that the TEA had made it “mathematically impossible” for many districts to receive an A rating, echoing a 2023 lawsuit from more than 100 school districts. The new system raised the bar from 60% to 88% for high school campuses to receive an A based on students’ readiness for college, a career or the military, according to previous Community Impact reporting.
Accountability scores for the 2022-23 school year were released April 24, marking the first time since 2019 that schools received complete ratings, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the two lawsuits.
State law requires that the A-F system be updated every five years.
Zooming in
Elementary and middle school ratings are largely based on the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, which students begin taking in third grade, while high school ratings are based on the STAAR and how well students are prepared for success after graduation.
Other scoring metrics include school progress, which compares schools with similar demographics, and closing the gaps, which focuses on performance among subgroups such as special education and economically disadvantaged students.
The greatest increases in the student achievement area since the 2022-23 school year include:
- Willis ISD increased by 9 points to 76
- Houston ISD increased by 7 points to 77
- Klein ISD increased by 5 points to 84
Diving in deeper
Meanwhile, the greatest increases in school progress since the 2022-23 school year include:
- Willis ISD increased by 8 points to 75
- Klein ISD increased by 5 points to 85
- Houston ISD increased by 4 points to 78
Another note
However, the greatest increases in the Houston area came in the closing the gap domain, with eight school districts seeing growth, including:
- Willis ISD increased by 17 points to 80
- Houston ISD increased by 15 points to 83
- New Caney ISD increased by 10 points to 74
- Splendora ISD increased by 9 points to 69
- Cy-Fair ISD increased by 9 points to 88
- Klein ISD increased by 8 points to 87
What they’re saying
The score increases for Houston ISD arrived after Superintendent Mike Miles implemented the New Education System at 130 low-performing campuses— a reform part of HISD's state takeover that began in June 2023 and was extended to 2027. The system requires teachers to follow a district-approved curriculum while providing them with added support, such as coaching and apprenticeship.
“The district was struggling, not just academically, but systemically through systems for hiring, providing feedback, evaluating, transporting kids and finances,” Miles said prior to the release of the scores. “The solution has to be different from what we’ve always done.”
In a news release, Willis ISD Superintendent Kimberley James commended her district, which saw the highest growth in schools across the Community Impact’s coverage area.
“The data confirms that our district’s focus, commitment and collaboration are delivering results,” she said. “From 2023-24 to 2024-25, our campuses and district have demonstrated consistent, measurable improvement, reflecting the hard work of our students, staff, families and community partners.”
Meanwhile, Spring ISD board President Justine Durant acknowledged the “urgency” to act with “focus, transparency and commitment” moving forward to improve schools across the district at the Aug. 18 special meeting. She said she is confident the district can do so under the direction of Superintendent Kregg Cuellar, who was named the lone finalist for the position during the meeting.
“I can promise you, with everything in my body, that I will give it everything I have to ensure that we are on our way to an A, and I will not stop until ensuring that every single child has the most optimal learning experience in the entire district,” Cuellar said at the meeting.
Another viewpoint
However, Professor Toni Templeton, senior research scientist at the University of Houston Education Research Center, expressed concern that nearly half of students across the state are not meeting grade-level standards on the STAAR exam.
Across the TEA’s Region 4, which represents all school districts in Greater Houston, the number of students meeting grade-level standards on the 2024-25 STAAR test is only one point higher than it was pre-pandemic for the 2018-19 scores.
Despite some growth, particularly in elementary school reading, Community Impact reported the 2025 STAAR scores statewide remained stable at the middle school level with slight declines in high school.
“In any other industry, if only half the output met the standard, we’d call that a crisis—not a success,” she said. “ We are not a business, but we are accountable for preparing students for the next stage of life—whether that’s college, work or military service.”
On the other hand, Magnolia and Houston ISD have had five-point increases in the percentage of students meeting grade level standards since the 2018-19 STAAR scores, to 57% and 49%, respectively. Alvin ISD had a six-point increase to 56% in 2024-25.
Going forward
Texas lawmakers voted to overhaul the state’s standardized testing system during the second special legislative session. House Bill 8, which was sent to Gov. Greg Abbott on Sept. 4, would eliminate the STAAR and replace it with three shorter tests taken at the beginning, middle and end of each school year. If Abbott signs the bill, the changes will take effect in the 2027-28 school year.
Lawmakers and educators have said the high-stakes STAAR, which launched in 2012, causes undue stress for students and does not help teachers improve instruction throughout the school year, Community Impact reported. Bill author Rep. Brad Buckley, R-Salado, said HB 8 would “reduce test anxiety, provide teachers with immediate feedback and create a pathway for trust in our system again.”
House members who voted against the bill, including most Democrats and a few Republicans, argued it would increase the amount of time students spend taking exams and essentially create “another STAAR test” developed by the TEA.
Hannah Norton, Brooke Sjoberg and Chloe Young contributed to this report.
