Year-over-year standardized test passage rates slightly declined across most subjects in grades 3-8 statewide as well as in Humble ISD, according to the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness results released June 14.
The state and district saw little improvement in the rates of students approaching grade level—which is considered passing—in reading and math between the spring 2023 and spring 2024 administrations of the STAAR.
Statewide, students saw decreased passage rates for math scores across every grade level. According to a June 14 news release from the Texas Education Agency, the decrease in math proficiency can be attributed to learning loss during the COVID-19 pandemic.Some context
The STAAR was redesigned in 2023, and there were new changes implemented in how tests were graded in 2024.
In 2019, House Bill 3906 mandated a redesign of the state's standardized test, which was primarily administered online from that point forward. The updates also emphasized writing skills and included a larger variety of questions, according to the TEA’s website.
According to the TEA, the 2024 tests were graded almost exclusively by computers in an effort by the state to save money and make the grading system more efficient.
Humble ISD Chief Communications Officer Jamie Mount said teachers have adjusted to teaching to the new format.
"Teachers helped students prepare by providing their classes with experiences similar to what is experienced on test day," Mount said. "Students took practice tests using questions that resemble what they might see on the test. Some of these practice tests were taken on computers. Teachers received data back from the practice tests so that they could adjust their lessons to the students’ academic needs."
Families can access their child’s results at www.texasassessment.gov.
A closer look
Despite the declining passage rates for most grade levels, HISD students did show improvement in some areas, including:
- Gains in fourth grade reading, rising from 77% of students approaching grade level in 2023 to 82% in 2024
- A slight improvement in third grade math, rising from 70% of students approaching grade level in 2023 to 71% in 2024
HISD high school students also showed improvement in their end-of-course exams, including:
- Gains in U.S. history, rising from 96% of students approaching in 2023 to 97% in 2024
- Gains in biology, rising from 92% of students approaching in 2023 to 93% in 2024
- Gains in algebra, rising from 80% of students approaching in 2023 to 81% in 2024
However, Mount noted the district still had room to improve on some of the exams.
"Math scores in grades 4, 5, and 7 were below the state average," Mount said. "We believe our students can score higher and there will be dedicated focus on math this school year to help everyone excel."
Statewide, third, fifth, seventh and eighth grade results showed a decrease in reading proficiency year over year. The largest declines in performance statewide were in seventh grade math with 53% passing in 2024 compared to 61% in 2023.
What’s next
The TEA is planning to release A-F accountability ratings for the 2023-24 school year on Aug. 15, which will mark the first official look at grades under the state's redesigned performance standards.
The TEA typically assigns scores to each public school district and campus every year based on standardized test performance, student growth, and progress on closing racial and socioeconomic achievement gaps. However, the agency has not released ratings since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and a lawsuit, which halted the release of scores last year.
