Average passage rates were higher this year than in 2021 in all subjects except English II and U.S. history at the high school level. SISD students’ English II and U.S. history STAAR end-of-course, or EOC, scores were 3% and 1% lower, respectively, this year than in 2021, according to data from the Texas Education Agency.
SISD students improved their scores the most on the eighth and fourth grade reading STAAR exams year over year, seeing 22% and 20% jumps, respectively.
However, compared to statewide scores for this spring, SISD students performed below average in all STAAR tests and EOC exams covering core subjects—which include language arts, social studies, math and science—according to TEA data. The biggest gap was shown in SISD’s algebra I EOC exam and eighth grade social studies scores, which were 25% and 24% below the state averages, respectively.
SISD students also scored lower than the statewide STAAR and EOC averages for 2021.
In a July 1 news release from the TEA, officials acknowledged scores improved across the state from 2021 to 2022, most notably in reading. TEA Commissioner Mike Morath said the results point to a brighter future, but students are still performing below pre-COVID-19 levels in mathematics.
“The investments that the state is making in reading academies and accelerated instruction are clearly paying dividends for our students, and the results are a testament to the hard work of teachers across our state,” Morath said in a statement. “While we still have much work to do to recover from COVID[-19]-related learning loss in mathematics, the improvements our students have made in reading are clear."
State legislation passed in 2021 targeted the learning gaps formed during the pandemic, and additional legislation is expected to be implemented ahead of STAAR testing in 2023.
One such change will be the implementation of House Bill 3906, requiring a redesign of the STAAR test to better align with classroom instruction. The test will also move to total online administration next year. Students in grades 3-8 will take writing assessments as part of the reading test in spring 2023. According to the TEA, the changes strive to improve student engagement and reduce "teaching to the test."
Click here for more STAAR and end-of-course exam results.
Mikah Boyd contributed to this report.
