With the exception of fifth-grade science and seventh-grade reading, the percentage of Spring ISD students in third to eighth grades approaching grade level either improved or remained the same from 2022 scores for the spring administration of the English version of the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, according to results released Aug. 16.
Diving in deeper
The Texas Education Agency released STAAR scores for school districts across Texas on Aug. 16, including SISD’s scores for students in grades 3-8 who were tested in English or Spanish in the core subjects of reading, math, science and social studies.
About one-third of SISD’s student population, or 10,712 students, are considered emergent bilingual or English as a second language learners.
Public school students must perform to at least the “approaches grade level” standard to pass the test.
For the spring’s test results:
- The percentage of fifth-grade science students and seventh-grade reading students who scored approaching grade level were 45% and 66%, respectively, compared to 49% and 69% in 2022.
- The percentage of passing students for the Spanish-speakers' STAAR fell in five subjects compared to 2022, improved by 4% for fifth-grade math and remained the same for fourth-grade reading.
- The percentage of students who passed was the highest for eighth-grade reading with 77% approaching grade level, while the group with the lowest percentage of passing students was fifth-grade Spanish science with 27% approaching grade level.
- Of the 22 total tested subject areas, SISD improved in the percentage of passing students for 11 subjects from 2022 to 2023 and saw no change in four subjects.
- SISD performed above the state average in eighth-grade social studies with 47% approaching grade level, while the state average is 40%. SISD’s other tested subjects had less students who passed than the state average.
- Sixth-grade reading and eighth-grade social studies saw the most improvement from 2022 to 2023 with the percentage of students who passed each jumping 12 percentage points for approaching grade level.
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 the test with classroom instruction,” officials said.
- The redesign was a multiyear collaboration among the TEA, state educators, students, parents and community members, according to TEA officials.
- This was the first year tests were administered almost exclusively online.
- Assessments this year emphasized writing skills.
Statewide, students have recovered from reading and language arts learning loss due to the pandemic, according to the TEA. Meanwhile, data shows schools are continuing to struggle to bring scores to prepandemic levels in math.
The percentage of students statewide approaching grade level 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.
Families can view their child’s exam scores at www.texasassessment.gov. Learn more about statewide results here.
Danica Lloyd, Dave Manning and Brooke Sjoberg contributed to this report.
