Education
BY ANGELA BONILLA, HANNAH NORTON & JULIANNA WASHBURN
Conroe, Tomball ISDs receive TEA accountability ratings
New data shows Conroe ISD earned a B rating, or a score of 85 out of 100, for both the 2023-24 and 2024-25 school years, according to the Texas Education Agency’s A-F ratings released Aug. 15. Texas schools are rated by the TEA on an A-F scale based on three criteria: student achievement, school progress and closing the gaps. A district statement from Andrew Stewart, executive director of communications for CISD, said many campuses saw improvement in 2024-25. “Several campuses advanced from a ‘C’ rating or below to an ‘A’ or ‘B’ rating, which is a testament to effective teaching and targeted support strategies,” Stewart said. “The district’s ‘B’ rated campuses continued their strong, consistent performance, providing families with reliable, high-quality education year after year.” Meanwhile, Tomball ISD, which serves Creekside Park in The Woodlands, received an A for the 2023-24 school year with 91 out of 100 possible points and an A with 92 out of 100 possible points for the 2024-25 school year, according to the TEA. “This A rating is a direct reflection of the dedication
Conroe ISD A-F ratings
Tomball ISD A-F ratings
2023-24
2023-24
2024-25
2024-25
30 25 20
20
15
15
10
10
5
5
0
0
A
A
B
C
D
F
B
C
D
F
Rating
Rating
SOURCE: TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY/COMMUNITY IMPACT
Elementary and middle school ratings are largely based on the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness. High school ratings are based on the STAAR and how well students are prepared for success after graduation.
and hard work of our incredible students, teachers and campus leaders,” TISD Superintendent Martha Salazar-Zamora said in an Aug. 15 news release. “It’s also a testament to the powerful partnership we share with our parents, who are our most vital collaborators in education.”
Digging deeper
Texas’ 15th Court of Appeals ruled in July that the 2024 ratings could be released, and the TEA said they would be issued with the 2025 ratings. “Millions of dollars and thousands of hours of work by teachers, administrators and experts have been invested in creating the A-F ratings system; courts can decide only whether it is legal, not whether it is wise or fair, much less commandeer the job of running it,” Chief Justice Scott Brister wrote in the ruling.
schools,” Stewart said. TISD also did not receive any F ratings. State law requires that annual A-F ratings be issued by Aug. 15 of each year; however, the 2024 ratings were blocked for nearly one year after 33 school districts sued the TEA last August, arguing that the agency made it “mathematically impos- sible” for some schools to earn a high score and waited too long to notify districts about changes to the state accountability system.
Districts and campuses that scored a D or F may receive extra resources and support from the state, according to the TEA website. Under state law, if at least one campus in a school district receives a failing grade for five consecutive years, the commissioner is required to close that campus or appoint a board of managers. “We’re particularly proud that Conroe ISD maintains zero ‘F’ rated campuses, while con- tinuing to elevate student achievement across all
Put in perspective
Statewide campus performance
2024-25
2023-24
“Telling a parent today how well their school did in 2024 doesn’t help them with the supports they need to provide their kid [now],” Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath told reporters Aug. 14. “It is great now to have this tool back to help support our families [and] also support our educators.”
Across the state, most school districts and campuses maintained or improved their A-F ratings between the two school years. Of the 1,208 school districts across Texas, data shows 24% received a higher rating, 64% kept the same rating and 12% received a lower rating. Of the state’s 9,084 campuses, 15% received a lower grade, according to the data.
A: 23% B: 33% C: 24% D: 10% F: 4% Not rated: 6%
A: 18% B: 31% C: 25% D: 14% F: 8% Not rated: 6%
NOTE: PERCENTAGES MAY NOT ADD UP TO 100% DUE TO ROUNDING. SOURCE: TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY/COMMUNITY IMPACT
25
THE WOODLANDS EDITION
Powered by FlippingBook