Texas School Ratings Up from 2019, but Those in Poorer Neighborhoods Still Lag
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The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has recently released its first public school ratings in three years. Despite the disruptions caused by the pandemic, there has been an increase in the number of schools receiving the highest rating.
Out of the 8,451 schools evaluated, 27.9% received an A rating this year. Another 46.1% received a B, 19.4% received a C, and 6.7% were labeled as "Not Rated." It’s important to note that not all schools and districts are rated, as some are alternative education programs and treatment facilities.
These ratings from the state agency are primarily based on the results of the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) test. They serve as the latest metrics to assess the performance of Texas public schools as they navigate through the challenges posed by the global coronavirus pandemic. Despite the fall and winter surges in COVID-19 cases, forcing some schools to switch back to remote instruction, students were able to return to classroom instruction last year.
TEA Commissioner Mike Morath recognizes the hard work of local educators in achieving these increases, despite the interruptions caused by the pandemic. The A and B categories saw improvements, and the number of schools receiving below-average grades in the "Not Rated" category decreased.
Morath states, "These results demonstrate that our state’s significant investment in post-pandemic academic recovery for Texas public school students is paying off. I am grateful for the dedication of our teachers and local school leaders, which has been the driving force behind this year’s success."
The TEA ratings are determined based on three categories: student performance on the STAAR test, improvement in test scores, and the effectiveness of schools in educating disadvantaged students. The test assesses students’ skills in reading, math, science, and social studies.
Districts also receive an overall rating. Texas has a total of 1,207 school districts, out of which 1,195 were evaluated. Of the evaluated districts, 33.1% received an A, 54% received a B, 9.4% received a C, and 3.5% were labeled as "Not Rated."
This year, the TEA ratings were conducted differently compared to previous years. Instead of the traditional A-F ratings, which were last used in 2019, the agency only assigned A-C ratings.
Districts and schools that would have received a D or F rating were given a "Not Rated" label this year. Schools within these lower tiers will also be exempt from potential TEA sanctions during the 2022-2023 school year. Families can access their school’s accountability ratings on TXschools.gov.
In 2019, when the last ratings were released by TEA, 8,302 schools were rated. Out of those, 21.1% received an A, 39.5% received a B, 26.1% received a C, and 13.3% received failing grades. In the same year, 1,189 districts were rated. Among them, 25.3% received an A, 56.9% received a B, 13% received a C, and 4.8% received failing grades.
Texas still faces challenges when it comes to awarding A grades to "high-poverty" schools. Only 18% of these campuses in Texas received an A rating. TEA designates schools as "high-poverty" if they have over 80% economically disadvantaged students. It is worth noting that more than half of the schools labeled as "Not Rated" fall into this category.
Texas has around 5.4 million students in its public schools, with 60% of them being economically disadvantaged and eligible for free or reduced lunch. Out of the 8,451 schools rated this year, 564 campuses were labeled as "Not Rated." A majority of these campuses (499) cater to students residing in some of the state’s poorest communities.
While there is still work to be done in improving the performance of Texas’ economically disadvantaged schools, Morath believes that the increase in A-rated schools is a promising step towards returning students to pre-pandemic academic levels.
State officials claim that the ratings provide valuable information for parents in their decision-making process regarding schools and districts, and also serve as a way to hold districts accountable to parents and taxpayers. However, critics argue that the system unfairly penalizes schools in lower-income communities, which often receive failing grades and are subject to potential state sanctions, including closure.
Matthew Gutierrez, superintendent of the Seguin Independent School District, expressed frustration with the "Not Rated" label his district received, despite the fact that more than half of its campuses achieved a grade of C or higher. He believes that one of the reasons for this is the impact of the pandemic, which resulted in a decrease in the number of students pursuing higher education, technical careers, or military service. Due to COVID-19 infections since 2019, fewer students took standardized tests such as the ACT or SAT, and there was a decline in industry certifications and dual credit participation.
"I am deeply disappointed by the overall district rating," Gutierrez stated. "The system is incredibly complex and intricate. I feel that the overall score does not accurately reflect the progress we have made as a school district."
Two middle schools in the Seguin district also received the "Not Rated" label. Both schools have a majority Hispanic population, and a higher percentage of economically disadvantaged students compared to the state average. However, Gutierrez remains optimistic that these schools will improve in the future, just as other schools in the district that serve a larger population of low-income students have done.
"We firmly believe in the potential of our students – they just need the appropriate support," he added.
This article was originally published in The Texas Tribune, a nonpartisan newsroom that is supported by its members. Their mission is to inform and engage Texans on state politics and policy. To learn more, visit texastribune.org.
