Texas school districts push back on "unfair" 2023 performance ratings
New school and school district performance ratings are out across Texas, grading on a scale from A to F. But district leaders across the state argue the results are not only outdated, but they're unfair.
The ratings, released by the Texas Education Agency, are based on data from 2023, even though it's now well into the 2024 school year.
Many district leaders say the scoring system sets schools and districts up for failure.
The TEA has been grading schools and districts on an A through F scale since 2018. But in 2023, the agency implemented a new accountability system, making it tougher to earn A ratings. That includes a redesigned STAAR test and stricter requirements in college, career, and military readiness.
Arlington Independent School District Superintendent Dr. Matt Smith said the changes have been frustrating for districts across the state.
"In this transition, I think it painted public schools negatively," Smith said.
In fact, more than 100 school districts, including Dallas ISD and Fort Worth ISD, joined a lawsuit in 2023 accusing the TEA of not providing a sufficient warning about the new criteria. Many districts say their scores dropped dramatically, sometimes by more than 10 points, even when academic performance improved.
"I do feel it was unfair," Smith said. "I've been a superintendent for a number of years, and I don't know anyone who thought that changing the STAAR test and accountability system in one year was a smart move."
In Arlington ISD alone, 16 campuses received an F rating in 2023. The year before, none did.
Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath has defended the tougher standards, saying they raise expectations and better prepare students for life after graduation.
"The reason that we evaluate performance is so we can reflect on how well we are working as adults today," Morath said.
Still, many districts feel the current ratings do not accurately reflect their progress—or their students' hard work.
"Look at the bigger picture rather than just the A through F score or STAAR test score," Smith said. "There's more to the story and more to tell."
Parents have not had much consistency in recent years when it comes to ratings.
No scores were issued in 2020 or 2021 due to COVID-19.
While ratings returned in 2022, the TEA said they were still heavily impacted by pandemic-related disruptions.
Then, the accountability system changed again in 2023, and now, ratings for 2024 are being held up in another ongoing lawsuit.
The TEA plans to release new ratings based on the 2025 school year in August. For families, that may be the first chance in years to make a solid comparison.
