Some STAAR scores rebound, others lag
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Texas students haven't fully overcome the effects of the pandemic on education.
Why it matters: Standardized test results provide key insights into high school students' command of algebra, English, biology and U.S. history, influencing decisions on curriculum, resource allocation and teacher development.
The big picture: Only English scores from the spring 2024 State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) test showed improvement from pre-pandemic levels, per results released by the Texas Education Agency.
- Statewide results show consistent "meets grade-level" achievement in algebra, biology and English I.
How it works: Districts can choose to use test results as a measure for the Teacher Incentive Allotment, a merit program funded by the state.
- The state's A-F accountability system, which can influence property values and investment, is also heavily reliant on STAAR performance.
- High school seniors must pass all five STAAR tests to graduate.
What they found: The number of students meeting grade level for English II saw a 4% uptick from 2023.
- English I (54%) and English II (60%) exceeded the pre-pandemic "meets" rates of 49% and 51%, respectively.
Yes, but: In U.S. History, there was a 2% decrease in the percentage of students meeting grade level — though Texas students perform better on the history tests than the other subjects.
- Algebra saw the biggest drop from pre-pandemic levels.
Zoom in: Test scores for Regions 10 and 11, which encompass North Texas school districts, reflect statewide trends.
What's next: STAAR results for grades 3 through 8 will be released Friday.
- Families can explore district and campus data here.