North Texas schools downgraded in state's new ratings
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Fort Worth ISD is at risk of a state takeover under Texas' new A-F ratings, which were released yesterday.
Why it matters: More Texas schools are getting failing grades under the rating system, whose release was delayed by years of legal challenges.
- The results come as public school advocates are fighting for resources from state lawmakers who have passed legislation establishing a $1 billion private school voucher program.
Friction point: More than 120 school districts tried to block the release of the 2023 ratings, saying the Texas Education Agency had not given them enough notice before revising their standards.
- The updated standards require high schools to send 88% of their seniors to college, a trade or technical school, or the military, compared to 60% in the past. Districts said this increased metric would result in unfair drops in their ratings.
- An appeals court this month cleared the way for the ratings' release.
Zoom in: A now-closed Fort Worth school had five consecutive years of failing ratings, putting the district at risk of takeover, per the Star-Telegram.
- 43 campuses received an F in the newly-released ratings. 10 received an A. The district got a D rating.
Zoom out: Dallas ISD received a C, with 47 campuses getting an A and 8 getting an F.
- Carroll, Frisco and Highland Park school districts received an A.
- HEB, Lewisville and Plano got a B.
- Arlington, Carrollton-Farmers Branch, Irving and Richardson ISDs received a C.
- Crowley, DeSoto and Lancaster ISDs got Ds.
By the numbers: 78% of all rated schools statewide received a passing accountability rating, compared with 93% in 2022. Also in 2023, 22% of rated schools had D or F grades, which are considered failing.
Search for school ratings here.
Editor's note: This story has been updated with the share of rated schools that got passing and failing grades.