Dallas and Fort Worth ISDs are among 24% of Texas school districts that received a higher accountability rating this year compared with last year.

• Dallas ISD's rating improved from C to B, while Fort Worth ISD's improved from D to C.

Why it matters: The Texas Education Agency released district and school ratings for 2024 and 2025 on Friday after evaluating schools based on their progress, academic growth, student achievement and performance in comparison with other similar schools.

The big picture: Around 31% of the state's 9,084 public schools scored higher and 15% scored lower compared with last year's ratings.

Catch up quick: Lawsuits over the rating system delayed the release of the 2023-24 school year scores. The 2023 ratings were released in April after an appeals court ruling.

• Fort Worth ISD was at risk of a state takeover after one of its schools received five consecutive years of failing ratings. That school closed in 2023.
• After the 2023 ratings were released this year, TEA commissioner Mike Morath warned the district it would have to make aggressive and immediate improvements.

State of play: Fort Worth ISD is still waiting on a decision from the TEA over whether the state will take over the district, WFAA reported. Morath has said a decision is expected in the coming months.

• Highland Park, Carroll and Lovejoy ISDs were the highest scoring traditional districts in North Texas, with scores topping 94.
• Lake Worth ISD was the region's lowest scoring district and is at risk of a state takeover, the Texas Tribune reports.
• Denton ISD's rating improved from C to B this year.

Zoom in: Student achievement and academic growth were the biggest pain points for Dallas and Fort Worth ISDs in 2024-25, per the new ratings.

• Dallas' four-year graduation rate was roughly 86%, and Fort Worth's was 85%. The state's rate was 91%.

Go deeper: Browse the ratings

Sen. John Cornyn has climbed within the margin of error against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in new, independent polling of Texas GOP primary voters.

Why it matters: It's the first poll since outside groups spent millions of dollars on pro-Cornyn advertising, and since news broke of Paxton's divorce.

• Cornyn's primary chances have otherwise looked bleak, despite Senate GOP leaders warning the White House and major donors that a Paxton nomination could risk the seat.

Zoom in: The Emerson poll released Friday has Cornyn with 30% of Texas GOP primary voters, and Paxton with 29%. The margin of error is +/- 4.4%.

• The same poll showed 37% of voters still undecided.

What they're doing: Groups affiliated with a super PAC linked to Senate Republican leadership have spent more than $4 million over the past month to boost Cornyn with Texas voters, according to AdImpact.

Zoom out: The Emerson poll has Cornyn beating Democrat Colin Allred in a hypothetical match up by seven percentage points, with Paxton winning over Allred by five percentage points.

Dallas billionaire Tom Dundon's sports empire is about to get even bigger. He is among a group of investors that has reached a tentative agreement to buy the Portland Trail Blazers.

The intrigue: Dundon grew up in the Dallas area and attended SMU. His business ventures include a private investment firm and a large stake in Dallas-based Topgolf.

• Dundon bought the Carolina Hurricanes for $420 million in 2018. The team is now valued around $1.25 billion, per Forbes.
• He also wants to bring Major League Baseball to North Carolina.

State of play: The Trail Blazers have a roughly $4 billion price tag and play in a decades-old arena that will need to either be renovated or replaced entirely.

• The new ownership group has expressed no plans to move the team, which fans and civic leaders feared before the sale.

What they're saying: Mark Cuban, who is friends with Dundon, told a Portland TV station that he thinks Dundon "will be a great owner."

• "He loves and knows basketball … I think fans will really like Tom," Cuban said.

What's next: The NBA Board of Governors will likely take several months to finalize the sale.

🍽️ Chef Tiffany Derry will bring back her food festival for a second year in October. (DMN)

🚨 Rockwall ISD is investigating two "inappropriate and offensive flags" that were seen hanging from Rockwall-Heath High School on Saturday. (WFAA)

🪧 Thousands of people rallied Saturday in Austin against Republicans' congressional redistricting plan for Texas. (KERA)

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This photo is what work spouse dreams are made of: A colleague who quite literally has your back during a rough day at work.

Driving the news: The Baltimore Ravens destroyed the Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on Saturday. The score was 31-13.

• We have no clue what led to Trevon Diggs taking a time out on Dak Prescott's shoulder, but we love how their working relationship has blossomed into this moment.

What's next: The Cowboys have one more preseason game left. They play the Atlanta Falcons on Friday.

• You can catch open practices at The Star on Tuesday and Wednesday.

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• Bonus points for making us laugh.