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Houston Schools Struggle with Low Ratings in 2023

Students in a Houston classroom looking engaged and focused on their studies.

News Summary

The Texas Education Agency’s latest accountability rankings reveal that nine Houston-area school districts have received a D rating for the 2023 academic year. Cleveland ISD leads with a grade of 62, raising concerns about educational quality. Despite some campuses performing well, the overall district ratings indicate significant challenges. This change in accountability ratings aims to emphasize college readiness and workforce preparedness, following a delay in score releases due to legal disputes. The community hopes for improvements as new insights emerge for the upcoming school years.

Houston Schools Struggle with Low Ratings in Latest Report

Houston, Texas – In a recent announcement, it was revealed that nine Houston-area school districts have received a D rating for the 2023 academic year, according to the Texas Education Agency’s latest accountability rankings. This news is certainly concerning, as these districts mark the lowest grades among traditional school districts in the beautifully diverse Houston area.

Breaking Down the Numbers

Leading the pack of D ratings is the Cleveland Independent School District (ISD) in Liberty County, which achieved a disappointing grade of 62. With an enrollment of approximately 11,500 students, this rating raises important questions about educational quality and support in the community. Following closely behind, both Royal ISD and Aldine ISD received scores of 63, barely outpacing Cleveland ISD.

Who Else is on the List?

The list of districts that received a D rating includes some familiar names, such as Galveston ISD, Texas City ISD, Aldine ISD, Spring ISD, Huffman ISD, Willis ISD, Splendora ISD, and Royal ISD. It is worth noting that none of the Houston-area districts received an F rating for the 2022-2023 school year, which is a small silver lining in this report.

A Closer Look at Campus Performances

Analyzing the performance of the campuses within these districts reveals an alarming trend. For instance, in Splendora ISD, only one out of six campuses earned a passing grade. Piney Woods Elementary School, one of its campuses, managed to score a 71, just landing a C rating. Meanwhile, Royal ISD faced similar challenges, with only one out of four campuses receiving a passing score, also achieving a C rating.

Interestingly, Galveston ISD found itself on the lower end of the grading spectrum, despite having over 60% of its 13 campuses earning passing ratings. This suggests a disparity between overall district performance and individual campus success. The same can be said for Texas City ISD, where only half of its 14 campuses were able to achieve passing grades.

Understanding the Shift in Accountability Ratings

This year’s A-F accountability ratings come with an important shift in methodology designed to prioritize how well these schools prepare students for life after graduation. The Texas Education Agency has updated its measures to assess college readiness and workforce preparedness, changing the way scores are calculated compared to previous years. This means that the rankings factor in newer metrics aimed at improving the educational experience for all students.

A Delay in Scores and What’s Next?

A legal dispute had previously prevented the release of accountability scores for the past two years, which delayed valuable insights into school district performances. With the arrival of the 2023 ratings, parents and educators now have crucial information that will guide improvements moving forward.

Looking ahead, we can expect future accountability ratings for the 2024-2025 school year to be released in August, offering a glimpse into how school districts across the Houston area are progressing. As these schools navigate the challenges ahead, the entire community is hopeful for improvements in educational outcomes for all students.

In a city as vibrant and diverse as Houston, every child deserves the best education possible. With these new ratings in hand, the opportunity for growth and change lies ahead.