TEA Report Card Ratings — How Did Your East Texas School District Rate?

Your school district just got its report card.This month the Texas Education Agency (TEA) released state accountability ratings for 2018. Around 1,200 school districts and charter schools received an accountability rating between A and F.

This year individual schools don't get a grade, only districts. Campuses are ranked on a point scale between one and 100. TEA Commissioner Mike Morath calls it "the most balanced system we've ever had in Texas." Some teachers disagree.

How Schools are Scored

The TEA report card is based on a number of factors. Like regular report cards, an "A" in each category means the school scored from 90-100. A "B" means they scored from 80-89 and so on. A "C" grade is still considered "Acceptable Performance." Schools scoring a "D" are deemed "In Need of Improvement." An "F" is "Unacceptable Performance."

TEA evaluates these three "domains," then uses them to calculate a school's grade or rating.

• Student Achievement -- STAAR (the Texas standardized state test) performance, college, career or military readiness and graduation rate
• School Progress -- Data from the Texas Academic Performance Reports (TAPR)
• Closing the Gaps -- This score looks at how districts are narrowing achievement differences between racial or ethnic groups and children of different socioeconomic backgrounds

Basically, the goal in almost every category is continued improvement. Districts and eventually schools receive points when individual students or student groups show academic growth from one year to the next.

If school districts only have one campus, they aren't scored on the A-F scale. Instead, they receive one of these three rankings: met standard, met alternative standard or improvement required.

Tyler Independent School District

Tyler ISD received a 78 out of 100, an overall grade of "C." They scored 78 in Student Achievement, 80 in School Progress and 74 in Closing the Gaps.

Some individual campuses did better than the overall score, with Moore MST receiving a 90 and Jack Elementary making a 91. Most schools made at least a "C."  Alvin V Anderson Rise Academy is the only one with a failing score.

Longview Independent School District

Longview ISD received 83 out of 100 overall. They scored 79 in Student Achievement, 82 in School Progress and 86 in Closing the Gaps.

East Texas Montessori Prep Academy and Hudson Elementary scored an astounding 97 percent. Lead Academy High School had the lowest score at 62.

Other Top East Texas Districts

These East Texas school districts received an "A."

• Beckville ISD
• Hallsville ISD
• Leverett's Chapel ISD
• Spring Hill ISD
• Union Grove ISD

Many individual campuses also scored 90 or above.

How Should East Texas Parents Use A-F Ratings?

Parents want to send their children to schools where they'll be supported so they can achieve their potential. When schools score an A or B, that shows most of the students are doing well. A low rating indicates many students are failing.

Parents can explore where their child's school shows strength and where there's room for improvement. Overall school performance scores might provide a starting point for conversation with teachers. Teachers are always thankful when parents ask how they can support student achievement from home.

Look for your school by name or find your district on the TXschools.org website. From there you can download reports that give more specific information on your child's campus.