Texas High School Students’ STAAR Scores Surge: A Closer Look

Gaining Ground: Texas Education Agency Reports Positive STAAR Results

Recent STAAR results reveal a promising trend as Texas high school students’ scores ascend, signaling growth that education officials are celebrating. The Texas Education Agency unveiled statewide results for end-of-course exams, highlighting commendable progress across all five tested subjects

Signs of Improvement in Various Subjects

In subjects such as Biology, English I, English II, and U.S. History, pass rates not only met but exceeded the levels recorded in 2019—marking a return to pre-pandemic achievements. While Algebra I scores are still below 2019 levels, they showcased improvement compared to the previous year.

(Source: Texas Education Agency)

Education commissioner Mike Morath expressed his satisfaction, stating, “We celebrate these results, and also recognize they provide objective information for parents and educators for the year to come.”

A Closer Look at STAAR Tests

The State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness (STAAR) tests gauge students’ academic performance, with end-of-course exams being a prerequisite for high school graduation. Success in these tests entails scoring at a level approximating grade-level proficiency.

Transitioning to Online Tests

This recent assessment marked a notable shift as redesigned tests were predominantly administered online, except for specific cases where accommodations were required. The state is yet to unveil scores for elementary and middle school students, scheduled for release on August 16.

These scores hold significance not only for assessing students’ academic progress but also play a pivotal role in evaluating schools and districts through the state’s school accountability system. School ratings on the A-F scale are expected to be disclosed in September.

High School Scores: A Mixed Bag

In the wake of pandemic-related learning disruptions, math scores faced significant challenges. In particular, Algebra I scores experienced a decline, with a 78% pass rate—6 percentage points below the 2019 benchmark. Although less than 25% of students demonstrated mastery, 45% met grade-level expectations.

Biology offered a silver lining, boasting the largest year-over-year gain, with a 7 percentage-point surge that propelled the pass rate to 89%.

English I and English II saw pass rates of just above 70%, yet a smaller proportion of students excelled, with 14% and 9% classified as “masters,” respectively.

U.S. History showcased the highest success rate at 95%, a notable increase from the previous year’s 89%.

Disparities Persist

While progress is evident, STAAR scores continue to expose gaps among different student groups. Notably, students from low-income families showed a 36% grade-level proficiency in Algebra I, contrasting with a 61% rate among their wealthier peers. Only 14% of special education students achieved the same level.

Emergent bilingual students displayed a 5 percentage-point growth in English test proficiency, ascending from 21% to 26%.

The road to educational equity and comprehensive proficiency continues, driven by these insights from Texas’ STAAR scores.