New state ratings show most Houston-area school districts slipped under Texas’s tougher accountability system, with no Harris County district earning an A.
Under new state rules, Texas school ratings dropped. Houston saw no A-rated districts in Harris County, while Katy and Tomball ISDs led the region.
The Texas Education Agency has unveiled its long-awaited school ratings for the 2022-2023 academic year. The ratings reveal declining letter grades for districts statewide due to implementing a more rigorous accountability framework.
In the Houston region, just four school districts achieved an A rating, with none of the 19 located exclusively in Harris County reaching this top designation.
Tomball Independent School District has been recognized as the largest A-rated district in the Greater Houston area. At the same time, Katy Independent School District achieved the highest score among large districts, earning an impressive 88. Devers, Barbers Hill, and Friendswood Independent School Districts have all achieved A ratings.
In a recent assessment, the average score for Houston’s 15 largest school districts, which serve nearly 20% of Texas’s student body, was 78, equivalent to a C. Conroe Independent School District closely trailed Katy. At the same time, Aldine and Spring Independent School Districts were noted for their lower rankings.
Recent lower ratings have emerged following the TEA's decision to elevate standards for district scores. This shift indicates that a decline in letter grades does not necessarily reflect a decrease in student performance; instead, it suggests that students are not meeting the more rigorous benchmarks established after the conclusion of the 2022-2023 school year.
The rollout has sparked significant controversy. Over 100 school districts in Texas have filed a lawsuit against the state regarding recent rule changes, resulting in two years of legal delays. An appeals court has now authorized the release of the ratings.
In Harris County, home to 874,000 students, Katy Independent School District emerged as the leader, with Galena Park and Deer Park Independent School Districts following closely behind. Aldine ISD emerged as the largest local district assigned a D grade.
Houston Independent School District scored below 73, joining Huffman, Spring, and Aldine Independent School Districts in this outcome.
