North Texas school districts continue trend upwards in latest PK-12 accountability ratings

Posted on

By Michael Wood, Vice President, Education & Workforce

Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

 

Takeaways

  • 24% of Texas districts increased their accountability rating between 2025 and 2026.
  • North Texas’ 10 largest school systems maintained or improved their numeric accountability score in 2026.
  • Texas public schools will transition to a new testing system, the Student Success Tool (SST), in the 2027-28 school year.

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) released A-F accountability ratings for the state’s public school districts and campuses for the 2025-26 academic year on Friday, Aug. 14.

Texas’ A-F Accountability System is the statewide rating system for public schools and the primary tool stakeholders and policymakers can use to evaluate campus and district performance.

The state determines A-F ratings through a combination of measures that gauge student achievement, academic growth and outcomes across student groups. These indicators are informed by a variety of metrics, such as state assessment results, graduation rates and College, Career and Military Readiness (CCMR) criteria.

North Texas’ largest school districts continue improving

Across Texas, 24% of districts increased their rating compared to 2025. 64% of school districts earned an “A” or “B” rating, up from 55% in 2025. 92% of districts earned an acceptable rating, or any grade above a “C,” up from 86% in 2025.

In North Texas specifically, the 10 largest school districts and charters maintained or improved their numeric accountability score in 2026, while two improved their overall letter grade from the year prior. Frisco ISD, Dallas ISD, Garland ISD and Plano ISD lead the pack, each earning at least an 85 overall.

Among North Texas school districts, Dallas ISD, Fort Worth ISD and Richardson ISD have posted the biggest gains since 2023, when a refresh of the A-F Accountability System enhanced the rigor of the state’s accountability grades.

See the table below to evaluate how the 10 largest public school systems in the region performed in 2026. You can search for your neighborhood school or school district at www.txschools.gov.

*Increased letter grade in 2026

Changes to Texas’ PK-12 assessments and accountability measures will impact future grades

In 2025, the Texas Legislature approved a bill to overhaul Texas’ public school assessment system. Beginning in the 2027-28 school year, the state will transition to a new test, called the Student Success Tool (SST). STAAR will still be administered in the 2026-27 school year.

The SST will make notable changes to how and when Texas assesses student competence. Rather than a single end-of-year exam, students in grades 3-8 will take abbreviated tests at the beginning, middle and end of the school year. This new cadence is designed to give teachers and families more feedback throughout the academic year and inform instruction accordingly.

Additionally, a forthcoming change to the CCMR component of the A-F Accountability System will weigh criteria based on correlation to postsecondary outcomes, such as credential and wage attainment.

Both changes, once implemented, will impact the A-F ratings of school districts and campuses throughout the state.

Join us at the DRC’s annual State of Public Education, presented by Toyota Motor North America and The Commit Partnership, on Wednesday, Dec. 9, to hear more about trends in student achievement and public school accountability across the state from Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath.