By Michael Wood, Vice President, Education & Workforce
After a nearly two-year delay, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) has released 2023 A-F accountability ratings for school districts and campuses statewide. In early April, a court ruled that TEA was permitted to issue ratings from the 2022-23 academic year, marking the end of a lengthy legal battle.
The release is the first comprehensive look at school and district performance since 2019. The COVID-19 pandemic suspended ratings in 2020 and 2021, and only partial ratings were issued in 2022. Legal challenges then prohibited the state from releasing 2023 and 2024 ratings. The lawsuit contesting the release of 2024 ratings is ongoing.
Ratings decline after the state raises the bar
In 2022, just 7% of Texas campuses received a “Not Rated” designation, indicating a “D” or “F” grade. In 2023, 15% of Texas schools earned a “D” and 8% earned an “F” grade. The share of “A” and “B” rated campuses also declined, from 74% in 2022 to 53% in 2023.
These declines are, in large part, attributable to higher standards for school districts introduced by the TEA in 2023. Specifically, the 2023 A-F Accountability System increased performance targets for each letter grade and refined the indicators that qualify a student as college-, career-, or military-ready, among other technical changes.
The decline in ratings does not necessarily indicate that schools are doing worse than they were in 2019. In fact, assessment results show that – both statewide and in North Texas – reading proficiency is above pre-pandemic levels. And while math proficiency still lags, students have rebounded sharply from post-pandemic lows.
Instead, the new ratings grade districts and campuses on a more rigorous curve to ensure students are sufficiently prepared for life after graduation.
North Texas school district ratings vary under revamped system
Many North Texas school systems saw their district-wide letter grade fall in 2023 due to heightened standards.
Dallas ISD, for example, saw their rating drop from a “B” to a “C,” declining from an 86 overall to a 76 overall. Frisco ISD, which remains an “A,” also saw a 5-point decline in its overall rating, from 95 to 90.
See the table below for grades from the ten largest ISDs in the region. You can search for your specific district or campus at www.txschools.gov.
| School District | 2022-23 Rating | 2021-22 Rating |
| Arlington ISD | C (72) | B (85) |
| Dallas ISD | C (76) | B (86) |
| Fort Worth ISD | D (65) | B (81) |
| Frisco ISD | A (90) | A (95) |
| Garland ISD | B (81) | B (87) |
| Irving ISD | C (72) | B (84) |
| Mesquite ISD | C (77) | B (85) |
| Plano ISD | B (84) | B (89) |
| Richardson ISD | C (75) | B (84) |
| Uplift Education | C (75) | B (86) |
With 2024 ratings still in limbo, state lawmakers consider solutions
A separate lawsuit has prevented the release of A-F ratings from the 2023-24 academic year. In spite of that, a few Texas school districts, including Dallas ISD and Garland ISD, released their ratings voluntarily. Dallas ISD remained a “C,” but increased their overall score from a 76 to a 79. Garland ISD also stayed steady at a “B” grade.
Amid the ongoing 89th Texas Legislative Session, state lawmakers are mulling ways to ensure consistent administration of A-F ratings, plus potential changes to the system. Dueling proposals – HB 4 in the House, and SB 1962 in the Senate – would create new guidelines for when and how school districts could challenge accountability ratings in court, among other changes to the state’s PK-12 assessments and accountability ratings.
Both HB 4 and SB 1962 are moving through the legislative process. The 89th Texas Legislative Session concludes on Monday, June 2.
Regardless of state action or the result of ongoing litigation, TEA plans to release ratings for the 2024-25 academic year this fall.
As the DRC Education and Workforce team continues to follow these developments, I welcome your input and support. Share your thoughts with me on how these education changes will impact your business.