As Classes Start, It’s the Schools That Are Being Graded
Scores for Area Campuses Mostly Good as TEA Releases Accountability Ratings
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) released the latest accountability ratings for public schools in Texas this week. All school districts in Fayette County received an overall grade of B or better, although a few campuses received an overall score of C this year.
The accountability ratings are based in large part on results of the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, or STAAR test, which students in Texas take each spring. The ratings also take into account test score improvements over prior years and how well schools educate disadvantaged students. Students are tested in the subjects of reading, math, science and social studies. TEA did not assign accountability ratings for the last two years due to disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The last school accountability ratings were assigned for the 2018-2019 school year. Also for this year, the TEA only assigned grades of A through C. Schools and campuses that scored a D or F were listed as “Not Rated” this year. Normally, a rating of D or F could result in possible sanctions from the State. TEA will not issue sanctions this year for poor accountability scores.
Schools in Fayette County generally improved their scores since the last ratings came out for the 2018-2019 school year. One exception was La Grange Elementary, which fell from a B to a C in School Progress. According to the TEA, “School Progress shows how students perform over time and how the school’s performance compares to other schools with similar economically disadvantaged student populations.” The La Grange District’s grade for School Progress also slipped from an A to a B.
Flatonia ISD and Round Top-Carmine ISD earned As in every category as a district. Round Top-Carmine ISD also holds the distinction of perfect A’s in every category on every campus. The lowest-rated campus in the County was Schulenburg Elementary, which scored C’s in each category. However, Schulenburg Elementary improved over the ratings from two years ago, when it scored D’s in two categories. The ratings also provide socio- economic details about each school’s student population. The reports listed the percent of students categorized as economically disadvantaged, special education and English learners. The report defined economically disadvantaged as those students who are eligible for free or reduced price lunches.
La Grange I.S.D.
Econ. Disadvantaged 52.8% Special Education 12.0% English Learners 15.1% Schulenburg I.S.D.
Econ. Disadvantaged 63.0% Special Education 15.3% English Learners 12.3% Flatonia I.S.D.
Econ. Disadvantaged 48.5% Special Education 12.7% English Learners 6.7% Fayetteville I.S.D.
Econ. Disadvantaged 39.1% Special Education 7.7% English Learners 5.1% Round Top-Carmine I.S.D. Econ. Disadvantaged 40.0% Special Education 8.5% English Learners 11.5%