Understanding School Ratings in Texas
Statewide school ratings for 2024 and 2025 were released Friday. Overall, Dallas ISD earned a B. This rating is based on the performance of schools in the district, and it’s an improvement from the C rating they received in 2023 and 2024.
If you’re wondering how your local school is doing, you can use a searchable table to find any school in the district and its rating. This table provides an easy way to look up the ratings of schools in your area and see how they’re performing.
In the Dallas Independent School District (DISD), 60 schools earned an A, which is double the number of schools that received an A in 2024. Another 103 schools scored a B, 49 earned Cs, and 14 got Ds. Two campuses received Fs, which is down from 24 last year.
Failing campus grades can trigger significant consequences if the school doesn’t improve quickly, including a state takeover. This means that schools that receive low ratings need to work hard to improve their performance to avoid facing serious consequences.
How Are Schools Rated?
The state’s A-F grades are based largely on standardized test scores. The formula takes into account three categories for the grades: student achievement, school progress, and “closing the gaps.” These categories help to provide a comprehensive picture of how well a school is performing.
“Student achievement” considers students’ performance on the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, or STAAR, tests. For high schools, it also weighs graduation rates and other metrics. This category looks at how well students are doing in terms of meeting academic standards.
“School progress” takes into account the improvement students made year over year, or how well they did in relation to comparable campuses. This category looks at how much progress students are making over time, which is an important indicator of a school’s effectiveness.
“Closing the gaps” looks at how schools serve students with heightened needs, such as those living in poverty or receiving special education services. This category recognizes that some students may face additional challenges and need more support to succeed.
Most of the grade, 70%, is based on either student achievement or school progress — whichever is the higher grade. “Closing the gaps” makes up the remaining 30%. This means that schools are rewarded for doing well in multiple areas, rather than just focusing on one aspect of performance.
Why Do School Ratings Matter?
School ratings matter because they provide a way to measure the performance of schools and identify areas where improvement is needed. By looking at the ratings, parents and community members can get a sense of how well their local schools are doing and whether they’re providing a high-quality education.
Ratings for campuses outside of Dallas ISD can be found on the Texas Education Agency website. This provides a convenient way for people to look up the ratings of schools across the state and compare their performance.
Supporting Education in North Texas
The DMN Education Lab deepens the coverage and conversation about urgent education issues critical to the future of North Texas. This initiative provides in-depth reporting and analysis on education issues, helping to inform the community and spark important conversations.
The DMN Education Lab is a community-funded journalism initiative, with support from a variety of organizations and individuals. This support enables the Education Lab to provide high-quality reporting and storytelling on education issues, which is essential for building a stronger and more informed community.
Conclusion
In conclusion, understanding school ratings is important for parents, community members, and educators. By looking at the ratings, we can get a sense of how well our local schools are performing and identify areas where improvement is needed. The DMN Education Lab provides valuable coverage and conversation on education issues, helping to inform and engage the community.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What do the A-F school grades mean?
A: The A-F school grades are a way to measure the performance of schools in Texas. The grades are based on standardized test scores and other metrics, and they provide a comprehensive picture of how well a school is doing.
Q: How are schools rated?
A: Schools are rated based on three categories: student achievement, school progress, and “closing the gaps.” These categories take into account standardized test scores, graduation rates, and other metrics.
Q: What happens if a school receives a low rating?
A: If a school receives a low rating, it may face significant consequences, including a state takeover. This means that the state may take control of the school and make changes to improve its performance.
Q: Where can I find ratings for schools outside of Dallas ISD?
A: Ratings for campuses outside of Dallas ISD can be found on the Texas Education Agency website. This provides a convenient way to look up the ratings of schools across the state and compare their performance.
