Houston ISD Sees Significant Improvement in STAAR Results
Houston ISD leaders have announced that the district will have no F-rated schools when the Texas Education Agency releases its latest accountability ratings later this month. This is a significant improvement from the 2022-23 school year, when the district had 56 failing campuses and 65 schools with D ratings.
Background on the State Intervention
The improvement comes after the Texas Education Agency intervened in the district’s operations, installing Superintendent Mike Miles and replacing the elected trustees with a state-appointed board of managers. This move was triggered by Wheatley High School’s streak of failing grades from the TEA. Since then, Miles has implemented instructional reforms at about half of HISD’s 270-plus schools, focusing on improving students’ performance on standardized tests.
Expected Ratings for the 2024-25 School Year
For the 2024-25 school year, district leaders expect to have a total of 18 D-rated campuses, along with 197 schools with A or B ratings. This is a significant improvement from the previous year, when the district had 93 campuses rated A or B. According to Duncan Klussmann, a former Houston-area superintendent, the reforms implemented by Miles are focused on increasing test scores, and the expected ratings are confirmation that these reforms have been successful.
Criticism of the Statewide Rating System
However, the statewide rating system and the standardized test it relies on have come under criticism in recent years. Multiple Texas school districts have sued to temporarily block the release of the ratings, arguing that it became more difficult to earn higher scores and that districts weren’t given sufficient notice about changes used to calculate the ratings. State lawmakers are also proposing to replace the STAAR test with a series of less extensive exams.
Reaction to the Expected Ratings
Despite the controversy surrounding the rating system, Miles and other district leaders have lauded their performance in 2024-25, crediting the work of students and their teachers. More than 80 HISD schools have improved from D or F ratings in 2023 to A or B ratings in 2025, according to the district. Sandi Massey, HISD’s chief of schools, said that the dramatic improvements show what’s possible when the district commits to excellence for every student.
Ongoing Challenges and Controversies
Although Miles and his reforms have drawn praise from some, they have also drawn pushback from educators, parents, and community members. Campus protests have regularly been staged in opposition to staffing turnover and instructional changes, and Houston voters rejected a $4.4 billion bond proposal last fall in a vote that could be considered a referendum on Miles and his leadership. The district has also continued to see declines in enrollment.
Long-Term Impacts and Importance of Test Scores
Klussmann noted that parents must decide the importance of test scores and accountability ratings in comparison to their children’s overall educational experience. The long-term impacts of the reforms remain to be seen, and it will be important to follow students who have been part of the takeover to see if they are successful in the long term. Do more students go on to higher education? Do more acquire a two-year certificate or a four-year degree? Are they successful when they leave the system?
Conclusion
In conclusion, Houston ISD has seen significant improvement in its STAAR results, with no F-rated schools expected in the latest accountability ratings. While the reforms implemented by Miles have drawn praise from some, they have also been controversial, and the long-term impacts remain to be seen. As the district continues to evolve under state control, it will be important to monitor the effects of the reforms on students and the community.
