Why It Matters
Texas public school performance remains a closely watched benchmark for one of the nation’s largest and most diverse student populations. The latest STAAR results offer a mixed picture for Texas families and policymakers ahead of a major overhaul of the state’s standardized testing system.
What Happened
The Texas Education Agency released STAAR results for grades 3 through 8 on Tuesday, revealing modest math improvements across most grade levels while reading scores remained largely flat or declined slightly. High school STAAR results, released the previous week, showed gains across all subject areas.
In reading, third graders saw a one-percentage-point decline from the prior year, with just 49% of students scoring at grade level. Fourth, fifth, and sixth grade reading scores held flat at 52%, 57%, and 54%, respectively. Seventh graders posted a two-point improvement to 54%, and eighth graders climbed from 56% to 59%.
Math results were more encouraging across most grades, though seventh graders slipped by two percentage points. Third grade math showed no change. In social studies, 32% of eighth graders met grade-level standards, a two-point increase over the previous year.
Texas Education Agency Commissioner Mike Morath said the agency is “encouraged by continued gains in mathematics, especially with the growing number of students participating and succeeding in advanced mathematics courses.”
By the Numbers
49% — share of third graders reading at grade level, down one point from the prior year
59% — share of eighth graders meeting reading expectations, up from 56%
32% — share of eighth graders on grade level in social studies, up two points
5 — consecutive failing ratings required to trigger a state takeover of a district
2027–28 — the school year when Texas will replace STAAR with a new assessment administered at the beginning, middle, and end of the year
State Takeovers and At-Risk Districts
Results carry real consequences for districts on the edge of state intervention. Under Texas law, districts where a campus receives five consecutive failing ratings face state takeover.
Houston, which operated under state control for three years, met or exceeded state performance benchmarks in both reading and math. Beaumont, Connally, Fort Worth, and Lake Worth have each experienced recent state intervention and showed gains, though their scores still trail statewide averages.
The Austin Independent School District remains under threat of takeover. Hispanic students make up more than half of Austin’s enrollment. While three Austin campuses improved in math and reading, the majority of their students still did not reach grade-level standards.
School accountability ratings, which determine intervention thresholds, are scheduled for release in August. Science results for fifth and eighth graders are expected July 31.
Zoom Out
Texas is not alone in grappling with post-pandemic reading stagnation. National assessment data have shown similar plateaus in reading scores across multiple states even as math has shown modest recovery. Texas lawmakers have recently passed legislation targeting classroom instruction quality, including a ban on cellphone use in public schools, as part of broader efforts to lift student outcomes.
The phaseout of STAAR in favor of a new multi-checkpoint assessment system beginning in 2027–28 reflects a wider national conversation about how best to measure student learning and whether single end-of-year tests capture enough of the picture.
What’s Next
Science STAAR scores for fifth and eighth graders will be published July 31. District and campus accountability ratings, which determine which schools face intervention or closure, are due out in August. Legislative changes and the new testing framework are set to take full effect in the 2027–28 academic year, giving districts roughly two school years to prepare for a substantially different accountability structure.
For more on Texas policy developments, see recent reporting on Republicans planning a first-ever midterm convention in Dallas this September.