News Summary
Houston’s educational landscape is facing significant challenges following the Texas Education Agency’s release of accountability ratings for the 2022-2023 school year. The Houston Independent School District (HISD) received a ‘C’ grade, revealing a concerning number of campuses with ‘D’ and ‘F’ ratings and highlighting ongoing struggles in academic performance. With state intervention already in place, the future of the district remains uncertain as it attempts to improve in a competitive environment. The need for transformative change in HISD is more urgent than ever.
Houston’s Schools Face Tough Road Ahead with Recent Accountability Ratings
In Houston, education leaders are grappling with significant challenges as the Texas Education Agency (TEA) rolls out the long-awaited accountability ratings for the 2022-2023 school year. The ratings, which had been delayed amidst a lengthy legal battle involving over 120 school districts across the state, finally hit the scene on Thursday. And the results are a mixed bag for the Houston Independent School District (HISD).
HISD Takes a Hit
So, what’s the story? HISD earned an overall grade of “C” with a score of 72 out of 100. While that’s not the worst news, it’s not the glowing report card any parent would dream of. The ratings have revealed some serious academic performance issues, with a startling 121 campuses within HISD receiving ratings of either “D” or “F”.
Legal battles were the name of the game leading up to this moment. Many districts argued that the new accountability system unfairly impacted their scores, especially after the conclusion of the school year. But TEA Commissioner Mike Morath pushed back, asserting that this kind of transparency is crucial for parents, reminding everyone that failing schools could face serious consequences if improvements aren’t made.
Long-Term Struggles
It’s important to highlight that some of these struggles aren’t new. For instance, Highland Heights Elementary has been clocking in low ratings for four straight years and is now just a year away from triggering mandatory state intervention. Reflecting the ongoing issue, HISD reported 65 schools received “D” ratings and another 56 schools collected “F” ratings. Alarmingly, a whopping 57 schools have maintained these low ratings for several consecutive years!
This year, we’ve also seen particularly painful declines. For instance, Wheatley High School saw a drop from 78 in 2021-2022 to a mere 65 this past year. Similarly, Kashmere High School fell from 68 to 62.
A State Takeover
The situation has become so dire that the TEA took over HISD back in June 2023. This was a last-ditch effort following years of underperformance at Wheatley High School. Now, the district is managed by a state-appointed board and superintendent, leaving many in the community wondering what the future holds for their schools.
Where Does Houston Stand?
The good news? HISD’s performance was slightly better than the overall state average, but that’s a small consolation when you consider the high number of struggling schools still on the books. Across the greater Houston area, a massive 347 campuses received either a “D” or “F” rating, with HISD holding the largest share of failing campuses. Other nearby school districts, such as Aldine ISD with 23 failing campuses and Spring ISD with 9, also showed significant challenges.
What’s Next?
The TEA’s accountability system places a strong emphasis on college and career readiness, equitable learning outcomes, and year-over-year student growth. According to recent statistics, only 18% of campuses statewide received an “A”, while 32% secured a “B,” 31% got a “C,” and 14% landed a “D.” A worrying 6% were rated as “F” — showing a clear trend of issues across the board.
It’s worth noting that Texas families can stay updated on their school’s performance and ratings by browsing the Texas schools website at TXschools.gov. This ensures that parents have all the information they need to better advocate for their children’s education.
HISD acknowledges that the recent data reflects performance prior to the state intervention, which underscores the urgent need for transformative change within the district. As we look ahead, the next TEA ratings covering the 2024-2025 school year are slated for release in August 2025, all depending on the status of ongoing litigation.
Conclusion
The road ahead for HISD and Houston’s educational landscape is filled with challenges, but with the right focus and community support, there’s hope for brighter futures for all students.
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Additional Resources
- Houston Chronicle
- KHOU
- Community Impact
- ABC13
- Fox 26 Houston
- Wikipedia: Education in Texas
- Google Search: Texas Education Accountability Ratings
- Google Scholar: Texas education accountability
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Public Education
- Google News: Texas education scores
