Houston ISD sees academic growth following release of TEA 2024/2025 accountability ratings

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- Two years' worth of school accountability ratings were released Friday following legal challenges.

Here in Houston ISD, the district saw widespread growth, prompting a visit from the head of the Texas Education Agency, Mike Morath, to Jefferson Elementary.

The TEA ratings show Jefferson went from a D to an A rating in just one year. State data shows it's just one of 20 schools statewide to do so.

There was also growth across the district. The newly released 2024 and 2025 school accountability ratings from the TEA show year-over-year growth.

In 2024, the district overall was rated a C, and this year it improved to a B.

"We have a bunch of schools (that) have been working hard and excelling," HISD Superintendent Mike Miles said.

District and campus grades are used by looking at three metrics: student achievement, academic growth, and relative performance.

Student achievement is determined by how many students are on grade level and are ready for the next grade or next phase of life. Academic growth is determined by how many students you're able to bring up to grade level from last year. Relative performance compares children from different backgrounds and groups to ensure they are getting a fair and equal education to their counterparts.

Those three categories are totaled up to give the campus an average letter grade.

"It's some kind of indication of them as individuals, and it is an evaluation of us, as the adults in their lives, that our job is to equip them to pursue the rigors of modern America," Morath said.

Overall, HISD has 72 A-rated campuses, 125 B-campuses, 49 C-campuses, 18 D-campuses, and 0 F-campuses.

For the state to take over, the district can't have schools that consecutively fail.

Of the 18 D-rated campuses, four earned their second D rating in a row, meaning the district still needs to do more.

"We are looking for an assurance that the multi-year unacceptable academic performance is a thing of the past," Morath said.

Even with the documented growth, accountability ratings have faced backlash, with lawsuits and skepticism from some parents and education groups.

ABC13 spoke with Duncan Klussman, a professor with the University of Houston education department, who said families should use accountability ratings as just one factor when it comes to picking a school.

"I think you really have to look at your child's experience at the school. If there is a campus that is low performing and they cut out a bunch of things and just work on math and reading and get their scores up, but there's no art and no different opportunities like music for students to participate in, I don't know if I want that experience for my child. They may have a high test score, but they may not give a lot of experience," Klussman said.

ABC13 reached out to the Houston Federation of Teachers, the local teachers union, which said the ratings don't matter, that they feel they are manipulated, but that they are for anything that ends the state takeover.

Test scores right now are preliminary. Morath said districts and schools have a 30-day window to resubmit information if they feel the grade is not a reflection of their district or campus.

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