Aug. 15, 2019
District achieves B in 2019 state accountability ratings
San Antonio ISD received its 2019 accountability ratings today from the Texas Education Agency, showing a continued upward trajectory with strong gains in academic achievement. The District received an overall grade of a B.
Earlier today, Texas Education Agency Commissioner Mike Morath kicked off his accountability tour at an SAISD campus – at Schenck Elementary School, which received a campus grade of A.
During his comments, the Commissioner stated that among the state’s largest school districts, SAISD ranked third highest in poverty, and gained the most in student achievement and second most in school progress and overall performance.
Across SAISD, a total of 27 campuses achieved an A or B rating. This is more than triple the number from 2017 when the TEA first calculated letter grades to demonstrate to districts how ratings at the school level would work.
Additionally, 42 campuses earned one or more Distinction Designations from the TEA based on student performance, up from 34 last year. Every single high school earned at least one distinction and five campuses earned all possible distinctions, which include achievement in the areas of ELA/reading, mathematics, science, social studies, academic growth, closing the gaps, and postsecondary readiness.
“The results we are seeing demonstrate the great work teachers are doing to help our students reach their potential,” said SAISD Superintendent Pedro Martinez. “While there is still a way to go with some campuses, overall we are seeing much stronger academic performance.”
Progress across the District includes the following academic achievements:
- For the second year, District gains exceeded State gains at almost all performance level on STAAR 3-8 and on the High School End of Course exams.
- 78 percent of schools showed gains in the Achievement domain.
- 24 campuses improved by at least one letter grade and an additional 5 campuses went up two letter grades.
- At least 70 percent of campuses made gains at the Meets level in Reading and Math.
- While 70 percent made gains at the Masters level in Math and 57 percent made gains at the Masters level in Reading.
In addition, SAISD has greatly decreased the number of students enrolled in a low-performing school by about 80 percent – from 35,089 students in an Improvement Required school in 2016 to 23,725 in 2017 and down to 7,126 students in 2019.
“We recognize that we still have work to do, with some campuses performing at a score below 60,” said Martinez. “The District will work very closely with these schools to turn them around, reviewing their progress throughout the year and providing additional support.”
TEA ratings show that SAISD has 13 traditional campuses performing at a score below 60, along with an additional three alternative schools. The District will be appealing the rating for the alternative schools.