News Summary
On April 24, 2025, the Texas Education Agency released the long-awaited accountability ratings for the 2022-23 academic year. Schools in Bexar County, particularly, faced tough evaluations, with 32% earning D or F grades, while statewide trends show a troubling decline. The new grading system sparked concern as educators argue it does not fully reflect student progress. Amidst ongoing legal challenges, clarity for the future of education accountability in Texas remains uncertain.
San Antonio Schools Face New Accountability Ratings Amid Teething Problems
On April 24, 2025, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) dropped a big news bomb for schools across Texas, unveiling the much-anticipated grades for the 2022-23 academic year. It’s a mixed bag, and the reaction is anything but quiet! If you’ve got kids in local schools, or maybe you’re just a concerned citizen, you might want to pay attention. This year, the grading scale jumped from the usual A to F scores, but there’s a twist!
What’s Behind the Wait?
Initially, these ratings were supposed to come out earlier, but a lawsuit from over 120 Texas school districts delayed everything. These districts argued that they weren’t given enough notice about changes to college readiness standards. But, after a state appeals court intervened, TEA got the green light to finally reveal how well—or how poorly—schools did.
Bexar County Schools in the Spotlight
Now, let’s take a closer look at Bexar County. Sadly, the performance of schools here is not great, with a whopping 32% of local schools snagging a D or F grade. To put that in perspective, the statewide average shows only 21% falling into that same low grading territory. Ouch!
Shifts in the Grading System
It’s worth noting that these changes in the grading scheme weren’t just a simple tweak. The TEA made shifts intended to paint a clearer picture of school performance. This year’s ratings are significantly impacted by new testing and evaluation methods. Many school superintendents argue these changes don’t mirror the real state of education in their districts.
How Are Schools Performing?
In a shake-up that no one saw coming, all but one of Bexar County’s 19 public school districts saw their scores drop compared to past ratings. This includes major districts like Northside ISD, which went from a B to a C grade, and Judson ISD, which plummeted from a B to a D! What’s going on here? With the new rules on how grades are calculated, it seems that standing out has become more challenging, pushing the bar for an A grade higher than ever before. In fact, while just 60% of graduates previously needed to continue their education, that number has jumped to a staggering 88% under the new rules.
Wider Trends in Texas
The statewide picture shows a troubling trend as well. The proportion of schools receiving a passing accountability rating dropped dramatically from 87% in 2022 to only 73% in 2023. The number of schools receiving an F grade surged by a staggering 233%—talk about a heavy hit!
What’s Next for Schools?
Feeling confused or concerned? You’re not alone! Many local superintendents are voicing discomfort about the accountability system, arguing that it doesn’t fully capture student growth or achievement. Families can check out the official ratings on the TEA website to see how their schools stack up.
What Lies Ahead?
As if this year’s drama wasn’t enough, the future is fraught with uncertainty. The 2023-24 accountability ratings are now sitting in limbo due to yet another lawsuit, but we’re still expecting the 2024-25 ratings to roll out in August 2025. Schools and educators are looking for clarity as they navigate these changes and aim to improve these numbers in the coming years.
So whether you’re a parent of a school-aged child or a resident in the community, it’s crucial to stay informed. The stakes may be high, but together, we can help shape a brighter future for education in San Antonio!
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Additional Resources
- Express News
- Wikipedia: Texas Education Agency
- KSAT News
- Google Search: TEA school ratings 2023
- KENS5 News
- Google Scholar: Texas education accountability ratings
- News 4 San Antonio
- Encyclopedia Britannica: school grading system
- KTSA News
- Google News: Texas school voucher program
