Texas Releases First Public School Ratings in Five Years: What You Need to Know

Nabin Timilsina
Jul 6
2 min read

Published: July 5, 2025 By: Know Your K12 Newsroom

Texas Releases First Public School Ratings in Five Years: What You Need to Know

Texas has officially released its long-anticipated school district ratings for the 2022–23 academic year, marking the first time in five years that the public can see how their local schools performed under the state’s accountability system.

This release, announced on Thursday, comes after a lengthy legal battle and a pause on ratings due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The ratings reveal that:

10.4% of districts received an A
73% were rated B or C
16.6% received a D or F

Fort Worth ISD is now at risk of serious consequences—including potential campus closures or a state takeover—due to failing scores.

Why This Matters

The A–F school rating system in Texas is designed to offer transparency and accountability across the state’s public education system. Each district and campus receives a letter grade based on three major performance areas:

Student Achievement: Test scores and college/career readiness.
School Progress: Growth in academic performance.
Closing the Gaps: Progress among student subgroups, such as English language learners and students with special needs.

Under the revamped rules, schools had to meet tougher standards to receive an A. The student achievement and school progress scores weigh most heavily (70% combined), while closing the gaps accounts for the remaining 30%.

A Delayed but Critical Report

Originally scheduled to be released months ago, the 2022–23 ratings were held up due to lawsuits from school districts challenging the new accountability framework. However, the 15th Court of Appeals recently ruled in favor of the Texas Education Agency (TEA), allowing the scores to be published.

Still, the ratings for the 2023–24 school year remain on hold because of ongoing litigation.

A Divisive System

Public education advocates praised the return of the rating system, saying it empowers parents, attracts community investment, and helps school boards focus on areas needing improvement. Critics, however, argue that the A–F model unfairly penalizes schools in high-poverty areas, increasing the risk of state sanctions and reinforcing inequities.

The Bigger Picture

Schools in Texas had not received full accountability grades since the 2018–19 school year. The pandemic led to a suspension of ratings for two consecutive years, followed by only partial data in 2021–22.

Now, with updated scores finally available, stakeholders across the state—from families to policymakers—will be watching closely to see how the data shapes future decisions in public education.

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