Local schools scored almost all As and Bs in the Texas Education Agency’s 2022 accountability ratings, which were released Monday.
In Region One, which covers eight counties from Cameron to Webb, 20 districts scored an A, 22 a B, one a C and one was “not rated.”
About a third of districts state-wide received an A rating this year, up from a quarter when districts received their last rating in 2019.
The percentage of districts to get a B were down a tad since 2019, from 56.9% to 54%.
Because of Senate Bill 1365, districts that scored a D or lower were not rated. Statewide 2.2% rated in the 60s and 1.3% rated below 60.
According to Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath, the ratings are positive.
“These results show our state’s significant investment in the post-pandemic academic recovery of Texas public school students is bearing fruit,” he wrote in a news release. “I’m grateful for the driving force behind this year’s success: our teachers and local school leaders. Statewide policy in Texas continues to remain focused on meeting the needs of students, with an accountability system that supports high expectations, robust tutoring supports, rigorous curricular resources, and an investment in evidence-based training for our teachers.”
All districts in Hidalgo County received an A or B rating, except for La Villa, which was not rated, and Horizon Montessori, which got a C.
Some districts that rated well were quick to note it.
“We are thrilled with these results,” Roma ISD Superintendent Carlos M. Gonzalez Jr. wrote of his district’s A rating in a news release. “Our teachers were highly committed to working with our students to help them recover and excel beyond the learning losses experienced during the COVID Pandemic. They have shown what is possible when we all work together for the betterment of our children. I not only want to thank our highly committed staff but also our wonderful students who showed passion for their school work throughout the year. They persevered where others struggled.”
PSJA Superintendent Jorge L. Arredondo — who also saw his district receive an A — framed the rating in light of recent struggles as well.
“We are so tremendously proud of all of our students and staff for this historic achievement,” he wrote in a news release. “The last few years have been anything but easy for everyone, so earning this achievement speaks volumes of the love, hard work, and dedication that has been put into providing the best education for our students.” The sole non-A or B district, La Villa, is considering appealing its appeal, based mostly on the possibility of data entry errors. La Villa, which scored a 69, was one of just 26 districts to score in the D-range, although it was classified as not ranked.
Superintendent Robert Munoz, who called the ranking “heart-breaking,” said the district had been expecting some negative changes out of the ratings. “The high school scores dragged, basically, the district down,” he said. “But we’ve got stuff that we’re looking at to make the changes and make sure we improve next year. We can only go up now.”
Munoz said many of those changes relate to attendance — which has been a particular struggle for the district during the pandemic — and focusing on preparing younger students better for high school.
“We got the new pieces in place at the high school, we got the new pieces in place at the middle school and we’re doing what we can to get ready for next year and make that change,” Munoz said.
Hidalgo County ratings are as follows:
A RATING
>> Edinburg CISD
>> Hidalgo ISD
>> McAllen ISD
>> PSJA ISD
>> Sharyland ISD
>> South Texas ISD
>> Triumph Public High Schools-Rio Grande Valley
>> Valley View ISD
>> Vanguard Academy
B RATING
>> Donna ISD
>> Edcouch-Elsa ISD
>> Excellence in Leadership Academy
>> IDEA Public Schools
>> La Joya ISD
>> Mercedes ISD
>> Mission CISD
>> Monte Alto ISD
>> Progreso ISD
>> Weslaco ISD
C RATING
>> Horizon Montessori Public Schools
NOT RATED
>> La Villa ISD
