The State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) is the state’s testing program for students in grades 3 through 12. It is based on curriculum standards in core subjects, including reading, writing, math, science, and social studies. STAAR tests are designed to measure what students are learning in each grade level and whether they are ready to excel academically in the next grade. Every student who takes the STAAR test receives a STAAR Report Card that helps parents see how their child is doing in relation to state standards and where they may need extra help.
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) administers the STAAR tests and oversees education for the state. It groups learning performance into four levels:
- DID NOT MEET grade level means the student failed to show sufficient understanding of the subject material and did not meet the grade-level learning goals. This is considered a failing result, and the student will need significant help in this subject.
- APPROACHES grade level means the student demonstrated some knowledge of the subject material, but not all of it. This is a “passing” result, but it’s likely the student will need extra help in the next grade.
- MEETS grade level means the student showed a good understanding of the subject material and is ready for the next grade. While there is room for improvement, the student doesn’t need a lot of extra help in this subject.
- MASTERS grade level means the student showed a strong understanding of the subject material and is well prepared for success in the next grade.
You can find additional information for parents and students about the STAAR test and report card here. You can also download a parents guide from TEA and a sample STAAR Report card.
DISTRICT & SCHOOL PERFORMANCE
In addition to individual student grades, each Independent School District (ISD) and every school receive a STAAR ranking that reflects their overall performance, based on their students’ performance. Reports are released twice a year with overall rankings provided in November. CREEED uses this information to promote awareness of school performance in the region and to help schools identify gaps in student learning. You can find the most recent performance data on the Data page of our website . We use this state data provided to us by the Hunt Institute for Global Competitiveness. This information can also be obtained using the Texas Assessment Management System (TAMS).
TEA provides this information to help parents understand how well their child’s ISD and school are doing when it comes to academically preparing students.
Additionally, the Texas Performance Reporting System (TPRS) provides centralized reporting of student performance.
You can also obtain information on the millions of dollars in federal education funding provided to the state, including the El Paso education system, from local school districts to higher education institutions. Information on the amount of money received and the tracking of funds used can be found on the U.S. Department of Education, Education Stabilization Fund website.
