Latest STAAR Results Raise Concerns Over Student Performance
The Texas Education Agency released Spring 2025 STAAR End-of-Course assessment results on Tuesday.
STAAR is short for State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, standardized testing 'designed to measure the extent to which a student has learned and is able to apply the defined knowledge and skills in the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills at each tested grade, subject, and course.'
The STAAR EOC assessments measure whether high school students have mastered end-of-course knowledge and skills they need to progress to the next level and graduate ready for college, a career, or the military.
The results are 'a key measure of how Texas students are performing' in Algebra I, Biology, English I and II, and U.S. History, according to the TEA.
Compared to 2024 results, the percentages of students who 'meet' grade level in Algebra I and Biology increased slightly, while the percentages of students meeting grade level in English and History declined.
Overall performance levels remain poor. Subject mastery ranged from a high of 37 percent for U.S. History to a low of just 8 percent for English II.
Asian students continued to significantly outperform white, Hispanic, and African-American students in all subjects.
'Texas students and educators continue to work hard to demonstrate academic excellence,' said Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath. 'At the same time, we also recognize that too many students are still not where they need to be academically.'
'Using a reliable system of assessments, we can continue making progress on the strategies that are most effective in improving student learning and long-term success,' he added.
Assessments from 2024 also showed declining scores.
The TEA's annual report for the 2023-24 school year showed reading and math scores for 3rd- and 8th-graders dropped 2-3 percentage points from the previous year, with less than half of 3rd-grade students reading at or above grade level—deficiencies that impact students' later school performance.
Scores from the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), known as 'The Nation's Report Card,' showed Texas 4th-grade students' reading scores had dropped two points from the previous tests in 2022 and were two points below the national average. Just 28 percent scored as 'proficient' or better in reading.
STAAR is unpopular with parents and teachers who say it puts too much pressure on students and forces educators to spend too much time 'teaching to the test.'
Proposed legislation to eliminate the high-stakes testing failed to pass during this year's recently concluded legislative session.
Parents can view their students' individual STAAR EOC results by visiting their school system's family portal or TexasAssessment.gov using the unique access code provided by their child's school.
Results for STAAR grades 3–8 assessments will be made publicly available on June 17.
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