September 2025

Read the September e-newsletter HERE!

When TEA released its latest A to F ratings, communities saw headlines about “failing schools” and “D-rated districts.” In Waco, for example, families read that their district earned a D. Understandably, that caused concern, but what was missing was context.

Statewide, 15 percent of campuses received a D or F. Yet TEA’s own data shows progress: 31 percent of campuses improved, and the number of F-rated schools was cut in half. Still, shifting definitions and delayed releases mean a D today doesn’t mean the same as a D two years ago.

A single grade cannot capture the complexity of poverty, staffing shortages, mobility, and year-to-year progress. Headlines flatten the story and risk discouraging families and communities who deserve the full picture.

Read the Blog

Read the September e-newsletter HERE!