A vibrant Dallas school community reflects the recent performance ratings.
The Dallas Independent School District (DISD) has received a C grade while Fort Worth ISD scored a D in the recent 2023 A-F ratings. About half of Texas schools earned an A or B, but performance has declined since last year due to the post-pandemic academic growth decline. The grading system evaluates student achievement and progress while emphasizing the importance of closing gaps for disadvantaged students. As the community grapples with these results, future improvements and support for students remain vital topics.
In the bustling city of Dallas, parents are now able to see how their children’s schools stack up with the freshly released A-F ratings for 2023. The Dallas Independent School District (DISD) has earned a solid C while Fort Worth Independent School District (FWISD) lagged a bit behind, receiving a D. So, what does it all mean for parents and students in Lone Star State schools?
This year’s ratings show a mixed bag across Texas, with approximately half of the schools earning an A or B. On the flip side, around 14% got a D and about 7% sadly scored an F. Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath has mentioned that parents should get a clearer view of school performance by the summer, which sounds hopeful, right?
But here’s where it gets interesting: The release of these grades was delayed due to some legal tussles surrounding changes to the grading formulas. When they finally came out, they revealed a decrease in performance compared to last year. Morath attributed this drop to the academic growth decline seen post-pandemic.
Looking specifically at Dallas ISD, the numbers tell a significant story. Out of all the schools evaluated this year, 47 earned an A, 74 received a B, and 66 landed a C. Meanwhile, there were 37 schools with a D and, quite worrying, 8 campuses received an F. A failing grade can lead to state interventions, making it crucial for those schools to pick up the pace and improve quickly.
Morath has openly criticized how long it took to publish these ratings, stressing that knowledge is key for both transparency and accountability within the system. The changes to the grading formulas have been contentious, prompting legal challenges from a coalition of school districts. Interestingly, a court recently decided to allow the 2023 grades to be shared while blocking any publication of 2024 ratings amid the ongoing disputes.
When we talk about the grading system, it gets a bit complex. About 70% of the grade is derived from “student achievement” and “school progress.” Meanwhile, the remaining 30% focuses on “closing the gaps” for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. This kind of dual focus is intended to ensure that what really matters—the education and improvement of all students—stays front and center.
Following a year of significant improvements in 2022, this year’s growth appears more normalized, as highlighted by Morath. But what does the future hold? We’re looking at a major change for the 2024 academic year with the introduction of AI to evaluate written responses on the STAAR tests. Not everyone is thrilled with this shift, as there have been reports suggesting students received zeroes for their written answers, raising substantial concerns among educators and parents alike.
Dallas ISD leaders have voiced their concerns over these preliminary AI scores, even though they aren’t directly involved in the ongoing legal battles. As the district navigates these challenges, Superintendent Stephanie Elizalde has also emphasized the importance of providing mental health support for students, especially in light of a recent distressing shooting incident that occurred at a district high school.
So, as families in Dallas dig into these new report cards, they can’t help but wonder: What does this mean for their kids’ futures in education? And how can schools work together to improve these scores and ultimately provide all students with the best learning environment possible? As the community discussions continue, there’s no doubt that education will remain a hot topic in the heart of Texas.
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