High school students in Texas who took the year-end exams this spring showed improvement in all subjects, according to data from the Texas Education Agency (TEA). Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath attributed the students’ academic progress to “focused instruction and high expectations” in the classroom. Morath also suggested that the legislature’s ban on cell phone use in classrooms may have contributed to the improved results, allowing students to stay focused on their schoolwork.

Accessing STAAR Results

Families can find individual STAAR results at texasassessment.gov, the portal for state-administered exams. Each Texas student receives a unique access code for their results, which can be found on the first page of their report card or by contacting their school. The state has released an overview of high school STAAR results on its website, and more detailed data for regions, districts, and individual school campuses are available on the state research portal.

STAAR results for grades 3-8 will be posted on June 16, according to the TEA. The STAAR is used to measure student progress and teacher performance, and the accountability ratings assigned to schools each year are largely based on how students perform on the exam.

Changes to the STAAR

Beginning in the fall of 2027, students will take three shorter tests at the beginning, middle, and end of the year, as part of a new assessment system approved by state lawmakers. The new program, known as the Student Success Tool, is intended to reduce stress on students and provide more effective feedback to teachers.

Original reporting: Community Impact — McKinney — read the source article.