New Caney ISD has seen year-over-year gains in the 2026 STAAR scores, with improvements in 11 out of 18 grade levels and subjects. The Texas Education Agency (TEA) released the statewide and district-specific test scores for grades 3-8 on June 16, and end-of-course exam scores were released on June 10.

Year-Over-Year Performance

According to the TEA’s website, the agency uses a four-tiered grading system for student performance to score STAAR test performance in each subject: Did not meet grade level, Approaches grade level, Meets grade level, and Masters grade level. In New Caney ISD, year-over-year performance improved in 11 areas, declined in three, and saw no change in four.

The largest changes in year-over-year performance within New Caney ISD were on the Algebra 1 End of Course test, with 86% of students approaching grade level this year compared to 76% in 2025, and on the eighth-grade math test, with 61% of students approaching grade level this year versus 52% in 2025.

Statewide Perspective

Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath stated that this year’s STAAR scores show both student progress and more work to be done. He noted that the gains in mathematics, especially with the growing number of students participating and succeeding in advanced mathematics courses, are encouraging. Additionally, the gains in middle school reading are notable and may be associated with the statewide ban on the use of cell phones in schools.

Families can access their child’s results at www.texasassessment.gov using their unique access code from the district.

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