The Texas Education Agency released the 2026 State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) results for grades 3 through 8. The results show that more than half of students across grades 3-8 met grade-level expectations in reading language arts, with 54% of students meeting the standard.
Math Scores Lag Behind
However, math scores remain a concern, with only 43% of students meeting grade-level expectations. Despite year-over-year improvements among fourth, fifth, sixth, and eighth graders, student performance in math largely remains below pre-pandemic levels.
According to Mary Lynn Pruneda, Education and Workforce Policy Director for Texas 2036, the results are encouraging, but there is still significant work to be done. “We are encouraged by signs of progress in reading language arts announced today. In particular, we are heartened by significant gains in the number of fifth and seventh graders who are demonstrating subject mastery,” Pruneda said.
Trip Davis, K-12 Policy Advisor for Texas 2036, noted that the next test for the state will be the middle grades, where math remains the furthest from pre-pandemic levels. “Ensuring our students arrive at high school ready to continue their education and career exploration remains a top priority for our state,” Davis said.
Original reporting: Focus Daily News — read the source article.
