by Nicole Bradford
Pearland ISD students outperformed peers in the district and statewide on STAAR testing, according to the district’s annual Texas Academic Performance Report, which also states the district’s percentage of economically disadvantaged students is climbing.
According to this year’s data, the percentage of economically disadvantaged students in PISD increased by 4.1 percent from 2022, compared to the state increase of 1.4 percent. Pearland has a higher percentage of teachers with six or more years of experience than the state average, with a 4 percent lower turnover rate.
Unlike past years, Texas school districts did not get a letter grade rating for 2023.
“The A-F ratings under 2023 rules are still pending and subject to change,” said Melissa Ward, the district’s director of Testing and Program Evaluation.
Due to a pending lawsuit against the Texas Education Agency by an estimated 120 school districts over new A-F calculation methods introduced in the fall, school districts have received letter-grade accountability ratings this year.
During a March 19 public hearing, PISD trustees heard a report on how the district stacks up to Region 4 as well as the state. Compared to the state average in all subjects tested, Pearland ISD students scored 19 percent higher in students who meet grade level, according to 2023 results.
“The trend is the same where Pearland ISD is above the state and region in all three performance levels,” Ward told the board.
Like many districts, local STAAR scores dropped during COVID, “but by 2022, performance was almost back up to where it was prior to the pandemic,” Ward said.
The scores changed little between 2022 and 2023, she said.
“The STAAR redesign happened in 2023, and the scores are still consistent,” she said.
Many educators describe the STAAR redesign as more rigorous. It included writing components instead of all multiple-choice questions. The methodology used in assigning letter grades to districts also changed.
“You cannot look backwards,” Superintendent Larry Berger said. “You’re only going to be able to look forward.”
