Round Rock ISD continues to post high marks on the state’s report card for public schools, with 85 percent of campuses earning an A or B. Overall the District earned a B, which carries a designation of Recognized Performance.
More schools earned an A than ever before, with 27 posting the highest possible rating. Eighteen campuses earned a B, and eight were graded C. In total, there are 45 campuses earning an A or B, compared to 37 in 2019, the most recent year campuses were rated by the state. The student performance score increased from 92 to 93, and for the first time since the state implemented the A-F system, Round Rock ISD had no schools ranked below a C. Most Round Rock ISD campuses—98 percent—maintained or improved their performance from 2019, the last year the Texas Education Agency (TEA) rated campuses.
“The past two and a half years have been the most challenging educators have ever faced,” Superintendent Dr. Hafedh Azaiez said. “Students everywhere suffered major learning loss when the world shut down due to the COVID pandemic. The incredible performance showcased in this year’s ratings is a testament to the determination and innovation of our educators, the support of our parents, and the hard work and resilience of our students.”
Under the A-F system, campuses are evaluated in three areas or “domains”: Student Achievement, School Progress, and Closing the Gaps, relying primarily on scores from the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR). Round Rock ISD earned an overall score of 91 — high enough for an A rating — however, if any one campus scores less than 70 in any of three domains, the District’s overall score drops to an 89 or B. The stipulation in the accountability plan ensures that a school district cannot earn an A unless students at all campuses meet a certain benchmark.
“We know there are many factors that contribute to a student’s overall academic success, and in Round Rock ISD we are committed to providing every child with the opportunity to succeed,” Dr. Azaiz said. “While test scores don’t tell the whole story, we value accountability and use this data to identify areas of need and design focused strategies to help all of our students reach their full potential.”
This is the first year since 2019 the TEA has rated schools under its A-F accountability system. Students were not able to complete all STAAR tests in 2019-2020 due to the disruption of the school year by the COVID pandemic. The STAAR was given in 2020-2021, but the state did not use the scores to rate schools, due to anticipated historic learning loss. This year’s scores in Round Rock ISD highlight impressive gains, with a score of 92 percent in the School Progress domain.
“We are so proud of the growth we’ve seen across the District, but I particularly want to applaud the progress at some of our campuses that have historically struggled,” Ryan Smith, the District’s chief of teaching and learning, said. “Targeted strategies such as additional support and resources, along with the unflagging determination of teachers and administrators at schools like Callison and Voigt elementary schools as well as C.D. Fulkes and Hernandez middle schools are evident in the results we’re celebrating today.”
For elementary and middle schools, the ratings in each area are largely based on STAAR assessment results, including year-to-year progress; although the Closing the Gaps domain also includes a measure of progress in English proficiency among students who are learning English. High schools and district ratings are based on these measures plus college, career, and military readiness rates and graduation or dropout rates. Round Rock ISD graduates consistently have the highest college readiness rates in Central Texas, according to research by the Austin Chamber. This year’s scores show an increase in graduation rates from 90 percent in 2019 to 95 percent in 2022.
“I want to thank Round Rock ISD educators, support staff, and everyone who plays a part in our students’ success,” Dr. Azaiez said. “While these results are critically important to help us measure how prepared all of our students are for their future, we also know that our schools offer so much more to help cultivate successful, innovative lifelong learners who will grow up to be leaders in our communities. In Round Rock ISD, we will continue to focus on academic excellence, innovative opportunities and engagement, and access to fine arts, athletics, and social experiences that help shape the next generation.”
More information and Individual campus results for this year’s ratings can be found on the Texas School Report Card website.
