Montgomery Independent School District

Montgomery ISD students performed above the state average in every tested area of the STAAR test in 2023. Results also indicate year-over-year academic gains against 2022 scores.

“These scores reflect the combined efforts of our amazing educators and families and their commitment to student success,” Montgomery ISD Interim Superintendent Dr. Amy Busby said. “While the STAAR exam is only one indicator of achievement and not an all-encompassing measure of academic growth and success, we are very pleased that MISD students continue to outpace the region and state.”

Last spring, students across Texas took a redesigned STAAR test. The redesigned test included more open-ended questions and was, with a few exceptions, administered completely online.

“While we are encouraged by these scores, it is also important to remember that the changes in the test make it more challenging to compare data from year to year,” MISD Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Education Dr. Chris Summers said. “Because the test was redesigned with different benchmarks, it won’t be a true one-to-one comparison.”

The state’s A-F accountability system was also refreshed, despite calls from school districts and education advocacy groups asking TEA to consider pausing the letter grade ratings in light of the significant changes to the exam, and the timing in which they are rolled out. The state accountability system factors STAAR scores along with college and career readiness measures into awarding letter grades to school districts and each of its schools. A particular area of concern is the unexpected and significant changes made to scale scores for CCMR. The TEA changes made what was an "A" score on CCMR in 2022, a "C" in 2023. Adding to the frustration for school and district leaders is the fact that the 2023 CCMR scores will be assessed on students who graduated in 2022 and earlier, giving the district no ability at all to adjust to or address these new scoring changes. TEA expects to release accountability scores in September.

“There is concern among Texas educators that changes to TEA’s A-F accountability scores will create situations where schools that are performing at a level consistent with – or better than - the prior year may actually receive a lower letter grade,” Summers said. “The A-F system was designed to provide a quick overview of how schools are performing, but the changes to the

scale may create a misconception that schools are performing worse than last year, when that is not the case.”

The Texas Accountability System evaluates the academic performance of Texas public schools as measured through standardized assessments such as STAAR and is one measure of how students are learning and succeeding in Montgomery ISD.