HOUSTON – Houston ISD is highlighting areas of strong student gains as preliminary 2026 STAAR results have been released.
The district says the results show gains across nearly every subject and grade level, including reading growth in every tested grade, strong mathematics performance, and significant improvement on high school End-of-Course (EOC) assessments.
“These results reflect the transformation that is possible when students receive strong instruction every day, in every classroom,” said Superintendent Mike Miles. “Over the past three years, HISD has raised expectations and focused relentlessly on student learning. The result is that more students are reading on grade level, succeeding in challenging coursework, and achieving at higher levels across grade levels and subjects.”
The district highlighted several areas which they say are among the strongest gains this year:
Reading improved in every tested grade.
8th Grade Reading increased 6 percentage points.
4th Grade Math increased 5 percentage points.
Biology increased 10 percentage points.
Algebra I increased 8 percentage points.
English I increased 5 points and English II increased 6 points
The district also released the gains in several subjects since 2023:
Biology: +33 percentage points
Algebra I: +24 percentage point
8th Grade Math: +19 percentage points
4th Grade Reading: +14 percentage points
English II: +14 percentage points
6th Grade Reading: +13 percentage points
6th Grade Math: +13 percentage points
In addition to the gains above, the district highlighted reading growth across tested grade levels.
According to the district, notable one-year gains include:
8th Grade Reading: +6 points (53% to 59%)
7th Grade Reading: +5 points (50% to 55%)
6th Grade Reading: +4 points (51% to 55%)
5th Grade Reading: +1 point (56% to 57%)
4th Grade Reading: +2 points (50% to 52%)
3rd Grade Reading: +4 points (44% to 48%)
The district said since 2023, reading achievement has increased across all tested grade levels, including gains of 14 points in 4th Grade Reading and 13 points in 6th Grade Reading.
8th Grade Reading: +12 points
7th Grade Reading: +10 points
6th Grade Reading: +13 points
5th Grade Reading: +10 points
4th Grade Reading: +14 points
3rd Grade Reading: +7 points
In math, the district shared the following statistics regarding gains over the last year and since 2023.
One-year increases:
8th Grade Math: +4 points (43% to 47%)
6th Grade Math: +3 points (39% to 42%)
4th Grade Math: +5 points (44% to 49%)
Since 2023:
8th Grade Math: +19 points
6th Grade Math: +13 points
4th Grade Math: +8 points
5th Grade Math: +6 points
3rd Grade Math: +6 point
The district also highlighted gains at the high school level.
One-year increases:
Biology: +10 points (63% to 73%)
Algebra I: +8 points (50% to 58%)
English I: +5 points (46% to 51%)
English II: +6 points (52% to 58%)
U.S. History: +4 points (67% to 71%)
Since 2023:
Biology: +33 points
Algebra I: +24 points
English II: +14 points
English I: +10 points
U.S. History: +8 points
“The STAAR gains are the latest indicator of broad academic improvement across Houston ISD. During the same three-year period, the District increased the number of A-and B- rated schools from 93 to 197 and eliminated all F-rated campuses. The preliminary results reflect continued progress toward ensuring every student, regardless of background or zip code, has access to a high-quality education and the opportunity to succeed. The STAAR results released this week are preliminary and remain subject to final validation by the Texas Education Agency,” the district said.
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