AUSTIN, Texas — Austin ISD leaders pointed to significant gains across dozens of campuses after the Texas Education Agency released its accountability scores Thursday night, highlighting improvements even at schools where most students come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

Superintendent Matias Segura said 35 campuses increased a full letter grade, representing 31 percent of the district. He also said 35 campuses improved by five points, and three campuses improved by 20 points.

The results come as educators and researchers continue to emphasize the link between poverty and school performance, while cautioning that the relationship is not absolute.

“It’s a moderate correlation, so it doesn’t mean that is destiny,” said Dr. Allison Matney of the Texas Center for School Accountability. “But there is a correlation, and you will hear principals, superintendents talk about how they see that in their schools.”

Matney said schools with high concentrations of poverty often need different strategies and resources to help students succeed on state testing.

“When you’ve got a high concentration of poverty at a school, it’s going to take a little more muscle, a different resource allocation to ensure that students are ready for the test,” she said.

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Among the most notable gains were at Wooldridge Elementary, where 96 percent of students are economically disadvantaged. The school’s scores jumped to an 87 after scoring 58 and 59 — both “F” ratings — two years in a row.

Ortega Elementary, where 81 percent of students are disadvantaged, jumped to an 85 after two straight years of scores in the 60s.

At T.A. Brown Elementary, where 94.3 percent of students are disadvantaged, scores rose to a 72 after a 48 and a 59, both “F” ratings.

Gus Garcia Young Men’s Leadership Academy, where almost 98 percent of students are disadvantaged, saw scores rise from a D to a C and then to an 81, a B.

Matney said she often sees campus-level decisions that protect instructional time and keep teachers focused on students play a role in improvement.

“I’ll tell you what I see time and time again, it really is pouring into something as simple as we’re not going to pull teachers for anything,” Matney said. “We’re not going to make them drive across town for in-service. Keep things at that campus level. Keep the focus on the students in that campus.”

The district is also looking to appeal the ratings for Burnet and Webb, the two middle schools that received their fifth unacceptable score.