<\/p>\n
Students wrote English essays during a practice test for the STAAR exam in February 2011.<\/p>\n
The results of this year\u2019s STAAR exams<\/a> for third through eighth grades present something of a mixed bag in Dallas ISD and across the state, according to results released Tuesday.<\/p>\n The annual State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness tests<\/a> third through eighth graders in reading, math, social studies and science.<\/p>\n Both the state as a whole and Dallas ISD, the second largest district in Texas, made gains in math, and middle schoolers gained ground in reading.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Related:\u00a0See how Dallas ISD and Texas high school students did on STAAR<\/a><\/p>\n But fewer than half of third graders tested on grade level in reading. Experts say third grade is a critical milestone for reading because students who can\u2019t read on grade level by the end of that year are more likely to struggle later on.<\/p>\n In third and fourth grade, Dallas ISD lost a bit of ground in reading. This year, 49% of third graders were on grade level in reading, down from 50% last year. Half of fourth graders tested on grade level in reading this year, down from 52% last year. But the district either held steady or gained ground in reading in grades five through eight.<\/p>\n Across Texas, reading scores climbed in seventh and eighth grades. Otherwise, scores held steady across all grade levels except third.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n STAAR math scores<\/p>\n In math, Dallas ISD students across all grades either held steady or gained ground compared with last year. In third grade, the percentage of students meeting grade level in math climbed seven points, from 35% last year to 42% this year.<\/p>\n Statewide, math scores either held steady or improved across all grade levels except seventh, where the percentage of students testing on grade level declined by two points. But TEA officials said that decline is related to a recent change in state policy. In 2023, lawmakers passed a bill that expanded access to advanced math classes, automatically enrolling top-performing middle schoolers into advanced math classes instead of asking their parents to opt in. That means top-performing seventh graders are more likely to take the eighth grade math test.<\/p>\n Related:\u00a0Here’s what to know about\u00a0STAAR results and how to find student scores<\/a><\/p>\n Both Dallas ISD and the state as a whole also gained ground in eighth grade social studies. Across Texas, 32% of eighth graders scored on grade level in social studies this year, compared with 30% last year. In Dallas ISD, 30% were on grade level this year, up from 27% last year.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n TEA officials didn\u2019t release science test scores Tuesday. In a statement, TEA officials said the delay was related to the state\u2019s updated standards for science, which resulted in updated content on the assessment. In a statement, Texas Education Commissioner Mike\u00a0Morath said the results reflect both the progress that students are making, and the fact that there\u2019s still more work to be done.<\/p>\n Related:\u00a0Search for your Dallas-area high school and district STAAR scores<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cWe are encouraged by continued gains in mathematics, especially with the growing number\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cTo ensure the updated content on the science assessments does not increase or decrease the difficulty level of the tests, standard-setting processes are being conducted, and science results will be released on July 31, 2026,\u201d officials said.<\/p>\n
of students participating and succeeding in advanced mathematics courses,\u201d he said. \u201cThe gains in middle school reading are also notable, as it may be associated with the statewide ban on the use of cell phones in schools<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n