Arlington ISD Sees Improved Academic Ratings After STAAR Appeal

Arlington Independent School District (ISD) announced a notable increase in its academic accountability score on December 9, 2025, following a successful appeal that resulted in six campuses improving their letter grades on the state’s A-F rating system. This change reflects the district’s commitment to enhancing educational outcomes and providing better support to its students.

The adjustments come four months after school officials indicated that the ratings for the 2024-25 academic year would be subject to reevaluation due to a delay in the appeal process. The successful appeal led to significant improvements for several schools, with notable changes including:

– **Arlington High School**: C to B
– **Berry Elementary**: F to D
– **Duff Elementary**: B to A
– **Hill Elementary**: C to B
– **Ousley Junior High**: B to A
– **Peach Elementary**: D to C

While the overall district grade remains a C, the score rose by one point to 77, indicating progress in various areas of student performance. School officials attributed most of the rating adjustments to corrected calculations regarding student growth, updated performance data in reading and language arts, and a more accurate count of student groups meeting required standards.

In June, Arlington ISD submitted approximately 4,000 State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) tests to the Texas Education Agency (TEA) for rescoring. According to the district, the TEA later communicated that the rescored tests could not be included in the accountability grades for the 2024-25 year, which are primarily based on STAAR scores.

Superintendent Matt Smith expressed optimism regarding the updated results, emphasizing the dedication of the district’s educators. “Our teachers and staff have been focused on strengthening instruction and supporting students, and it is encouraging to see that work more accurately represented in the state’s data,” he stated in a news release. Smith reaffirmed the district’s commitment to building on this progress throughout the academic year.

The recent improvements reflect the district’s ongoing efforts to enhance educational quality and transparency in student performance metrics. With these changes, Arlington ISD aims to foster an environment conducive to academic success and community engagement.

This story continues to develop, and further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.