San Antonio, August 22, 2025
News Summary
The Texas Education Agency has released accountability ratings for San Antonio’s school districts for upcoming school years. While many districts showed slight improvements, challenges persist, particularly for lower-income areas. SAISD maintained a C rating, while Comal ISD improved to an A. The increased high school graduation criteria indicate a push towards higher educational standards. The TEA’s evaluations focus on student achievement and school progress, essential for informing parents and the community about educational quality.
San Antonio
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has released its long-awaited accountability ratings for the 2024 and 2025 school years. After a tumultuous period marked by disputes between school districts and the TEA over evaluation criteria, these ratings provide a crucial overview of school performance in the region.
For 2024 and 2025, many districts showcased slight improvements from the previous year’s ratings, which were affected by a stricter evaluation system introduced in 2023. This new framework involved more rigorous standards which many districts argued they were unprepared to meet. Prior to this, no ratings had been released for 2020 and 2021 due to the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The recent ratings reveal a varied landscape in performance among San Antonio’s school districts. The main findings include:
- San Antonio Independent School District (SAISD): Maintained a C rating, showing slight fluctuations, from 70 in 2023 to 69 in 2024, before rebounding to 72 in 2025.
- North East Independent School District: Steady at C with scores consistently holding around 78 from 2023 through 2025.
- Northside Independent School District: Dropped from 77 in 2023 to 75 in 2025 but maintained a C rating.
- Judson Independent School District: Encountered challenges with a persistent D rating over the past three years, with a slight drop from 70 in 2024 to 69 in 2025.
- Southwest Independent School District: Improved its C rating over the span, ending at 77 in 2025 after starting at 75 in 2023.
- South San Independent School District: Experienced significant decline from 60 in 2023 to 65 in 2025, holding a D rating throughout this period.
- Comal Independent School District: Saw a consistent elevation from B (85) in 2023 to A (92) in 2025.
- Alamo Heights Independent School District: Remained stable, maintaining a B rating from 2023 to 2025.
- Boerne Independent School District: Maintained an A rating for several years, recording 92 in 2025.
The TEA assigns its ratings based on three primary categories: student achievement, school progress, and closing the gaps, with student achievement and school progress comprising a significant 70% of the overall score.
The criteria for achieving an A rating for high schools has intensified, increasing from 60% to 88% of graduating seniors that must attend college. Despite the tougher guidelines, many schools, particularly at the high school level, managed to retain their top ratings, showcasing resilience in an evolving educational landscape.
Critics of the A-F rating system argue that it disproportionately affects lower-income districts, while supporters contend it provides vital information for parents and the community about school performance. The state of Texas serves a vast population, with nearly 1,207 schools evaluated under this accountability system. Furthermore, the statewide four-year graduation rate has risen to 90.3% in 2024, suggesting improvements in educational outcomes despite challenges among some districts. Notably, elementary schools faced more difficulties than secondary schools in achieving higher ratings.
As schools gear up for the upcoming years, the focus will turn to addressing the challenges posed by the accountability measures while striving to enhance educational quality for all Texas students.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the TEA accountability rating measure?
The accountability rating measures schools based on student achievement, school progress, and closing the gaps, with the first two categories accounting for 70% of the overall score.
Why weren’t ratings released in 2020 and 2021?
Ratings were not released during 2020 and 2021 due to the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, affecting assessment and testing.
How do ratings compare to previous years?
The current ratings for 2024 and 2025 show slight improvements for some districts compared to 2023, which suffered a decline as a result of the new rating criteria.
What changes were made to high school rating criteria?
The new criteria for high schools increased the percentage of graduating seniors required to attend college from 60% to 88% to achieve an A rating.
How many school districts are evaluated in Texas?
Texas has nearly 1,207 school districts that are evaluated under the A-F accountability system.
Key Performance Ratings Overview
| District | 2019 Rating | 2023 Rating | 2024 Rating | 2025 Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Antonio Independent School District | B (83) | C (70) | C (69) | C (72) |
| North East Independent School District | B (89) | C (78) | C (78) | C (78) |
| Northside Independent School District | B (87) | C (77) | C (76) | C (75) |
| Judson Independent School District | B (83) | D (69) | D (70) | D (69) |
| Southwest Independent School District | B (82) | C (75) | C (72) | C (77) |
| South San Independent School District | C (77) | D (60) | D (69) | D (65) |
| Comal Independent School District | A (92) | B (85) | B (86) | B (87) |
| Alamo Heights Independent School District | A (91) | B (88) | B (87) | B (87) |
| Boerne Independent School District | A (94) | A (91) | A (91) | A (92) |
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Additional Resources
- Express News: San Antonio School Districts Accountability Grades
- Wikipedia: Education in Texas
- KENS 5: School Ratings Texas Education Agency
- Google Search: San Antonio school district ratings
- KSAT: TEA Accountability Ratings
- Google Scholar: San Antonio school district performance
- Fox San Antonio: Texas School Ratings
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Texas education system
- Community Impact: Judson ISD Receives D Rating
- Google News: Texas school district accountability ratings
Author: STAFF HERE SAN ANTONIO WRITER
The SAN ANTONIO STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERESanAntonio.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in San Antonio, Bexar County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Fiesta San Antonio, San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo, and Dia de los Muertos. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce and United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County, plus leading businesses in retail, insurance, and energy that power the local economy such as H-E-B, USAA, and Valero Energy. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAustinTX.com, HERECollegeStation.com, HEREDallas.com, and HEREHouston.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Texas's dynamic landscape.
