AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- Austin ISD received an overall "B" accountability rating from the Texas Education Agency, according to new data released Monday.
It's the first time the state has released accountability ratings since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to AISD officials, 71 percent of the district's campuses increased their ratings from 2019, including six schools that jumped from a D or F rating to a C or better.
In total, 82 of the district's schools improved by at least one letter grade over their 2019 ratings, officials said.
“What we are celebrating today is a comeback story against incredible odds," said AISD Interim Superintendent Dr. Anthony Mays. “Think about what these teachers, principals, and kids accomplished. They did this during the pandemic.”
40 of the district's schools earned overall ratings of A.
A total of ten AISD campuses – five elementary and five middle schools - earned a "not rated" designation, which TEA applied to all overall scores less than 70 for the 2022 school year due to ongoing disruption from the pandemic - in lieu of D or F grades.
The elementary schools receiving a "not rated" designation are Barrington, Govalle, Oak Springs, Pecan Springs and Winn; while the middle schools are Burnet, Dobie, Mendez, Paredes and Webb.
“I am not here to declare victory, only to celebrate progress,” Mays said. “Our goal is to have a school district that’s the best in Texas. That does not mean just having fewer schools rated as failing.”
Across the state, TEA officials said 25% of districts and 33% of campuses improved their letter grades from 2019.