Data on all state schools delayed after court challenges past two years
In the school accountabililty data released by the Texas Education Association last week, Spur School (all grades of the multi-level school reporting together) received a rating of B on Student Achievement and School Progress and a C on Closing the Gaps, with an overall grade of B. During the 2022-23 school year, which was covered by the newly available data, 224 students were enrolled. Of those, 58% were economically disadvantaged, which is slightly lower than the statewide average of 62.1%.
Spur School had a STAAR passing rate of 43%, a college readiness rate of 87%, and a 100% graduation rate.
Spur ISD Superintendent Craig Hamilton noted a sentiment often expressed by small schools in tight-knit rural districts. “For me personally, these scores don’t define school districts,” he said. “Our students will always be worth more than a test score or a rating; our goal will always be to produce productive citizens who will positively impact the world they live in. However, I'm all for being accountable to our community and stakeholders. I understand that there is always room for growth, and we will continue to stive for our students to reach their full potential.”
Patton Springs School (all grades of the multilevel school reporting together) received a rating of B on Student Achievement and School Progress and an A on Closing the Gaps, with an overall grade of A. During the 2022-23 school year, 77 students were enrolled. Of those, 75.3% were economically disadvantaged, which is much higher than the statewide average of 62.1%.
Patton Springs has recently begun the process of re-chartering as a Pre-K through grade 6 school, with students in its grades 7 through 12 facing the need to choose a different school for their secondary grades next year.
Jayton Schools (the only school within the Jayton- Girard ISD) received an overall rating of A with an A in Student Achievement, an A in School Progress and an A on Closing the Gaps. In the 2022-23 school year 174 students were enrolled. Of those, 42.5% were economically disadvantaged, which is much lower than the statewide average of 62.1%.
Jayton Schools (all grades of the multi-level school reporting together) had a STAAR passing rate of 61%, a college readiness rate of 100%, and a 100% graduation rate.
Interim Superintendent Nelson Coulter, who has served school districts of all sizes, 1A to 6A, rural and urban, is philosophical about the value of school ratings. At the time the State of Texas “got very serious about holding districts accountable,” he said, he was serving as principal at Jayton. His wife, he said, reminds him, “I remember the day you called the faculty meeting and said, I guess we're going to have to play their game.” Coulter commented that the system is “a better model than it used to be” as a barometer of student success, but puts more faith in Jayton’s own model of measuring educational outcomes. “To me, we’re raising whole children,” he said. “What do they need to know and be able to do to be happy, successful, productive citizens for a lifetime? That’s what matters.”
More information is available by specific campus through the link in the Texas Tribune article at https://www.texastribune. org/2025/04/24/texasschools- a-f-accountabilityratings/.
