Full Breakdown
Texas STAAR 2026 Results Show Gains, District Gaps
6/12/2026, 12:17:52 AM
Background: Purpose of STAAR End-of-Course Exams
The State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) End-of-Course exams evaluate high-school students’ mastery of core subjects required for college, career or military pathways. Results, released each spring, inform district accountability, graduation eligibility and policy decisions, and provide families a benchmark of academic progress.
Statewide Gains and Trends
The Texas Education Agency reported that the percentage of students meeting grade-level standards rose in all five EOC subjects. Algebra I met grade level for 54 % of students, a seven-point increase from 2025. Pass rates and mastery were: Algebra I 82 % passed (30 % mastered), Biology 93 % (35 % mastered), English I 71 % (13 % mastered), English II 72 % (9 % mastered), U.S. History 93 % (37 % mastered). Biology, English I and English II continued upward trajectories, exceeding pre-pandemic levels, while U.S. History pass rates slipped by one point. Mastery for English I and English II declined despite higher pass rates. Gains were observed among emergent bilingual, special-education and economically disadvantaged learners; the latter improved seven points in Algebra I.
District-Level Performance
North East ISD passed 87 %–96 % across subjects, mastering up to 53 % in U.S. History. Northside ISD passed 85 %–95 % with mastery 26 %–44 %. San Antonio ISD lagged, passing 54 %–89 % and mastering only 5 %–26 %, below state averages in every exam. Region 20, covering districts in Bexar County, matched state averages, passing 82 %–93 % and mastering 26 %–38 %.
Impact and Implications
Statewide improvements suggest that recent instructional policies, including heightened expectations and targeted support, are bearing fruit. However, the pronounced district disparities indicate that additional resources and interventions may be needed in lower-performing areas, especially San Antonio ISD, to ensure equitable outcomes. Policymakers may consider expanding successful strategies from higher-performing districts while addressing challenges faced by underperforming schools.
Official TEA Statement
Commissioner Mike Morath said the improvements reflect sustained effort by students, educators and families and that focused instruction and high expectations continue to produce positive outcomes. He added that the recent classroom cell-phone ban may have helped students stay focused during instruction and assessments.
Verbatim Quotes
- “These results reflect the hard work of Texas students, educators and families and demonstrate that focused instruction and high expectations continue to produce positive outcomes for students across our state,” — Mike Morath, Texas Education Commissioner
- “These results may also be reflective of the legislature’s ban of cell phone use in classrooms, so that students are better able to stay focused on their schoolwork while at school.” — Mike Morath, Texas Education Commissioner
Access to Results for Grades 3-8
The TEA announced that individual STAAR results for grades 3-8 will be available on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, via school-district family portals or TexasAssessment.gov using access codes. Families can also download aggregate data by state, region, district or campus from the Texas Assessment Research Portal.
