The Richardson ISD Board of Trustees received an update on student performance and a preview of preliminary 2026 state accountability projections during its Aug. 6 meeting. The presentation highlighted academic progress, college and career readiness outcomes, and the district’s continued commitment to its North Star Goal: Every student, teacher and leader will meet or exceed their academic growth goals.
While the Texas Education Agency (TEA) will not release official accountability ratings until Aug. 14, preliminary data indicates Richardson ISD is projected to improve from a C rating (79) in 2025 to a B district rating in 2026, with an overall score currently projected to be an 82. These results are preliminary and subject to change before the state’s official release.
The preliminary results reflect continued growth across multiple grade levels and subject areas. Richardson ISD students performed at or above the state at the Meets Grade Level standard in 14 of 20 tested areas and exceeded the state at the Masters Grade Level standard in 18 of 20 tested areas on the Spring 2026 STAAR assessments.
District highlights include:
- Continued improvement in mathematics achievement across all grade levels compared with the previous year.
- Growth in Reading Language Arts (RLA), including increases in students achieving Meets Grade Level and Masters Grade Level performance standards.
- College, Career and Military Readiness (CCMR) rate increased from 95% to 97% for the Class of 2025.
- Increased student participation in rigorous academic and career pathways courses – Advanced Placement (AP), Dual Credit, OnRamps, and Industry-Based Certification courses.
- Strong End-of-Course (EOC) assessment growth compared with many North Texas districts.
- Continued our success in junior high advanced math, with 99.6% of seventh graders enrolled in advanced math and 90.3% of eighth graders taking Algebra I.
The presentation also highlighted progress in junior high mathematics and growth across STAAR performance levels. District leaders also identified continued areas of focus, including closing achievement gaps for economically disadvantaged students, strengthening special education outcomes and improving student performance on extended constructed-response questions.
Trustees also received an overview of significant changes to the state accountability system. District leaders shared that recent modifications to STAAR assessments, scoring methods and accountability standards make year-to-year comparisons challenging. Additional statewide changes are expected in the coming years, including the transition from STAAR to the Student Success Tool beginning in 2028 and future revisions to CCMR measures.
“RISD students are more than a score measured by one test on one day,” said Superintendent Tabitha Branum. “We remain focused on instilling a lifelong love of learning in every classroom while advancing our North Star Goal of ensuring every student meets or exceeds their academic growth goals. By creating engaging learning environments, aligning high-quality instruction, and providing the right systems of support, we are helping every student grow, achieve, and reach their full potential.”
As the district celebrates areas of growth, leaders also recognize campuses that require additional support and remain committed to providing every school with the resources, coaching and instructional support needed to improve student outcomes. Looking ahead to the 2026–2027 school year, district priorities include strengthening classroom instruction, increasing leadership capacity, enhancing campus climate and culture, implementing targeted intervention and enrichment plans, and maintaining high expectations for student learning.
Campus principals will share accountability ratings with families during the first week of school, along with information about what the results mean and the steps being taken to support continued student success.
District leaders emphasized that accountability ratings represent one measure of success and provide a snapshot of student and campus performance. Richardson ISD remains focused on continuous improvement and ensuring every student has access to the opportunities, support and high-quality instruction needed to achieve academic success.
