By STAAR, which is short for State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, is crucial for assessing students’ knowledge and skills in grades 3-12, and helps students and educators gauge how much students have learned.
The test is administered in person online, and is based on the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills, or TEKS, which is the state standard for curriculum.
What is the STAAR test?
The STAAR test covers different subjects depending on the grade. It is given at the end of the school year each spring. Here’s what students are tested on:
- Grade 3: Reading and Math
- Grade 4: Reading, Math, and Writing
- Grade 5: Reading, Math, and Science
- Grade 6: Reading and Math
- Grade 7: Reading, Math, and Writing
- Grade 8: Reading, Math, Science, and Social Studies
- Grades 9-12: Algebra I, English I, English II, Biology, U.S. History
Why is it important?
According to the Texas Education Agency (TEA) the STAAR test helps teachers and parents understand how well students are learning. This information can help:
- Determine how well students know important subjects and skills.
- Check if the curriculum and teaching methods are effective.
- Identify which students need extra help.
- Make sure the curriculum meets state standards.
In addition, STAAR fulfills the requirements of the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) which requires all students be assessed in specific grades and subjects throughout their academic careers.
Doing well on the STAAR test is very important. Students must pass the STAAR tests in English language arts, math, science, and social studies to graduate from high school in Texas. This is important for their future career opportunities.
HISD scores show significant improvement
The percentages of HISD students meeting grade-level standards in reading increased in grades 4-8, as did the percentages in math for grades 5, 6 and 8, according to data recently released by the TEA—the largest single year growth in HISD’s history.
HISD’s New Education System (NES) campus scores showed the greatest improvement in the following areas:
- 6th grade reading level scores improved by 10 points
- 8th grade math scores went up 14 points
- 5th grade math scores went up by 11 points
Other highlights of the new test scores are as follows:
- Student proficiency at HISD’s New Education System (NES) campuses exceeded non-NES schools in most subjects.
- High school NES campuses grew at least five points in every subject.
- In Algebra I and Biology, these campuses achieved double-digit growth in the number of students proficient.
- Growth in reading proficiency in NES schools saw 8 and 10 point gains in 5th and 6th grade.
- NES schools also saw double-digit gains in the number of students proficient in math in 5th and 8th grade.
The district’s scores for grades 9-12 among high schoolers were comparable to those in Dallas ISD, but higher than other urban districts in the state.
