TEA releases spring STAAR test results for grades 3-8
AUSTIN (KXAN) -- STAAR test results were released for grades 3-8 on Tuesday for reading, math, science and social studies. Those results are showing progress and a need for improvement for some Texas students, the Texas Education Agency said in a news release Tuesday.
According to the TEA, elementary students made the biggest gains -- specifically in Reading Language Arts (RLA).
“These results are encouraging and reflect the impact of the strategic supports we’ve implemented in recent years,” said TEA Commissioner Mike Morath. “With RLA scores now surpassing pre-pandemic levels, we are seeing meaningful signs of academic recovery and progress. While this year also saw some improvements in math, clearly more work is needed.”
Those RLA improvements were seen largely in grade 5 and increased by four percentage points for students who met grade level, according to the TEA.
"Similar growth was observed in grades 3 and 4, with each increasing by 3%. Grade 8 RLA performance also rose by 2%. The percentage of students who scored on grade level in grades 6 and 7 remained steady, matching last year’s results," TEA said in the release.
Third graders saw a three percentage point increase in the category. When it comes to math education, officials said students are still recovering from the pandemic. Forty-three percent of students met the standard for math, compared to 50% in 2019.
"In mathematics, performance varied by grade level, but notable gains were observed in grades 3 and 8, with the percentage of students meeting grade level increasing by four and five percentage points, respectively. Grade 4 remained relatively stable, with a 1% increase. Grades 5 and 7 dipped modestly," TEA said.
For social studies, Grade 8 performance declined slightly by one percentage point, the release said.
A bill that would have ended the STAAR test died in the Texas Legislature this year. To give the state's youngest students support ahead of their first STAAR test, Texas lawmakers passed a school finance package with new statewide assessment tools for early childhood learning. They also included intervention for students who are struggling.
To view the detailed summary of the 2025 STAAR 3-8 results, go to the TEA website.