Texas students are continuing to show academic progress according to assessment results released this week.
The Texas Education Agency released its Spring 2026 STAAR End-of-Course results on Wednesday.
Statewide results show the percentage of high school students meeting grade-level expectations increased across all assessed subject areas and student groups. Yet barely above half of all students tested met expectations in English I or Algebra I.
STAAR is short for State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, a standardized academic achievement test “designed to measure the extent to which a student has learned and is able to apply the defined knowledge and skills in the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills at each tested grade, subject, and course,” according to the TEA website.
The STAAR EOC assessments measure whether high school students have mastered end-of-course knowledge and skills they need to progress to the next level and ultimately graduate ready for college, a career, or the military.
According to the Spring 2026 STAAR EOC results, student performance in Biology, English I, and English II finally surpassed 2019’s pre-COVID levels, although comparisons are complicated by a test redesign in 2023.
The 2026 STAAR results also showed increased percentages of emergent bilingual, special education, and economically disadvantaged students meeting grade level in every EOC subject.
“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,” said Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath. “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.”
Parents can access their child’s STAAR EOC results through their school district’s family portal or by visiting TexasAssessment.gov and using the access code provided by their child’s school.
Aggregate STAAR EOC data by state, region, district, or campus can be found through the Texas Assessment Research Portal.
Texas’ largest school district, Houston ISD, announced continued improvements in its students’ test scores since systemic failures triggered a state takeover in 2023. During those three years, the district also increased its number of A- and B-rated schools from 93 to 197 and eliminated all F-rated campuses.
“It’s been the largest turnaround in any school district in Texas,” said Houston ISD’s TEA-appointed Superintendent Mike Miles.
This year’s STAAR results for grades 3–8 will be available to the public on June 16.
The controversial “high stakes” STAAR tests are scheduled to be replaced with a new assessment program starting in the 2027-28 school year.
Legislation enacted in 2025 as House Bill 8 replaces STAAR with the also-controversial Student Success Tool, which will include shorter tests at the beginning, middle, and end of school years. High school students will only be required to take end-of-year assessments.
