The Midland Independent School District (MISD) School Board was presented with raw data related to the 2024 State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) test. Information presented by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) may vary in comparison to what is utilized for state accountability purposes as a result of students present when the state examined an overview of public education in Midland.
According to a news release from MISD, this year’s test included online testing, new question types, cross-curricular passages, and evidence-based writing. Other changes to this year’s test included automated scoring which gave a zero to 44% of MISD students scoring on constructed responses graded by artificial intelligence (AI), as opposed to 35% in 2023. Some districts received numbers up to 50% of students scoring a zero on constructed responses graded by AI, according to the state.
Overall, 70% of MISD campuses are showing academic growth, according to the news release. Moreover, 35% of campuses are showing double-digit growth. The district’s board goals are based on the meets standard set by the state with scores approaching grade level and higher considered passing by TEA.
According to the news release, MISD students meeting grade-level standards in reading increased in grades 4-7, with a 6% increase in 4th grade, which had been released by TEA's 2024 preliminary reports in the spring. The district also saw students perform better in 5th and 6th-grade math, with a 6% increase in 5th-grade math. In language arts, 26% of MISD campuses show an increase at the approaches level with 62% of campuses showing an increase at the meets and masters level. TEA is expected to reveal the final results of STAAR testing on July 19.