Brazosport ISD conducts public hearing on 2024 academic performance report

The Brazosport ISD Board Meeting on February 17, 2025, spotlighted the district's impressive academic performance as outlined in the 2024 Texas Academic Performance Report (TAPR). Conducted by Louis Coutinho, the public hearing revealed that BISD students outperformed state averages in several key areas, including third-grade reading and overall mathematics.

Coutinho emphasized that the report, mandated by Texas Education Code, includes vital metrics such as attendance, dropout rates, and college readiness. Notably, BISD's four-year graduation rate reached 91.1%, surpassing the state average of 90.3%. The dropout rate, which spiked during the pandemic, has now returned to its lowest level in nine years.

The district has implemented creative initiatives to boost attendance, such as rewarding students with pizza parties and trophies for high attendance rates. These efforts are part of a broader strategy to foster student engagement through extracurricular activities, which have shown to correlate with improved attendance.

In terms of demographics, the report indicated that 67.4% of BISD students are economically disadvantaged, exceeding the state average by 4.3%. The percentage of students receiving special education services also rose to 17%, significantly higher than the state average of 13.9%. Despite a slight decline in overall enrollment, the district continues to maintain a low student-to-teacher ratio and offers competitive salaries to its educators.

The meeting also addressed the district's financial health, with BISD earning the highest rating in Texas' financial integrity system. The board highlighted ongoing efforts to improve special education services, which received a "needs assistance" designation due to disparities in disciplinary actions.

Coutinho concluded the hearing by announcing that all performance report documents would be available on the district's website, reinforcing BISD's commitment to transparency and community engagement. The positive trends in student performance and graduation rates signal a promising future for Brazosport ISD as it continues to strive for educational excellence.