Castleberry reports near-universal CCMR among 2025 seniors; career readiness lags earlier target

Castleberry ISD officials told the board that preliminary results for the Class of 2025 show nearly all seniors met College, Career and Military Readiness (CCMR) measures, and staff outlined follow-up steps to improve career- and outcome-bonus measures.

Dr. Darla Barnes, CHS academic dean, said the district’s "preliminary results show that we had approximately 99 percent of our 2025 seniors meet CCMR," and that the tally is based on the multiple pathways the state recognizes for CCMR credit.

The district summarized three CCMR pathways: college readiness (AP/IB scores, SAT/ACT/TSIA benchmarks or dual-credit completion), military enlistment or Texas National Guard service, and career readiness (industry-based certifications, CTE pathway completion, or special-education workforce-readiness measures). Manny Saldivar, the district’s CCMR advisor, explained the specific options that earn CCMR credit, including dual credit and certain level 1 or 2 certificates.

Barnes and Saldivar said the district exceeded its original five-year target for college-ready graduates: the board-adopted goal rose from 28 percent to 89 percent, and the preliminary 2025 figure is 90 percent. Staff reported secondary indicators of post‑graduation activity: 77 percent of graduates submitted at least one college application, 86 students participated in the TCC Connect program, and 64 percent completed the FAFSA application.

Officials said career/military-readiness measures did not meet the district goal. The district’s career-readiness goal was to rise from 38 percent to 50 percent; staff said growth stalled partly because a widely used industry-based certification (MOS) was removed from the statewide approved list. Stephanie Martinez, director of CTE, said the program has added new IBCs — examples cited included Microsoft 365 and a social media marketing certificate — and will continue to adjust course offerings to the Texas Education Agency’s updated IBC list.

Staff also described the district’s outcome-bonus measure (state funds tied to students who pass TSIA2 and earn an IBC or attend college). Barnes said outcome-bonus awards are paid with a lag and estimated the district’s 2025 graduates would generate an approximately $65,000 outcome-bonus payment in 2027. She said the district is beginning TSIA2 testing in eighth grade and moving curriculum changes earlier to increase future eligibility.

Board members asked about timing and data lag: Barnes and Saldivar confirmed accountability and outcome-bonus data trail classroom and graduation years by one to two years, so 2025 results affect accountability and bonus calculations in subsequent years.

The presentation also noted ancillary results: scholarship totals reported for this year rose to $8,670,000, up from roughly $4,100,000 the previous year.

District staff said next steps include setting new five-year CCMR goals aligned to the A–F accountability framework, continuing to update approved IBC offerings, expanding the early-college Casperity Collegiate Academy, and monthly progress monitoring reported to the board.

Barnes and Martinez said the district will return with recommended new goals for board approval as part of the upcoming District Improvement Plan.