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Ysleta ISD reports improved ratings, details House Bill 8 changes to state testing
Summary
Ysleta ISD officials presented 2024–25 accountability results—district score 89, no D/F campuses, and strong college-and-career indicators—and outlined state testing changes under House Bill 8 that move STAAR to three shorter tests per year (beginning, middle, end) and rename the system to SST.
Ysleta Independent School District officials on Sept. 10 presented the district’s 2024–25 academic results and briefed the board on state testing changes enacted in House Bill 8.
Dr. Bridal Chacon Robles, the district’s chief academic officer, told trustees the district’s 2024–25 overall rating was 89, three points higher than the prior year. She said 96 percent of Ysleta campuses earned an A or B rating, 43 percent were A‑rated, and the district had no D or F campuses. Chacon said the district ranks among the top 14 percent of Texas districts, that half of the Class of 2024 earned an industry‑based certification, and nearly 230 graduates earned an associate degree before high‑school graduation.
Why it matters: Chacon said those outcomes reflect “strong systems of instruction” and highlighted growth measures and distinctions: 39 of 44 schools received at least one distinction designation and nine schools earned every distinction available to them.
State testing changes: Chacon briefed the board on House Bill 8, which restructures State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) into what the bill calls Student Success Tools (SST). Under HB 8, accountability will continue, but exams will be administered three times per year—a beginning‑of‑year, a middle‑of‑year and an end‑of‑year exam—and results for the exams must be available within two days of administration. Chacon said the beginning and middle tests are written in statute to “not exceed 75 minutes,” while the end‑of‑year exam is capped at 105 minutes; HB 8 also removes English II from the state required assessments for high school. Chacon said the new tests are to be available in the 2027–28 school year.
Trustees raised questions about special education, scoring and artificial intelligence. Chacon explained that special education students will continue to take either the regular assessment (under accommodations determined by ARD committees) or an alternate assessment as appropriate. On scoring, she said the state will continue to use artificial intelligence tools to score constructed writing responses; the district already uses AI‑assisted tools such as "Magic Schools" and "KnowRedInk" to help teachers score extended and short constructed responses and is working to align local tools with state scoring models.
Public and trustee reaction: Trustee Tristan Fernandez characterized the change as largely a rebranding of STAAR; he said teachers remain under pressure to “teach to the test.” Superintendent Dr. De la Torre and board members emphasized teacher and staff contributions to the district’s results. During the discussion Dr. De la Torre noted that, of approximately 2,600 teachers, “less than 0.02%” had reported being under a great deal of pressure and suggested that morale in the district is strong overall.
What’s next: Chacon said the district will continue using interim assessments and progress monitoring to align instruction with the new state expectations as the Texas Education Agency develops the test blueprints and methodology required under HB 8.
(Reporting note: accountability figures and House Bill 8 details are taken from the chief academic officer’s presentation at the Sept. 10 board meeting and trustee Q&A.)
