Sherman Independent School District officials told trustees on Aug. 11 that the district's 2025 state accountability rating improved to a C from a D the previous year, with gains in student achievement and in closing performance gaps, but with uneven results across campuses and subject areas.

The presentation outlined three accountability domains examined by the state: student achievement (Domain 1), school progress (Domain 2, including academic growth and relative performance), and closing the gaps (Domain 3), which aligns with federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) requirements. A district presenter summarized: "we did improve from the overall rating of a D last year to a C in 2025," and said that improvement reflected gains in student achievement and closing the gaps.

Why it matters: District-level improvement affects public perception, state oversight, and federal reporting. Several campuses recorded notable progress while others were identified for additional support.

Campus highlights and concerns: Crutchfield and Dillingham elementary schools both showed steady improvement, with Crutchfield rising into higher scaled scores largely because of gains in closing-the-gaps measures and English-language progress. Dillingham moved from a 60 to a 71 scaled score, with a 100% participation rate in tested subjects and English-language progress (TELPAS) rising from 48% to 57%.

By contrast, Niblett (Niblett spelled in district documents as "NEBLIT" in the presentation) declined from a 67 to a 54 scaled score and was identified as a comprehensive support and improvement campus, with declines across domains and signs of high student mobility. Wakefield and other elementary campuses also showed areas needing targeted interventions.

System-wide priorities: Presenters emphasized math proficiency tied to the new K–8 STEMSCOPE math curriculum implemented this year, and persistent needs in science proficiency and short constructed-response writing at multiple grade levels. The district plans targeted interventions, coaching, and teacher supports to raise students from approaching to meets/masters performance levels.

Board discussion: Trustees asked about comparisons with other Grayson County districts and requested updated data. A presenter said Sherman ISD has a higher percentage of economically disadvantaged students and different demographics compared with neighboring districts, and agreed to provide comparative synopses and the finalized data used to create the campus PDFs.

Discussion vs. decision: The item was an informational presentation; the board did not take formal districtwide policy action during the meeting but asked staff for additional data and follow-up materials.

Ending: Trustees praised teachers and principals for progress while noting more work remains to reach a "B" district rating.