Northeast Independent School District leaders presented the district's 2025 state accountability and STAAR results at the board's public meeting, saying the district maintained a district score of 78 while the share of campuses with A, B or C ratings rose to 88 percent. Brandy Merriman, director of performance and accountability, told the board the district's "a's, b's, and c's are now up to 88%, and our district score is a 78." She said that, across most subject areas, "we are outperforming the state and the region," but that gaps remain for economically disadvantaged students, emergent bilinguals and students receiving special education services.
Merriman walked trustees through the three domains used in Texas accountability: student achievement (Domain 1), school progress (Domain 2) and closing the gaps (Domain 3). She said the district is focused on increasing students at the "meets" level, and noted districts and campuses vary in their proportional contribution to the district score because elementary, middle and high schools carry different weights. Merriman identified fourth- and seventh-grade math and eighth-grade social studies as specific areas of emphasis and said the district will require K'12 teachers to participate in professional learning on foundational math practices, implement supplemental resources for Grades 2'5, and align social studies curriculum and instruction.
Trustees and staff discussed the limits of the assessment instrument and state accountability design. Trustee Landry asked why statewide proficiency levels are low in some subjects; Merriman and other staff explained the state constructs and validates items and that occasional invalid or unusually difficult items can skew results. Superintendent Dr. Micah framed the broader context, telling the board the state testing and accountability system has shifted several times since 2019 and that the district must continue building consistent instructional practices. He also highlighted local classroom successes the district plans to replicate, citing a Reagan High School teacher whose Algebra I freshmen achieved well above the statewide pass rate.
The board directed staff to continue monthly data reviews with principals, expand targeted professional learning and share lists of campuses that earned distinctions. Trustees asked for and were told they would receive supplemental lists and material; Merriman said the full data and campus distinctions are available on texaschools.gov and that district staff would circulate a compiled list.