CFB ISD annual report: TEA TAPR released; district keeps superior financial rating while statewide accountability ratings remain delayed

Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD staff presented the district's annual performance report and the Texas Academic Performance Report (TAPR) data during the Feb. 6 board meeting, noting a mix of confirmed performance data, state-level delays and areas of continuing improvement.

Miss Keane, the district presenter, told trustees the TAPR information released by the Texas Education Agency on Dec. 15 includes STAAR results from 2023–24 and a range of campus and district data drawn from PEIMS and assessment submissions. She said statewide accountability ratings for 2023 and 2024 have not been released because of delayed guidance and a pending lawsuit about assessment validity; as a result, district and campus accountability ratings for 2023–24 are on hold.

The district did receive a "meets requirement" special education determination through the state's Results Driven Accountability (RDA) process for 2023–24, Keane said. CFB ISD also earned the highest Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas (FIRST) rating: "superior achievement" with a score of 100 for fiscal 2022–23; the district has received the highest FIRST rating each year since the system's inception, she said.

Keane provided district profile and performance figures drawn from TAPR and state sources: the district serves roughly 24,000 students across 35 campuses and three education centers and employed nearly 3,700 personnel in 2023–24; average teacher pay was reported at $63,945. Enrollment trends include an increase in the Hispanic student population, a rise in students receiving special services from 15.4% to 17.1%, and growth in emergent bilingual students from 38.8% to 42.7%.

On academic measures Keane reviewed, CFB reported that 74% of students met or exceeded the "approaches grade level" standard across combined STAAR subjects for 2023–24, with year-over-year gains noted in reading and social studies and in higher performance tiers. The district's four-year graduation rate for the Class of 2023 was 94.1% (state 90.3%), and the Class of 2023 posted a CCMR (college, career and military readiness) figure shown in TAPR of 61% (a one-point increase from 2022). Keane cautioned that some TAPR calculations changed this year (for example, certain SPED advanced diplomas were reclassified under college ready), which affects direct year-to-year comparisons.

Board members asked clarifying questions about CCMR definitions and postsecondary reporting; Keane said the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board reports first-year postsecondary outcomes and that the TAPR figures shown include the first year after graduation. She reiterated the TAPR and related reports are posted on the district and TEA websites and that the full TAPR PDF will be made available on the district site.

Keane closed by thanking teachers and staff for gains in student outcomes and reminded the community that some accountability items remain on hold until the state finalizes guidance and resolves pending litigation.