Southside ISD presents annual Texas Academic Performance Report; district posts most data within two weeks

Southside Independent School District trustees held a public hearing March 26 to receive the district's annual Texas Academic Performance Report (TAPR), a compilation of student assessment, demographic and lag-year financial information prepared for and published by the Texas Education Agency. Superintendent Ramirez introduced the presentation and Assistant Superintendents Dr. Spohr and Mr. Castillo reviewed the report.

The TAPR package presented covers the 2023'1024 TAPR publication but includes lag-year financial and accountability figures; Mr. Castillo told the board the report contains eight sections and that some data (PEIMS financials, accreditation status) reflect the prior fiscal year. "This report has 8 sections that we will briefly go over," Mr. Castillo said, adding that campus-level reports are posted separately.

Why it matters: the TAPR is the state's standard, public record of district performance used by families, campus leaders and district officials to track assessment results, graduation and College, Career and Military Readiness (CCMR) outcomes, staffing patterns and campus safety indicators.

Key figures and findings cited in the presentation - Assessment participation and accountability: Mr. Castillo said the district's 2023'4 STAAR assessment participation was 99%, with 89% of students included in accountability snapshots; about 1% of students were not tested. He noted a 7% highly mobile student population and 2% listed as "other." - STAAR performance and growth: The presenters showed two years of STAAR results (2023 and 2024) for approaches, meets and masters levels and compared district figures with the region and state, noting: "Overall, our district grew by 2 points," and that the district's math performance remained higher than regional and state averages despite small declines in some measures (Mr. Castillo). - Graduation and dropout rates: For the 2022'3 reporting year (PEIMS financials use a lag year), the district reported a 90.10% attendance rate, a 93.30% graduation rate, and a 1.5% dropout rate (compared with a 2.7% regional rate and a 2.0% state rate), Mr. Castillo said. The district had 381 graduates in the cited year. - College, Career and Military Readiness (CCMR): The report showed an 84.2% CCMR rate for the 2022'3 graduates, with submeasures including associate degrees (12.9% of graduates), dual-credit course completion (23.4%), career or military readiness (62.9%) and industry-based certifications (62.5%). Mr. Castillo said those figures are "significantly higher" than regional and state averages. - Demographics and staffing: The TAPR also includes student group performance and staff demographics. Dr. Spohr highlighted that Southside ISD has a high percentage of minority staff relative to the state and that most teachers fall in the 11'20 years of experience band; the district's average teacher tenure is about six years and turnover is lower than the state average. - Safety and compliance: The annual report includes required reporting of violent or criminal incidents and findings under the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act; Mr. Castillo told trustees there are currently no findings that would identify any Southside ISD campus as "unsafe."

What the board directed or noted: Trustees did not take any policy action on the TAPR itself; the presentation was informational. Board members praised the progress and asked for short summary materials to share with the public. One trustee asked that a two- to three-minute "Cliff's Notes" slide or a one-page summary with a QR code be prepared for community meetings; Dr. Spohr and Mr. Castillo agreed such materials could be produced and the presenters noted the TAPR and glossary will be posted on the district website within two weeks, consistent with statutory posting requirements.

Formal action: At the close of the public hearing portion, Board President Jesse Hernandez moved to adjourn the public hearing; Lisa L. Salazar seconded. The board adjourned the public hearing by unanimous voice vote and reconvened for the regular meeting at 6:00 p.m.

Where to find the report: Mr. Castillo said the TAPR packet and campus-level reports, including a bilingual glossary, will be posted under the district's required public postings. Paper copies are available on request, he added.

Additional context: Presenters emphasized that some TAPR elements reflect the TEA's lag-year timing (PEIMS financials and accreditation status use prior-year actuals) and that the TEA had not yet published A'F accountability ratings for the 2023'4 cycle at the time of the hearing. The presenters encouraged trustees and the public to use the report's hyperlinks and glossary for definitions of terms such as CCMR, TAPR and campus improvement plans.