United ISD reports 96.2% graduation rate, highlights teacher retention and dual‑credit growth at TAPR hearing

United Independent School District trustees and district stakeholders heard the district’s annual Texas Academic Performance Report (TAPR) and PEIMS financial standard report at a public hearing in February 2025. Christina Cabello, executive director for instructional accountability, presented district outcomes and financial measures while one public commenter urged more direct student support.

The TAPR and PEIMS reports summarize academic performance, demographic and financial data that the Texas Education Agency collects and posts. The district highlighted high participation rates, graduation outcomes and staff retention while noting challenges in Advanced Placement participation and fund balance per student.

Christina Cabello, executive director for instructional accountability, told trustees that "our 2024 special education determination status is that we meet requirements." Cabello said United ISD overscored the state and region in most STAAR performance categories, and reported 100% participation in state testing for the district. She said the district’s graduation rate was 96.2% and that a distinguished level of achievement is reflected in graduates’ outcomes.

Cabello presented a series of comparative data points: a reported 29.9% dual‑credit participation rate across the district’s early college programs, a decline in AP participation, and that United ISD’s teacher experience metric—teachers with 11 or more years—totaled about 62% compared with a state figure she cited at 44%. She said staff turnover was 7.8%, lower than the state, and that the district’s fund balance per student was $2,123 compared with $3,488 statewide. Cabello also said the district expects to receive "a little over $3,000,000" under the teacher incentive allotment to distribute to teachers.

Cabello described campus supports and non‑instructional services: campus improvement plans, social‑emotional learning and mental health awareness programs, alternative education pathways that allow students to reduce disciplinary consequences, random drug testing for extracurricular participants and an on‑demand drug kit program for parents. She also said the district reported no violent or criminal incidents for 2023–24.

A community member, Letty Juarez, addressed the board during public comment and said the TAPR presentation had not been linked on the meeting agenda, so she had pulled the data from the TEA website. Juarez stated that, by her calculations, "44 percent of our children are still below grade level," and she criticized low STAAR passing thresholds and the district’s emphasis on platforms and materials without more direct human support. "Students need real human support, not just software and workbooks," she said.

Cabello referenced district college‑and‑career readiness indicators including career, college and military readiness (CCMR) and said United ISD’s postsecondary enrollment metrics outpaced state averages, which she summarized as "about 58% higher than the state" in the presentation. She also said district leaders attribute lower AP participation to expanded dual‑credit offerings at the district’s four high schools and early college programs.

Trustees did not take formal action during the hearing. The presentation was followed by one public comment and the board closed the public hearing and adjourned.

The presentation materials were available via a QR code during the meeting and Cabello said TAPR documents are posted on each campus and the district website. Cabello noted prior reporting on college‑and‑career goals presented in earlier meetings and recognized principals and teachers in the audience.