Hempstead ISD has received 2022-2023 STAAR scores from the Texas Education Agency, and district performance was presented at the September 18 school board meeting. The 2022-2023 academic year was the first year of the new online assessment format. Additional changes for student testing included adapting to new question formats, making it a crucial year for assessing progress and growth.
"Our academic journey this year was unlike any other," Hempstead ISD Assistant Superintendent Brittany Anderson said. "But despite the hurdles, we have seen promising growth in many areas. Our academics may not be where we want them to be yet, but the progress is truly promising for our teaching staff and students."
Anderson explained the academic accountability data from the 2022-2023 school year, focusing on STAAR/EOC assessment results for students in 3rd grade and up. She emphasized that these assessments were conducted entirely online, with new question types and formats that required students to think and respond in unprecedented ways.
The STAAR test is a required assessment for students in Texas, and while the District uses it as one way to measure student academic growth, it is not used as a part of a student’s grade or evaluated during the college admission process.
Anderson continued to highlight each campus and their improvement. Some areas highlighted during the presentation included:
The percentage of Hempstead ISD students passing scores increased on 18 of the 25 assessments taken between grades 3-12 compared to last year.
2 out of 3 campuses saw an increase in the percentage of target growth on the TELPAS exam.
Increase in College, Career, and Military Readiness (CCMR) points from 31 to 69.
“We achieved substantial improvements in almost every aspect of last year's STAAR test and we're seeing double-digit gains in areas like College, Career, and Military Readiness (CCMR) performance,” Superintendent Herbert O’Neil added. “This is a testament to the hard work of everyone involved,” Anderson stressed the district's commitment to continued academic growth. "Our work is two-fold," she explained. "The Teaching & Learning team provides tools and resources for effective teaching and learning, while campus administrators ensure systems are in place to support this work at the campus level."
Additionally, Hempstead ISD Executive Director of Teaching and Learning, shared highlights of her department work, emphasizing the importance of collaboration, unified working relationships, professional development, and high expectations for both teachers and students.
Later this year, the state of Texas is expected to assign grades to schools and districts, based on STAAR Results. Previously the District shared with the Hempstead ISD community, due to changes to the state accountability system this year, along with a redesigned STAAR test, Hempstead ISD anticipates school and district ratings will stay the same due to lagging data. The growth will likely be seen in 2024, once districts have an opportunity to prepare for the new state system and students and staff become familiar with the redesigned test.