The Texas Education Agency released standardized test results for third through eighth graders Wednesday, showing mixed results across the state and in Corpus Christi ISD.

During spring 2023 State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, or STAAR, testing, reading proficiency remained “largely unchanged” statewide compared to the previous year, though the percentage of students reading at grade-level is higher than before the pandemic. Math scores improved from last year but are still lower than pre-pandemic levels.

STAAR tests are required each spring for third through eighth grade students in math and reading. Fifth graders also take a science test. Eighth graders also take a science and social studies test.

The 2023 test was redesigned to more closely align with classroom work. Additionally, 2023 was the first year students were required to take the test online, though many schools including Corpus Christi ISD began making the transition to online earlier.

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Less than half of students statewide in third through eighth grade and in Algebra I end of course exams met grade level or above in math in 2023. Slightly more than half, or 52% of students third through eighth grade and in English I and English II end of course exams, met grade level or above in reading.

For economically disadvantaged students, only 33% across the state met grade level in math, a slight increase from the previous year, and only 41% met grade level in reading — no change from last year.

The state also released online STAAR results at the district level.

In Corpus Christi ISD, more than 70% of students are economically disadvantaged.

Comparing results by grade level for STAAR 3-8, the percentage of CCISD students who did not meet grade level in reading was close to the state percentage, coming in either right at or a few points higher.

Results for math were more mixed. A larger percentage of CCISD students didn’t meet grade level in sixth, seventh and eighth grades. For seventh grade 62% of CCISD students didn’t meet level compared to 39% across the state.

This means that only 3% of CCISD seventh graders mastered grade level expectations in math and only 13% met grade level or above.

For fourth and fifth grade, a smaller percentage of CCISD students didn’t meet grade level compared to the state. For third grade, 29% of CCISD students didn’t meet grade level compared to 28% across the state.

Comparing year to year in CCISD, reading results were mixed, with some grades improving performance and others seeing slight drops.

The percentage of third graders in the district not meeting grade level in reading dropped from 26% to 25% between 2022 and 2023. But for fourth graders, the percentage increased from 22% to 24%.

Fifth graders did show improvement in reading, with the percentage not meeting grade level dropping from 24% to 19%. Sixth graders also improved, with the percentage not meeting grade level dropping from 36% to 29%.

The percentage of seventh graders not meeting grade level in reading increased from 24% to 29%, while the percentage of eighth graders dropped from 21% to 19%.

In math, CCISD saw promising signs at the elementary level, with mixed progress in middle school.

For grades three through five, the percentage of students not meeting grade level decreased. For third graders, the percentage that did not meet grade level dropped from 33% to 29%. For fourth graders, it dropped from 28% to 25%. For fifth graders, it dropped from 25% to 18%.

But the percentage not meeting grade level increased in sixth grade from 34% to 40% and in seventh grade from 52% to 62%. For eighth grade, the percentage not meeting grade level decreased from 41% to 31%.

Later this fall, the TEA is expected to release updated school and district accountability ratings, based in large part on STAAR performance, as well as some career and college readiness measures.

Last year, Corpus Christi ISD earned an 85, or B, rating. This rating was similar to the district's pre-pandemic B rating in 2018-19, which was already an increase from a C rating in 2017-2018, and reflected improved performances at the campus level in some of CCISD's lowest rated schools.

How to access and understand individual STAAR results

Families can view their child’s test results at texasassessment.gov.

The state judges test results based on whether a student did not meet grade level expectations, approached grade level, met grade level or mastered grade level.

At did not meet grade level, a student lacked basic understanding of course content and will need significant support in the next school year.

At "approaches," a student shows some knowledge of course content but may need additional support in the next school year.

At "meets," a student shows strong knowledge of course content and is prepared for the next grade.

At "masters," a student is on track for college and career readiness.

Students who achieve at the "approaches" level or above are considered passing.

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This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Texas releases 2023 STAAR results. Here's how Corpus Christi did.