The Houston Independent School District reported preliminary improvements in several subjects and grade levels on the 2026 STAAR tests. The strongest gains appear in reading, mathematics, and high school End-of-Course examinations.
The Houston Independent School District, known as HISD, reported advances in the preliminary results of the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, or STAAR, corresponding to 2026.
According to the district, the results show growth in almost all subjects and grades evaluated, including reading in all grades examined, improvements in mathematics, and significant increases in End-of-Course exams, or EOC.
The results disclosed this week are preliminary and are still subject to final validation by the Texas Education Agency.
Reading improved in all evaluated grades
HISD stressed that reading rose in all grades subjected to the STAAR test.
Among year-over-year gains, the district reported that eighth-grade reading rose 6 percentage points, from 53% to 59%. Seventh grade rose 5 points, from 50% to 55%, and sixth grade rose 4 points, from 51% to 55%.
In elementary grades, third grade rose 4 points, from 44% to 48%; fourth rose 2 points, from 50% to 52%; and fifth grade registered an increase of 1 point, from 56% to 57%.
The district also compared the current results with those of 2023. In that period, fourth-grade reading rose 14 points and sixth-grade reading increased 13 points. HISD also reported gains of 12 points in eighth grade, 10 points in seventh, 10 points in fifth, and 7 points in third.
Mathematics posted gains in fourth, sixth, and eighth grade
In mathematics, HISD noted year-over-year increases in several grades.
Fourth grade rose 5 percentage points, from 44% to 49%. Eighth grade increased 4 points, from 43% to 47%, while sixth grade grew by 3 points, from 39% to 42%.
When compared to 2023, the district reported a 19-point advance in eighth-grade mathematics. It also noted increases of 13 points in sixth grade, 8 points in fourth, 6 points in fifth, and 6 points in third.
These results are part of the preliminary data presented by HISD to measure academic performance after three years of changes in instruction and school expectations.
Biology and Algebra I registered some of the largest increases
The most marked gains appear on the high school End-of-Course exams.
HISD reported Biology rose 10 points in one year, from 63% to 73%. Algebra I rose 8 points, from 50% to 58%.
English I increased by 5 points, from 46% to 51%, and English II rose 6 points, from 52% to 58%. U.S. History grew 4 points, from 67% to 71%.
Since 2023, the district reported increases of 33 points in Biology, 24 points in Algebra I, 14 points in English II, 10 points in English I, and 8 points in U.S. History.
The STAAR EOC exams measure specific high school subjects. In Texas, these assessments include Algebra I, English I, English II, Biology, and U.S. History.
The Texas Education Agency published EOC results on June 10
The Texas Education Agency published the spring 2026 state results for the STAAR EOC exams on Wednesday, June 10.
At the state level, the agency reported increases in all EOC subjects and in all student groups. Texas reported that 54% of students reached the “meets grade level” standard in Algebra I, up 7 points from the previous year.
The agency also noted that Biology, English I, and English II continued to advance and surpassed pre-pandemic levels. U.S. History recorded 70% of students at the “meets grade level” level.
State data allow for comparing general trends, but each district maintains its own results by school, subject, grade, and student group.
Families can review results through the assessment portal
The Texas Education Agency announced that families can already access individual results of the Spring 2026 EOC exams.
Parents and guardians can log in through their district’s family portal or visit TexasAssessment.gov with the student’s unique access code, date of birth, and legal name.
STAAR results for grades 3 through 8 will be available to families on Tuesday, June 16, 2026.
HISD noted that this week’s results are preliminary and remain subject to final validation by the Texas Education Agency.
HISD ties progress to recent academic changes
Superintendent Mike Miles stated that the results reflect the work done in instruction and learning over the last three years.
The district also noted that, during that period, the number of schools with an A or B rating rose from 93 to 197, and it eliminated campuses with an F rating.
Official school ratings and other accountability data are published separately. The Texas Education Agency maintains state portals where families and communities can review aggregated information by state, region, district, or campus.
