Texas’ State Highlights

Summary of Grades

Texas scores at or below the average state in all four graded policy categories in Quality Counts.

Standards and accountability is the only category where Texas reaches the national average. The state scores well on measures of school accountability, but lags behind on academic standards. Math is the only core subject area where its standards have been rated clear, specific, and grounded in content at all grade spans by the American Federation of Teachers.

Texas receives a below-average mark in teacher quality. There is room for improvement in all areas within this category. In particular, the state has very weak measures in place for the professional support and training of teachers. Texas lacks written professional development standards and neither requires nor funds professional development for teachers. In addition, it does not mandate or finance mentoring for all new teachers.

The lower-than-average school climate grade benefits from a strong showing on class-size and school safety indicators. But Texas does not fare as well on measures of student engagement, parent involvement, or school size. Compared to the nation as a whole, fewer students in Texas attend smaller schools.

Texas ranks a bit below average in resource equity. Like most states, its wealth-neutrality score indicates that poorer districts tend to have lower per-pupil funding levels than wealthier ones.

Note: Details may not sum to totals due to rounding.