In the Coastal Bend, student performance on recent spring 2024 end-of-course state assessments was similar to state averages, showing little change from 2023.

The Texas Education Agency released results for end-of-course STAAR assessments in algebra, English I and II, U.S. history and biology last week.

According to a TEA press release, this year’s end-of-course results show that performance has “held steady.” But many students are still failing to demonstrate basic understanding of course content on state assessments, particularly in English and algebra.

Student results are categorized into four performance levels — did not meet grade level expectations, approaches grade level expectations, meets grade level expectations or masters grade level expectations.

Approaches or above is considered passing, indicated that the student showed some knowledge of course content, but may be missing critical elements and may need additional support. A student who did not meet grade level lacks basic understanding of course content.

Across the state, 30% of English I and English II test-takers in 2024 scored in the “did not meet” performance level, up from 28% in 2023. The largest percentage of students, 44% in 2024, performed at the “meets” level, indicating strong knowledge of course content in English I and English II.

The 2024 results are similar to results from 2023, but both years mark a slight improvement when compared to pandemic and even pre-pandemic 2019 performance. In 2019, 35% of test-takers did not meet expectations in English I and English II. In 2022, 33% did not meet expectations.

Focusing in on the Coastal Bend region, including schools in Kenedy, Kleberg, Duval, Jim Wells, Nueces, San Patricio, McMullen, Aransas, Bee and Live Oak counties, performance was similar. During spring 2024 tests, 31% of English I and 25% of English II test-takers did not meet expectations.

The Coastal Bend school districts where the fewest students did not meet expectation include London ISD, McMullen County ISD and Port Aransas ISD less than 5% of students did not meet expectations with the vast majority of test-takers passing the assessments. These district have a smaller percentage economically disadvantaged students than most other districts in the Coastal Bend.

In Corpus Christi ISD, spring 2024 results in English were similar to state and regional averages — 35% did not meet expectations in English I and 29% did not meet expectations in English II.

In algebra, 21% of test-takers in 2024 and 22% of test-takers in 2023 did not meet expectations. During the years immediately following the pandemic, 28% of testers in 2021 and 26% in 2022 did not meet expectations. However, in 2019, only 16% did meet expectations in Algebra, with nearly 40% falling into the highest performance category, showing mastery of course content.

In Corpus Christi ISD, 27% of students did not meet expectations in algebra in 2024, an improvement from 2023 when 34% did not meet expectations. Across the region, 22% did not meet expectations in algebra in spring 2024 compared to 25% in spring 2023.

In biology and U.S. history, fewer students failed end-of-course assessments. In 2024, only 9% of biology test-takers and 5% of U.S. history test-takers statewide did not meet expectations, similar to 2023 and slightly better than 2019, but clear improvements from 2021 and 2022.

Results from the Coastal Bend region in biology in spring 2024 mirrored state averages. Corpus Christi ISD spring 2024 results in U.S. history were also similar.

Parents and families can view their student’s individual STAAR end-of-course results, including how the student answered each test question, online at https://www.texasassessment.gov/. Results for STAAR grade 3-8 assessments are expected June 14.

To view results, students and families will need a unique access code. This code is printed on a student’s state report card. Schools can also share access codes.

The state’s Texas Assessment online portal at https://txresearchportal.com/ also allows visitors to search for results by region, school district and campus.

According to a TEA news release, across the state a larger percentage of emergent bilingual students met grade level across all EOC assessments, including rising four percentage points in English I and II. Nearly a quarter of Texas public school students are classified as emergent bilingual.

More analysis from the state of end-of-course results is also available online at https://tea.texas.gov/student-assessment/staar-eoc-analysis-2023-2024.pdf.

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This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Compare Coastal Bend schools by STAAR end-of-course test results