San Marcos CISD received an overall “C” rating for ‘acceptable performance’ for the 2024-2025 school year from the Texas Education Agency. This is a significant improvement from the last three school years of “D” ratings. SMCISD raised their score 8 points compared to the 68 score received for the 2023-2024 school year. The district score of 76 is just 2 points shy of their pre-Covid score of 78 from the 2021-2022 school year.
In addition to the rating, SMCISD received distinctions for eight out of the ten eligible campuses. Distinction designations are awarded when a school or district shows exceptional achievement in certain areas.
According to the Texas Education Agency website, the ratings are a tool used annually to assess school effectiveness.
“This measures how much students are learning in each grade and whether or not they are ready for the next grade,” according to the TEA. “It also shows how well a school or district prepares their students for success after high school in college, the workforce or the military.”
During the August 18 school board meeting, Director of Data & Accountability Elizabeth Nash gave a presentation on the 2023-2025 “A-F” ratings and distinction designations.
“For anyone that’s just looking at the letter grade, they are doing a deep injustice to our students and our community, because our kids are more than a letter grade,” Nash said.
Only campuses that rank in the “A,” “B” or “C” range can earn distinctions. Alternative education agency campuses do not qualify, including the Lamar campus.
“How [distinctions are] determined is each campus is put into a group of its 40 comparison schools based on the 40 schools closest in proximity that are the most similar when you look at the number of students enrolled, the grades served and then student demographics, most importantly, economic status,” Nash said.
Each campus receives its own ratings with San Marcos High School receiving a “C” rating at 75.
Bowie Elementary was the only school to receive a “D” rating of 63. Four campuses received a “B” rating, including Mendez at 89, Crocket at 89, Hernandez at 86, and Rodriquez at 87. The remaining five campuses received “C” ratings with Goodnight at 77, DeZavala at 71, Travis at 79, Lamar at 74 and Miller at 78.
Here is a breakdown of distinctions received by SMCISD schools: San Marcos High School received a 2025 distinction designation for academic achievement in science and another distinction for academic achievement in social studies.
Goodnight Middle School received an academic achievement in social studies.
Miller Middle School received multiple distinctions for academic achievement in reading/ language arts, social studies and postsecondary readiness.
Crockett Elementary earned multiple distinctions with academic achievement in reading/ language arts, mathematics and science. They are in the top 25% for comparative academic growth and postsecondary readiness as well as the top 25% for comparative closing the gaps.
Hernandez Elementary received distinctions for academic achievement in mathematics and ranked in the top 25% for comparative academic growth and post secondary readiness.
Mendez Elementary received distinctions in academic achievement in mathematics and ranked in the top 25% for comparative academic growth and comparative closing the gaps.
Rodriquez Elementary ranked the top 25% comparative academic growth, postsecondary readiness, and comparative closing the gaps.
Travis Elementary received distinctions in academic achievement in science and ranked in the top 25% comparative closing the gaps.
Nash made a point to celebrate each school’s success and improvements with not only ratings but distinctions.
“This is something we should be shouting from the rooftops because this is not an easy thing to achieve,” Nash said.
SMCISD board members Miguel Arredondo and Anne Halsey took time to reflect on the ratings and celebrate the school achievements.
“I think the proof is in these results,” Arredondo said. “I agree with Dr. Cardona that we’re not where we want to be but we’re definitely moving in the right direction. We’re staying competitive and I want to thank staff for doing that because their work is expressed in these results,” SMCISD Board President Anne Halsey said the results are an positive indication that San Marcos schools are progressing beyond the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Right before Covid we were poised to have some really wonderful results, and then everybody went through that,” Halsey said. “I think that we might now finally be out of that hole.
“That is due to the hard work of our campus leadership, of our teachers, of our administrator, of our principals, and also our families and kids.”
To view the ratings for San Marcos CISD and all Texas schools, visit txschools.gov
