3 weeks Ago By Michael Milliorn
Statewide testing has begun at the Victoria Independent School District, with students beginning STAAR and EOC test taking. Campuses throughout the district have introduced various testing preparation activities to help students get ready for the 2025 testing season. STEM Middle School students are participating in “STAAR Camp,” an offering of small-group support and focused writing camps provided by teachers.
The camp is designed to help students strengthen their math and reading skills ahead of testing. Victoria East High School students are participating in “STAAR Island,” a themed experience that turns their final STEM Day transformed EOC lessons into interactive games, to help prepare them for the EOC exams. The initiative is meant to make test practice and preparation more exciting and engaging for students.
“These hands-on, student-centered activities not only reinforce learning but also reduce test anxiety and keep students motivated,” a VISD communications press release read. VISD students in third through eighth grade completed their reading and language arts and English 1 and 2 exams April 15 and 16. Fifth-and eighth-graders are scheduled to complete their science and biology exams April 23.
Eighth graders will complete their social studies and United States history exam on April 24. Finally, third through eighth graders will take their math and algebra one exams April 29 and 30. “These assessments measure students’ understanding of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) and help determine readiness for the next grade level,” the press release read.
“[Parents’] encouragement and support plays a big part in [their] child’s academic success.” VISD student performance percentages for STAAR testing have remained similar between spring 2024 testing and spring 2022 testing. The 2021-2022 school year is the most recent year to produce a Texas Education Agency (TEA) Accountability Rating for the District, factoring in test scores, growth, graduation rates, CCMR and other metrics.
Fifth graders had the highest percentage of students reaching the desired performance level benchmark for the math test in spring 2024 with 62 percent, while seventh graders had the lowest with 33 percent, according to the TEA research portal. The percentages in spring 2022 are similar with 67 percent of fifth graders approaching or achieving the benchmark and 35 percent of seventh graders. Fourth graders had the highest percentage of students reaching the desired performance level benchmark for the reading test in spring 2024 with 74 percent, while seventh graders had the lowest with 58 percent, according to the TEA research portal .
The percentages in spring 2022 are similar with 69 percent of fourth graders approaching or achieving the benchmark and 67 percent of seventh graders. VISD had 64 percent of students approach or reach the desired benchmark for the EOC algebra one test in spring 2024. The district had 50 percent of students approach or reach the EOC English one benchmark and 63 percent approach or reach in English two for the spring 2024 testing season.
The 2024 percentages for the three EOC tests were all higher or equal to the 2022 percentages. The most recent available TEA Accountability Rating , for the 2021-2022 school year, gave VISD an overall scaled score of 78, a C rating. The district had a scaled STAAR performance score of 67, a College, Career and Military Readiness score of 78 and a graduation rate score of 95.
Academic growth was scored a 76 and relative performance was scored a 79..
