STAAR scores account for 100% of a campus rating in all domains except at the high school level, which has other criteria measured as well. This means student performance measured on one day during the school year equates to a campus letter grade, according to Dr. Lani Norman, NBISD Chief Academic Officer, who explained the major factors that played into NBISD’s accountability rating.

“In addition to STAAR scores–graduation rate and college, career and military readiness (CCMR) indicators also factor into scores for New Braunfels High School and Two Rivers High School,” she said. “CCMR saw the most dramatic increase in the target to earn an A when the new accountability system was redesigned for the 2023-2024 school year.” Long Creek High School is not yet under the graduation rate and CCMR requirements.

Future Focused 2030

To ensure that NBISD students continue to see growth while also learning many other skills, the district has implemented a new 5-year strategic plan, which is called Future Focused 2030 as well as the Profile of a Learner, which will guide the district’s efforts to prepare students for the future.

Future Focused 2030 was designed by community, staff, students and district leadership to make sure that every student is supported and prepared for the future.

The strategic plan is centered around four pillars:

Pillar 1- Increase Access to academic, behavioral and emotional support
Pillar 2 – Support more engaging, relevant future-ready learning experience
Pillar 3 – Strengthen engagement by celebrating our evolving traditions
Pillar 4 – Ensure consistent student, family and staff experiences

Profile of a Learner

Profile of a Learner will provide NBISD students with the opportunity to explore new ideas and experiences. This new learning vision will ensure that students develop versatile problem-solving skills and they will be able to:

• Approach learning with curiosity, critical thinking and creativity

• Build strong social skills, communicate effectively and collaboration with others

• Demonstrate resilience, adaptability and resourcefulness

• Use knowledge and situational awareness to problem solve and find solutions

TEA Releases 2024 Ratings

Accountability ratings for 2024 were also released today. The scores had not been released due to an injunction that had been filed by school districts across the state, not including NBISD. In July, a state appeals court ruled that the TEA could release the ratings more than a year later. The contention point for the lawsuit filed by other districts was based on the stricter benchmarks and how schools should be graded on performance.

The 2024 accountability ratings were calculated using different criteria than in previous years, which resulted in the injunction by other districts. NBISD had areas that needed improvement from the 2024 ratings – however, It is also important to note, the state exam, known as STAAR (State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness), also underwent a redesign that year as mandated by the legislature.

Some notable changes included fewer multiple choice questions with an increase in open-ended question formats, cross-curricular passages and evidence-based writing. Following the redesign, the TEA moved to use Artificial Intelligence to grade students’ written responses for the first time.

Below is a breakdown of the 2024 accountability ratings for each NBISD campus.

“Progress that was made overall from 2024 to 2025 reflects the effort of our students and staff,” Arterbury said. “While we are encouraged by this progress–we still aspire to aim higher and to continue our work–building on our strengths, addressing our areas for growth and creating future-ready learning experiences for our students so they can succeed.”

To view the 2024 accountability ratings for districts and campuses, visit TXschools.org. Users can search for schools using an address or by campus name.