By Emily Hilley-Sierzchula

Despite a school year that was not without a few challenges, many of Mason Independent School District’s STAAR scores in 2021 were even better than 2019, the last year the statewide standardized test was given.

“I’m extremely proud of the overall results and the way our students performed in the midst of adversities throughout the 2020-2021 school year,” said MISD Superintendent Stan Whittle. “They persevered and remained focused on achieving at a high level academically. We’re pleased that scores were not impacted in adverse way due to the challenges of remote learning during quarantine. Scores were comparable to 2019 and improvements were made in several areas.”

Of the 22 STAAR tests given to third through twelfth-grade students in the district, nine of the test scores were better when compared to 2019 and one remained the same. The district saw declines in the results of 12 of the STAAR tests, especially at the fifth and eighth-grade levels. In third and seventh grades, all of the test scores were better than in 2019, according to data from the Texas Education Agency and the district.

The TEA found that the results of the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness showed many school districts saw a decrease in scores because of COVID-19.

“As a result of the learning disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of students not meeting grade level increased from 2019 across all subject areas and grade levels, with English I and English II being the only exceptions,” according to the TEA in a news release on June 28. “As a subject area, mathematics reflects the largest decline in proficiency across all grade levels. Districts with a higher percentage of students learning virtually experienced a greater degree of declines. Districts with the highest percentage of in-person learners largely avoided any learning declines in reading.”

High school results

MISD high schoolers again turned in a perfect score on the U.S. History end-of-course exam (EOC), with all students approaching, meeting or mastering the subject.

“This is the third consecutive year (in which tests were given) that we’ve had a 100 percent passing rate in U.S. History,” Whittle said. “That’s impressive.”

In Algebra I and Biology, 96 percent of students approached, met, or mastered the subject, with only 4 percent not meeting the required score. Ninety-seven percent of students passed the English II exam. The lowest score at the high school level was in English I, with 86 percent of students approaching, meeting, or mastering.

“Our STAAR EOC results continue to be among the top tier in Region 15 and across the state,” Whittle said. “Our scores indicate that we’re considerably above the state averages across all testing subject areas.”

He said that the district’s goal is to have at least 90 percent of students approaching grade level, at least 60 percent meeting grade level and at least 30 percent mastering.

“I believe that the results show that our students not only met that goal in many areas but far exceeded it,” Whittle said.

Third through eighth grade results

Students improved their writing scores when compared to 2019, with 71 percent of fourth-graders and 88 percent of seventh-graders approaching, meeting or mastering the grade level, but science and social studies scores declined.

Whittle said that the district has been emphasizing literacy.

“Last year, our staff made a unified effort to improve literacy and mathematics at the lower grade levels and the results were certainly evident,” he said. “We will continue to work on improving in the area of writing for all grade levels and across content areas.”

MISD earned an A accountability rating from the TEA for the 2018-2019 school year, but no ratings were given to school districts for either the 2019-2020 or 2020-2021 school years because of COVID-19 impacts.

“I absolutely believe that our students performed at a very high level for the 2020-21 school year,” Whittle said. “I think our accountability rating this year would have been comparable to that of 2018-2019 and we would have continued to hold steady with an A rating.”