Bastrop ISD Reports Academic Growth, Commits to Continued Progress

District maintains C rating while showing meaningful gains across campuses, student achievement measures

In the release of the 2026 Texas Education Agency (TEA) campus and district ratings, Bastrop Independent School District is reporting meaningful academic progress across the district, with more campuses earning higher accountability ratings, improved student performance in reading and mathematics, and gains among emergent bilingual students.

While district leaders are encouraged by the results, they are also clear that the work is not finished. Bastrop ISD improved its overall performance while remaining rated a C.

“This is a moment to recognize the tremendous work happening in our classrooms while also being transparent about where we are,” said Dr. Kristi Lee, Superintendent of Bastrop ISD. “Our students and staff made real, measurable progress. We are proud of that progress, but we are not satisfied with stopping here. We know where we need to improve, we have a plan for getting there, and we are on a mission to ensure every student and every campus succeeds.”

More Campuses Achieving at Higher Levels

For the first time in Bastrop ISD history, eight campuses earned an A or B rating, representing nearly half of the district’s campuses.

The progress extends beyond the number of campuses receiving the highest ratings. Eight schools improved by at least one letter grade, and Cedar Creek Middle School improved by two letter grades.

District leaders say those results demonstrate that focused instructional strategies and campus leadership are beginning to produce results across BISD.

“Improvement like this doesn’t happen because of one program or one initiative,” said Jennifer Eberly, Chief Academic Officer. “It comes from teachers continuing to address students' needs, campus leaders focusing relentlessly on instruction, and teams working together to respond when students need additional support. These results tell us that our strategies are moving us in the right direction, and now our responsibility is to accelerate that work. We are on a mission.”

Growth Behind the Ratings

Bastrop ISD is also emphasizing that accountability letter grades represent only one measure of a school’s progress.

One BISD campus received a D rating but has demonstrated significant improvement for two consecutive years, increasing its performance by 8 points one year and 9 points the next. District leaders point to that sustained growth as an example of why progress must be examined alongside a campus's final accountability rating.

“The letter grade matters, but so does the trajectory behind it,” Eberly said. “When students, teachers and campus leaders produce significant growth year after year, we need to recognize that momentum while continuing to work toward the level of achievement our district knows it can achieve.” 

Reading and Math Growth

Student MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) assessment results also showed growth across elementary grade levels in both reading and mathematics.

Reading and math scores increased in every measured grade from kindergarten to 5th grade.

The results are particularly encouraging in kindergarten, where students demonstrated 9 point gains in both subjects, and in upper elementary mathematics, where fourth and fifth grade students posted gains of 8 and 9 points, respectively.

Progress for Emergent Bilingual Students

BISD also saw encouraging results on the Texas English Language Proficiency Assessment System (TELPAS).

Ten campuses demonstrated TELPAS growth, including three campuses with double-digit growth. Districtwide, BISD improved in three of the four TELPAS domains.

“These gains represent students developing the language skills they need to access rigorous instruction and thrive academically,” Eberly said. “That growth is important, and we want to build on it.”

Acknowledging Where More Work Is Needed

District leaders are equally focused on campuses where student outcomes have not yet reached expectations.

BISD has refined its tiered systems of support to provide additional, differentiated assistance to campuses with the greatest needs. Rather than applying the same strategy everywhere, district academic leaders will tailor support based on individual campus data, instructional needs and leadership priorities.

Those supports include:

• Monthly Campus Support Team meetings to monitor progress, identify barriers and coordinate resources.
• Weekly one-on-one leadership support directly from the Chief Academic Officer and the Directors of Elementary and Secondary Education.
• Frequent instructional walks with district leadership to observe classroom instruction, identify trends and provide actionable feedback.
• Targeted instructional and leadership support based specifically on the needs of each campus.

“We owe our community both celebration and transparency,” Lee said. “We have schools making extraordinary gains and some others where improvement continues to be needed. We will celebrate what is working, learn from it and bring additional support and urgency to the places that need it most.”

We Are on a Mission

The district's latest results reflect significant forward movement, but BISD leaders say the goal extends well beyond improving an accountability letter grade.

“Our mission is bigger than a rating,” Lee said. “It is about making sure every child in Bastrop ISD has access to excellent teaching, strong schools and opportunities that prepare them for what comes next. We have evidence that our work is producing results, and we also have evidence that there is more work ahead. Both can be true.” 

WE ARE ON A MISSION!