Texas School District Earns Top 'A' Rating from State

A Texas school district just proved that when students, teachers, and families work together, amazing things happen.

Lindale Independent School District received an "A" rating from the Texas Education Agency for the 2025-2026 school year, announced in August 2026. The rating system evaluates districts on student achievement, academic progress, and how well schools close achievement gaps between different student groups.

What makes this especially remarkable is that every single campus in Lindale ISD earned the top rating. According to Superintendent Stan Surratt, this distinction is rare and reflects years of sustained excellence across the entire district.

The "A" rating means Lindale students showed high mastery of their grade-level material and strong test performance. It also indicates that the district's teaching strategies are working and campuses have shown consistent improvement over time.

Lindale wasn't alone in celebrating success. Three other East Texas districts also earned "A" ratings: Whitehouse ISD, Spring Hill ISD, and UT Tyler University Academy. Several neighboring districts in Smith County received "B" and "C" ratings, showing educational progress across the region.

The Ripple Effect

This achievement represents more than numbers on a report card. When schools succeed, entire communities benefit through better-prepared graduates, stronger local economies, and improved quality of life for families.

The TEA's rating system weighs achievement or progress as 70% of the total score, with closing achievement gaps making up the remaining 30%. This means Lindale excelled not just at teaching top students, but at ensuring every student advances regardless of their starting point.

Surratt credited the success to collaboration at every level. Students put in hard work, teachers delivered engaging and rigorous instruction, and parents partnered with schools to support learning at home. The Lindale community's ongoing support for public education created the foundation for this success.

The district plans to build on this momentum by continuing to focus on innovative teaching methods and strong student support systems. Creating safe, nurturing environments where all students can thrive remains the priority as Lindale works to maintain its excellence in future years.

For families choosing where to live and raise children, ratings like these provide valuable information about school quality and community commitment to education.