Two Texas School Districts Earn Top A Ratings

Students in Laredo, Texas are starting this school year with something special: proof that their schools are among the best in the state.

Both Laredo Independent School District and United Independent School District earned A ratings from the Texas Education Agency, the highest grade possible. For LISD, it's the first A since 2021, while UISD has now earned top marks seven years running.

The turnaround at LISD tells a powerful story about what happens when teachers get support and students get focused attention. Just last year, the district scored an 88 out of 100. This year, they jumped past 90 with 18 A-rated campuses and 10 B-rated schools.

Superintendent Guillermo Pro credits a back-to-basics approach. Teachers spent more time actually teaching instead of managing technology distractions. Students wrote more, interacted more, and put down their phones.

"I'm just so proud of the teachers because they have made the A possible," Pro said at a celebration Thursday. The district also earned an A for financial health, showing strong academics don't require unlimited budgets.

UISD Superintendent Dr. Gerardo Cruz celebrated his district's seventh consecutive A rating with students and staff at the Bill Johnson Student Activity Center. The consistency shows that maintaining excellence is just as hard as achieving it the first time.

The Ripple Effect

These ratings measure real outcomes that matter for students' futures. The state looks at test performance, graduation rates, and whether students are ready for college, careers, or military service. Both districts showed growth across different student populations, proving they're lifting up everyone.

The shift at LISD particularly stands out because campuses that struggled with C and D ratings last year all moved up to B ratings. That means hundreds of students who were falling behind are now catching up.

Pro connected the achievement to this year's district theme: "Breaking Barriers." He pointed out the two A's hidden in those words, one for academic accountability and one for removing financial obstacles that hold students back.

The celebration wasn't just about numbers on a report card. It was about proving that public schools can improve dramatically when they focus on what works: qualified teachers, clear expectations, and putting learning first.

Thousands of Laredo families now have confirmation that their neighborhood schools are doing right by their kids.