Crockett ISD Sees Academic Progress, Led by High School’s B Rating
By Greg Ritchie
Messenger Reporter
CROCKETT, Texas — Crockett ISD’s 2026 state accountability results show measurable academic progress across the district, highlighted by an 80/B rating at Crockett High School and continued gains in district and junior-high performance.
The district received an overall score of 68, earning a D rating. However, Superintendent Damenion Miller said the score was Crockett ISD’s highest in four years. District Academic Growth increased five points from 2025 to 2026, while Relative Performance has improved by five points over the past three years.
The ratings are based primarily on STAAR and end-of-course assessments, but Miller said other measures also contribute to certain accountability indicators, including graduation rates, college, career and military readiness, attendance and participation in advanced courses.
Crockett High School produced the district’s strongest overall result, earning an 80/B. The campus scored 75 in Student Achievement, 79 in Academic Growth, 79 in Relative Performance and 82 in Closing the Gaps. CHS also received a Math Distinction.
Miller said high school students performed above state averages in several areas, particularly Academic Growth and Closing the Gaps. He credited the students’ work ethic as well as the experience of the campus staff.
“We have great kids here in Crockett ISD,” Miller said. “Those kids have what I call that East Texas grit. They work hard. They want to be successful.”
Crockett Junior High’s official rating was 69/D, but Miller said the campus’ underlying score calculated to 72, which falls in the C range, before a state accountability rule was applied.
Under the state’s 3-D rule, a qualifying campus with scores below 70 in three of four specified areas — Student Achievement, Academic Growth, Relative Performance and Closing the Gaps — may not receive an overall score higher than 69. Crockett Junior High scored 64 in Student Achievement, 65 in Academic Growth, 75 in Relative Performance and 65 in Closing the Gaps.
As a result, the junior high’s calculated 72/C became an official score of 69/D. Even with that cap, the campus showed significant long-term improvement in Relative Performance, rising from 60 in 2024 to 69 in 2025 and 75 in 2026.
Miller also said the junior high earned distinction designations in science and social studies. He pointed to several student groups that performed above state averages, including economically disadvantaged seventh-graders in math, who scored 44% at the Meets level compared with 39% statewide. Seventh-grade Hispanic students scored 40% at Meets, compared with 22% statewide.
Among eighth-graders, Hispanic students scored 81% at the Approaches level compared with 79% statewide, while economically disadvantaged students scored 48% in social studies compared with 45% statewide.
Crockett Elementary received an overall score of 51/F, making continued elementary improvement a major district priority. At the same time, Miller said the campus saw growth in the number of students reaching the Meets and Masters performance levels.
The district is supporting that work through regular data cycles, instructional coaching, teacher learning groups, classroom observations and feedback, continued Bluebonnet curriculum implementation and other efforts designed to strengthen instruction.
Crockett ISD has set goals for spring 2027 of increasing the percentage of students performing at Approaches level or above from 56% to 65%, increasing Meets performance from 27% to 40% and increasing Masters performance from 8% to 15% across assessed subjects.
Miller said the results provide both encouragement and direction for the year ahead.
“I’m proud of the progress our students and teachers have made, and we’re going to be relentless about improving,” he said. “The B at our high school, the calculated C at our junior high and the improved district Academic Growth give us evidence that progress is possible.”
“Accountability ratings are important,” Miller added, “but no single letter grade tells the complete story of a child, teacher, campus or school district.”
Greg Ritchie can be reached at [email protected]
