(Geronimo) – The Navarro ISD has plenty to celebrate this week. The school district is celebrating continued “academic progress after the Texas Education Agency released its 2026 accountability ratings.”
The district maintained its B rating while improving its overall scaled score from 81 last year to 84 this year.
Navarro ISD Superintendent Dr. Mandy Epley says the results are a reflection of the hard work taking place across the district.
“Well, I’m extremely proud of our teachers and staff and students for working hard to grow. And that’s growing every kid, and that is always our goal,” said Epley.
The district is especially celebrating a significant improvement at Navarro Junior High, which moved from a C rating last year with a score of 76 to a B this year with a score of 84.
Epley says that improvement was especially meaningful because the junior high had been a focus for the district.
“We know that that C had been something that really we were working hard to move up to, a B, if not an A, and seeing those scores come in the way they did, you know, initial reaction was definitely one of celebration,” said Epley.
Navarro ISD also earned six State Distinction Designations overall. Navarro High School was recognized for being in the Top 25 percent for Comparative Academic Growth, while Navarro Junior High earned a distinction for Top 25 percent Comparative Closing the Gaps.
In addition, Navarro Intermediate earned four distinctions in Math, Science, Growth and Postsecondary Readiness.
Epley says an increase in distinctions show the progress being made every day across the district.
“To go from one designation to the six really shows that effort that all our staff is making, whether it’s our teachers, our administrators, our instructional coaches, the staff coming in to help teachers and work one on one with kids. It’s really all about growing all kids,” said Epley.
The district also improved in several major accountability areas. Student Achievement increased from 80 to 83, Closing the Gaps rose from 81 to 86, and Relative Performance improved from a 74 to an 80.
Navarro High School increased from an 82 to an 85, while Navarro Elementary improved from an 81 to an 84. Navarro Intermediate remained a B, moving from an 84 to an 83.
Epley says in order to have success, the district is taking a student-by-student approach.
“It’s again, meeting the needs of every kid, and meeting them where they are and growing them where they are. And I think, you know, that’s the challenge of education, but we are leaning into it. We are stepping up to meet those needs and close the gaps for every single child,” said Epley.
While the district is celebrating the progress, Epley says they continue to work towards making the district “A” rated.
She says that work includes:
– Increasing Classroom Rigor, which means more instruction to help more students transition from “Meets” to “Masters Grade Level.”
– Targeted Support for Economically Disadvantaged Cohorts, which means using data to make sure kids who need tutoring or study resources get that additional support.
– Also on that list is Dedicated Intervention Pathways or the use of small-group instruction — plus blended Learning & Resource Alignment, which means better support for Special Education, Emergent Bilingual, and lower performing student groups.
As already reported, Navarro ISD joins the Seguin ISD and the Marion ISD that are also reporting improvement in their letter grade from the state.
KWED this week will continue to break down the state data for area school districts. Left on our list is the Marion ISD.