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BASTROP — Bastrop Independent School District officials say they remain motivated and optimistic after the Texas Education Agency’s latest accountability ratings showed improvement across campuses.
The district’s overall score rose from a D in 2023 to a C in 2025, with measurable growth achieved in all areas, according to reports released earlier this month. While Bastrop ISD leaders look to continue the positive change, trustees also approved a tax rate that will hold steady for the coming year.
ACADEMIC GROWTH
Chief Academic Officer Jennifer Eberly told trustees at the Aug. 19 board meeting that the gains reflect the district’s curriculum overhaul launched two years ago.
“We embarked on a curriculum journey two years ago and you have supported us every step of the way,” Eberly said.
Under TEA’s accountability system, districts are graded on student achievement and growth, relative performance against peers of similar size and closing gaps for underperforming students.
In overall scores, nine Bastrop ISD campuses improved a full letter grade and one maintained its A rating. Twelve schools increased their numeric scores in student achievement, and 12 made progress in closing gaps for struggling student populations.
“Putting that into perspective, TEA reported only 31% of campuses across the state saw a full letter grade increase, and we had nine of them in our district,” Eberly said.
Some schools still earned low ratings despite progress, according to district officials. Eberly said those campuses will receive additional support, including monthly campus team meetings, intervention pilots and direct leadership guidance from district staff.
School board President Ashley Mutschink credited former Superintendent Barry Edwards for encouraging trustees to stay the course.
“Stick with us, stick with the curriculum, it takes two years until we got that ship turned around,” Mutschink said.
Looking ahead, Eberly told trustees the district’s next goal is to raise its overall grade to a B.
“We are on a mission. This year has given us the momentum and the excitement to continue to push hard for our next goal,” she said.
TAXRATESTEADY
In other business, trustees approved the proposed 2025-26 tax rate of $1.0679 per $100 valuation, the same total rate as the previous year.
Chief Financial Officer Mike White said state tax compression continues to reduce the local share of the district’s maintenance and operations rate. He added that property value growth this year did not exceed the threshold to trigger further compression.
“With the increase in the homestead exemption, we lost that value, and so you have to exceed a certain amount of growth before it triggers a compression,” White said.
Trustees will hold a public meeting in September before formally adopting the tax rate.
The board meets the third Tuesday of each month at 5:30 p.m. at the Jerry Fay Wilhelm Center for Performing Arts, 1401 Cedar St.
