The Socorro Independent School District (SISD) Board of Trustees meeting on May 21, 2025, spotlighted the district's performance in the recently released 2023 A-F accountability ratings, which were delayed nearly two years due to legal challenges. Kelly McBain, the director for research and evaluation, presented the findings, highlighting significant changes in the accountability system that impacted the ratings.

Despite the challenges, SISD maintained a solid B rating, while many other districts in the region and state saw declines of one to two letter grades. This resilience is attributed to improvements in student achievement data, college career readiness, and graduation rates. Notably, SISD's student achievement at the "approaches" grade level rose from 77% to 81%, and the "meets" level increased by six points to 52%. However, the district experienced a slight drop in the "masters" performance level, which fell from 20% to 18%.

The accountability refresh introduced increased targets for college, career, and military readiness (CCMR) and graduation rates, with the CCMR target rising dramatically from 60% to 88% for an A rating. This change, communicated after the class of 2022 had already graduated, sparked legal disputes from several Texas school districts, including SISD.

McBain emphasized that SISD's graduation rate for the class of 2022 stood at an impressive 92.5%, with 68% of graduates earning CCMR credits. The district outperformed state averages in several areas, with 31.5% of students graduating with college course credit and 32.4% earning industry-based certifications.

Looking ahead, the 2024 accountability ratings remain uncertain due to ongoing legal injunctions, but the district anticipates the 2025 ratings will be released in August without further delays. The meeting underscored SISD's commitment to educational excellence amid evolving accountability standards and legal challenges.