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Dallas County Schools Show Sustained Improvement in 2026 Accountability Ratings

On August 14, 2026, the Texas Education Agency released its latest A–F Accountability Ratings, shedding light on the performance of schools across the state, including those in Dallas County. This comprehensive evaluation helps families, district leaders, and the community assess students' academic achievements and identify areas where additional support is necessary.

Notable Findings in Dallas County

In a positive shift, 60% of campuses in Dallas County earned an A or B rating, a slight increase from 58% in 2025. Simultaneously, the proportion of schools receiving a D or F rating decreased from 16% to 14%. These results not only indicate improvement compared to last year, but they also highlight Dallas County's stronger growth relative to the overall state, where 61% of schools received A or B ratings.

Despite this upward trend, only 14% of campuses in Dallas County are still considered low-performing, indicating substantial opportunities exist to elevate more schools' academic outcomes.

Encouraging Trends Across the State

Across Texas, the overall results remained stable, mirroring Dallas County's trends. The 2026 ratings show that, while there is slight growth, the improvement must continue to ensure more students benefit from high-quality education.

Miguel Solis from The Commit Partnership remarked, "Seeing more Dallas County campuses earn higher ratings is encouraging, especially as the county outperformed the state overall. The focus must remain on high-quality instruction and effective teaching to sustain this progress."

Understanding the A–F Accountability System

Texas employs an A–F system that evaluates public schools based on student achievement, year-over-year academic progress, and group outcomes. The framework is designed to give families clear information about school performance and empower educational leaders to identify successful practices and areas needing improvement.

For high schools, success metrics also factor in graduation rates and measures of postsecondary readiness, allowing schools to earn recognition for demonstrating substantial growth, regardless of their initial academic status.

Addressing Equity in Higher-Rated Schools

One critical finding is the disparity in access to high-performing schools for economically disadvantaged students. These students are more than twice as likely to attend low-rated campuses, further underscoring the necessity for equitable access to quality education. In 2026, 14% of economically disadvantaged students were attending a D or F-rated school compared to only 6% of their peers who weren’t economically disadvantaged.

Middle Schools Making Significant Strides

The ratings also reveal that middle schools in Dallas County are experiencing significant gains. In 2026, 60% of middle schools received A or B ratings, a 14-point increase from the previous year. Although 90% of high schools and only 52% of elementary schools reached similar ratings, the middle school category's growth is promising as these institutions are pivotal for students preparing to transition to high school.

Sustained Turnarounds Demonstrating Potential

In the past three years, 40 schools previously rated D or F improved to A or B ratings by 2026. This sustained improvement illustrates that with the right strategies and investments, significant positive changes in student outcomes can be achieved.

Looking Ahead: Texas' 2028 Accountability Refresh

As Texas prepares to update its A-F accountability system ahead of the 2028 ratings, the emphasis will be on how college and career readiness is measured. The changes aim to better align educational outcomes with students' long-term success by refining the measurement of readiness indicators based on their correlation with postsecondary success.

Bridget Worley, Chief State Impact Officer at the Commit Partnership, emphasized the importance of accountability in translating information into actionable improvements in education. "Families deserve clear information about how their schools serve students, and education leaders require reliable data to support student needs."

The 2026 accountability data will continue to be analyzed for trends, focusing on Dallas County’s performance and the needs of students across the region.

Conclusion

Dallas County Schools are on a promising path toward improved educational outcomes, driven by ongoing progress in accountability ratings. By addressing inequalities and continuing to support innovation in teaching, the community can work together to ensure all students have access to quality education that prepares them for future success.