• In order for HISD students to move to the next grade level, they must show that they have met HISD’s Promotion Standards. These standards generally include classroom grades, local or state tests, and attendance as follows:

    1. State requirement of overall yearly average of 70 or above and local requirement of an average of 70 or above in reading, other language arts, mathematics, and science or social studies
    2. Passing scores ("meet minimum expectations") on STAAR tests*
    3. Sufficient attendance – a student's total number of unexcused absences cannot exceed 10 percent of class meetings

    *Based on changes to the state's testing calendar and the subsequent delay in receiving test results, promotion standards have been modified for grades 3, 4, 6, and 7. Number 2 in the list above has been suspended for these grades for the 2016-2017 school year because students in those grades who take the STAAR tests in May will not receive results until approximately June 14, 2017, several weeks after school ends on May 25. The HISD Board of Education made this decision at the January 12, 2017, board meeting. Therefore, students in these grades are not required to pass the STAAR tests to be promoted to the next grade. For details, please see page 32 of the HISD Board meeting agenda available here.

    Student Success Initiative
    In addition to local and state promotion requirements, the Texas Legislature created the Student Success Initiative (SSI) to ensure that students receive the instruction and support they need to be academically successful in reading and mathematics. Under SSI, students in fifth and eighth grade must pass the STAAR mathematics and reading tests. For HISD students in SSI grades 5 and 8 who do not pass a STAAR test, a Grade Placement Committee will be convened to determine if they will be required to attend summer school.

    Houston Independent School District (HISD) and Texas Education Agency (TEA) standards for promotion:

    Grade Level

    Promotion Standards

    1 and 2 
    • Students must pass High Frequency Word Test – recognizing and reading words that appear very often in written and spoken language  
    • State requirement of overall yearly average of 70 or above and local requirement of an average of 70 or above in reading, other language arts, mathematics, and science or social studies.  
    • Students must have sufficient attendance*  

    3 and 4
    • State requirement of overall yearly average of 70 or above and local requirement of an average of 70 or above in reading, other language arts, mathematics, and science or social studies.  
    • Students must have sufficient attendance*

    5
    • Students must pass the mathematics and reading STAAR (State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness) assessments 
    • State requirement of overall yearly average of 70 or above and local requirement of an average of 70 or above in reading, other language arts, mathematics, and science or social studies.
    • Students must have sufficient attendance*

    6 and 7
    • State requirement of overall yearly average of 70 or above and a local requirement of an average of 70 or above in three of the four core courses: Language arts (average of reading and English), mathematics, science, and social studies.  
    • Students must have sufficient attendance*

    8
    • Students must pass the mathematics and reading STAAR (State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness) assessments 
    • State requirement of overall yearly average of 70 or above and a local requirement of an average of 70 or above in three of the four core courses: Language arts (average of reading and English), mathematics, science, and social studies.  
    • Students must have sufficient attendance*

    9 – 12 
    • Students must pass five STAAR (State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness) End-of-Course (EOC) assessments: Algebra I, biology, English I, English II, and U.S. history.
    • Students are promoted based on their total accumulated course credits prior to the beginning of the next school year.  
    • Individual course credit is earned through a passing grade of 70% or above and sufficient attendance*

    *Sufficient attendance: A student’s total number of unexcused absences cannot exceed 10% of class meetings.  

    For English Language Learners, the Grade Placement Committee (GPC), in consultation with the Language Proficiency Assessment Committee (LPAC), will determine promotion standards.

    For students with disabilities, the campus ARD/IEP* committee will determine the promotion status based on mastery of IEP* goals and objectives and/or course requirements.

    If your child does not meet the promotion standards outlined above, your school will contact you regarding opportunities for your child to receive additional instruction.

    *ARD – Annual Review and Dismissal *IEP – Individual Education Program