• PROMOTION STANDARDS - NEW FOR 2015-2016

    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 only for the 2015-16 school year. Number 2 in the list above has been suspended for these grades for the 2015-2016 school year because students in those grades who take the STAAR tests in May will not receive results until approximately June 15, 2016, several weeks after school ends on May 25. The HISD Board of Education made this decision at the December 15, 2015, 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 164 of the HISD Board meeting agenda here (PDF).

    *NEW: Due to problems surrounding the reporting of STAAR test results by the company in charge of testing, the TEA cancelled the June 2016 STAAR tests for grades 5 and 8. This means that passing the STAAR test(s) is not required in order for students to advance to the next level. The decision to promote a student to the next level will be made on an individual basis by a Grade Placement Committee at the student’s school. The Grade Placement Committee consists of a student’s parents or guardian, teacher of record, and principal or principal’s designee. This committee will make a decision based on the student’s academic performance in class. Also taken into consideration is the student's attendance; district standards require that they attend at least 90 percent of classes.
     

    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.

    The Houston Independent School District (HISD) 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
    • 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
    • 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