The Corpus Christi Independent School District made strides in the Texas public school accountability system last year, Superintendent Roland Hernandez announced during the district's convocation ceremony Aug. 5.
At convocation, the district brings together staff from every campus to kick off the new school year. Corpus Christi ISD students return to school on Aug. 11. A few days later, the Texas Education Agency is expected to release A-F accountability ratings for the 2023-24 and 2024-25 school years for every public and charter school campus and district in the state.
For several years, the release of ratings has been delayed by lawsuits after the Texas Education Agency overhauled how school accountability grades are determined. But with the release of updated ratings later this month, families and communities across the state will have a clearer picture of how local schools have been performing.
And Corpus Christi ISD is ready to celebrate.
Predicted A-F ratings in Corpus Christi ISD show growth
The ratings are based heavily on student progress on state standardized tests, taking into account how well schools close the gaps between different student groups, whether schools improve year over year and how schools compare to other Texas schools with similar demographics.
Using the state's accountability formula, the district has calculated expected ratings. If the district is correct, it will receive a B rating of 81 out of 100. The official ratings from 2023-24 haven't been released, but the district likely received a C rating of 75 that year.
At the campus level, the district believes it had nine D-rated campuses and four F-rated campuses in 2023-24. But last year, campuses improved, Hernandez said. The district predicts that no campuses will receive an F rating for 2024-25.
Twenty-eight campuses raised their rating a full letter grade, Hernandez said. Four increased by two letter grades and one campus likely increased three letter grades.
The district is focused on maintaining this momentum, Hernandez said, sharing an overview of the preliminary 2024-25 ratings during his remarks to teachers and staff at convocation.
Sandra Clement, deputy superintendent of curriculum and instruction, said that the district made sure that the campus that increased its accountability rating the most had a full staff last year. Having certified teachers in the classroom can make a big difference, she told the Caller-Times. Other efforts include targeted student support, helping teachers internalize lessons and academic monitoring, Clement said.
Teacher vacancies
Filling every classroom vacancy with a certified teacher has been a continuous challenge for Corpus Christi ISD, amid statewide teacher shortages. Hernandez told the Caller-Times that the district is in a better position this year than it was last year, which was already an improvement to the year before that.
But vacancies remain.
A week before the upcoming school year begins, the district has 137 teacher vacancies. The district has 150 long-term substitutes. The district will have 195 uncertified teachers at the start of the year.
This year, 180 first-time teachers are joining the district, which is welcoming 257 new hires.
'Your foundation matters'
At convocation, spirits were high among the hundreds of returning and new staff members. The district filled the floor and bottom level of the American Bank Center, with staff sporting campus T-shirts and waving pom-poms, signs and lights.
A staff band led by Corpus Christi ISD Police Chief Kirby Warnke played an energetic set. Several faculty members from various campuses sang while other staff members, a former student and a teacher's spouse played rock, country and Tejano hits.
Current Collegiate High School senior Josiah Ponce was the keynote speaker, stepping up to fill in for motivational speaker and athlete Inky Johnson, who was slated but unable to attend.
Ponce spoke about the "gardeners in disguise" he's encountered during his years at Corpus Christi ISD — teachers who helped cultivate and nurture his growth.
Ponce said he dreams of becoming a teacher himself and has aspirations of someday developing into a principal or superintendent.
Carroll High School graduate Vanessa Quiroga, who went on to play softball at the University of Texas on the team that won the 2025 Women's College World Series, also spoke during the ceremony.
"Your foundation matters," Quiroga said. "And you, CCISD, you helped me build mine."
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This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Corpus Christi ISD convocation highlights school improvement
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