2026 STAAR EOC Results Reflect Statewide Progress

The latest 2026 STAAR EOC results show encouraging progress for high school students across Texas.

According to preliminary data released by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) on June 10, the percentage of students meeting grade-level expectations increased in every end-of-course subject. Students posted gains in Algebra I, Biology, English I and English II.

2026 English I and English II STAAR Results Exceed Pre-Pandemic Performance

In English I, 55% of students met grade-level expectations this spring, compared to 49% before the pandemic — a six-percentage-point gain above 2019.

English II showed even stronger improvement: 60% of students met grade level, up from 51% in 2019. Both subjects have now posted sustained gains over multiple consecutive assessment cycles, suggesting the progress is real and durable, not just a one-year spike.

Texas Biology STAAR Results Surpass 2019 Levels

Notably, biology had one of the strongest single-year improvements, with 71% of students meeting grade level — up nine percentage points from last year and now well above the 63% mark set in 2019.

Note that in 2026, the STAAR Biology EOC test was redesigned to fully assess the revised science Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS). 

Algebra I STAAR Scores Improve, But Remain Below Pre-Pandemic Benchmarks

This spring, 54% of students met grade-level expectations, up seven percentage points from last year’s 47%.

That single-year gain is hard to ignore. However, 62% of Texas students were meeting grade level in Algebra I before the pandemic. While the state is moving in the right direction, performance remains eight percentage points below 2019 levels.

2026 STAAR Results Show Gains Across All Student Groups

Students across demographic groups made progress this year. Across emergent bilingual students, students receiving special education services and economically disadvantaged students, the percentage of test takers meeting grade level increased in every EOC subject area.

In Algebra I, the share of economically disadvantaged students meeting grade level increased by seven percentage points compared to Spring 2025, mirroring the statewide gain and suggesting the improvement is broad-based.

What the 2026 STAAR Results Mean for Texas Students

These results give us reasons to be optimistic about the preparedness of our high school graduates for life after high school. At the same time, data released today are preliminary, and we are still working to understand whether there are any other reasons that may explain the increase. 

Texas 2036 will continue to dive into the data over the coming days and weeks and will share what we learn.