TEA 2026 Rankings – BHISD (A), ECISD (B), AISD (C)

By Gloria Way

  At the start of every new school year, school administrators across Texas anxiously wait with bated breath, the release of the annual Texas Education Agency (TEA) rankings of public schools throughout the state.

 Texas schools and districts receive A–F accountability ratings based on performance in three areas: Student Achievement, School Progress and Closing the Gaps. The system considers student achievement, academic growth and how well districts and campuses serve different student groups. In addition to overall ratings, TEA awards distinction designations for achievement in several areas. Distinctions are based on performance compared with campuses of similar types, size, grade span and student demographics, providing another measure of how schools perform among their peers.  

  It comes as no surprise that in Chambers County, Barber’s Hill ISD stands out with a 2026 accountability score of 93, with every campus scoring above 90. It is ranked “A”.

  Elementary School North scored 95. Elementary School South scored 93.

  Intermediate School North scored 94. Intermediate School scored 93.

  Middle School North scored 93. Middle School South scored 92.

  High School scored 94.

  East Chambers ISD is ranked “B”. Overall District Rating is 85.

  East Chambers Elementary scored 80.

  East Chambers Junior High scored 78.

  East Chambers High School scored 93.

  Anahuac ISD is ranked “C”. Overall District Rating is 72.

  Elementary scored 78.

  Middle School scored 56.

  High School scored 83.

  Texas uses the Foundation School Program (FSP) to combine state and local money. State funding is affected by things such as student attendance, number of students, economically disadvantaged students, special education, bilingual/ESL programs, and other student/program characteristics. Local funding comes primarily from property taxes.

 BHISD has a huge property tax base, lots of local revenue, and little state assistance. ECISD had a smaller property tax base relative to its education needs so relies more on state funding and AISD has a moderate property tax base with substantial local revenue. The state makes up the rest.

  It must be noted that a district’s tax rate is not the same thing as the amount of money it receives. A district with a lower tax rate can collect far more money if it is has enormously valuable property. That is very important when comparing BHISD to ECISD and AISD. BHISD industrial tax base which includes major petrochemical/industrial property, dramatically changes its financial picture.