The Texas Education Agency announced the final Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas (FIRST) ratings for the 2025-2026 school year. The ratings measure the financial management practices of Texas public schools using 21 financial indicators.
Where
Statewide
When
November 9, 2026
Sources
Official record and 1 more
Taxes and money
None stated in sources.
Who's involved
Texas Education Agencyreleased final financial accountability ratings
The facts
79.87 percent of school systems earned an A or Superior Achievement rating for 2025-2026.1
945 school systems and charter schools earned A ratings; 144 earned B; 76 earned C; 18 earned F.1
FIRST ratings include 840 traditional school districts and 105 charter schools earning A ratings.1
All five charter schools operated by public institutions of higher education received a Pass rating.1
FIRST was established by the 77th Texas Legislature in 2001 to provide accountability for school financial management.1
Ratings are based on 21 financial indicators including administrative cost expenditures and internal control weaknesses.1
Four critical indicators result in automatic F ratings regardless of overall score in specific categories.1
School systems must share ratings with parents and taxpayers at a public meeting to discuss the financial report.1
These outlets were found through Google News headlines. Google decides which outlets appear there, and they lean mostly one way, so this sheet can only be as balanced as the reporting it was built from. Leanings are AllSides Media Bias Ratings.
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Laron Lenard Watts, 38-year-old man arrested and charged with theft; El Paso County Sheriff's Office, law enforcement agency conducting investigation and making arrest
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Texas Water Development Board, reported drought map and conditions data
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