Dallas County Schools Gain Ground in 2026 State Accountability Ratings

The latest data shows that 14% of campuses across the county received a D or F rating, a 2% decrease from 2025. Middle schools emerged as a bright spot in this year’s report, with the share of campuses earning top-tier grades jumping 14 percentage points. This momentum is supported by the sustained turnaround of 40 campuses that climbed from failing marks in 2023 to A or B ratings by 2026.

Despite these gains, the system continues to reflect significant socioeconomic disparities. Economically disadvantaged students remain more than twice as likely to attend a low-performing campus compared to their more affluent peers. Miguel Solis, president of The Commit Partnership, noted that while the improved ratings are encouraging, the path forward requires a persistent focus on high-quality instruction and effective teacher retention. As the state prepares to refresh its accountability framework for 2028, educators are shifting their focus toward better aligning college and career readiness metrics with actual postsecondary outcomes.