What You Need to Know About STAAR

STAAR is simply a tool used to measure how well students are learning grade-level material and whether they’re ready for the next step. In this guide, we’ll explain what STAAR is, who takes it, what the scores mean, and how students can prepare with confidence.

What Is STAAR?

The State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness is a standardized academic achievement test used in Texas public schools.

In simple terms, STAAR checks whether students are on track academically and ready for the next grade or course.

STAAR also serves several important purposes:

• Helps ensure Texas students remain competitive nationally and internationally
• Measures how effectively schools and teachers are preparing students
• Meets federal testing requirements under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)

Who Takes the STAAR?

STAAR is required for:

• Students in grades 3–8 enrolled in Texas public schools
• Students in open-enrollment charter schools
• High school students taking specific End-of-Course (EOC) classes

The test is administered online in the following subjects:

• Mathematics
• Reading Language Arts (RLA)
• Science
• Social Studies

Spanish-language STAAR assessments are also available online for students in grades 3–5.

What’s on the STAAR?

The content of the STAAR test depends on a student’s grade level and the subject being tested.

In general, students are assessed in the following areas:

Reading Language Arts (RLA)

This section may include:

• Reading comprehension
• Vocabulary and context clues
• Written responses or essay questions
• Revising and editing passages

Math

This section may include:

• Arithmetic and number operations
• Algebraic thinking
• Geometry and measurement
• Word problems and multi-step reasoning

Science

For tested grades, students may see questions on:

• Life science
• Physical science
• Earth and space science

Social Studies

For tested grades, topics may include:

• U.S. history
• Geography
• Government and citizenship
• Economics

The exact test format and number of questions may vary by grade level.

How Many Times Can You Take the STAAR?

For students in grades 3–8, the STAAR is typically taken once per year in each required subject.

For high school students, STAAR End-of-Course (EOC) exams can be retaken as many times as needed to achieve a passing score.

EOC exams are offered three times per year:

• Fall
• Spring
• Summer

This gives students multiple opportunities to improve their results.

How to Access STAAR Scores

Parents and students can view STAAR scores online through the official Texas Assessment Family Portal.

To access your child’s scores:

1. Visit the Texas Assessment website or go directly to the Family Portal.
2. Log in using your child’s Unique Access Code, or access the portal through your school district’s parent portal.
3. View test scores, performance levels, and detailed feedback by subject.

The score report may include:

• Scaled scores
• Performance levels
• Strengths and areas for improvement
• Learning resources
• For spring STAAR tests, individual test questions, correct answers, and your child’s answers.

What Is a Good STAAR Score?

STAAR performance is divided into four levels:

Masters Grade Level

This is the highest category.

Students at this level are expected to succeed in the next grade or course with little or no academic support.

They demonstrate strong critical thinking and can apply skills in both familiar and unfamiliar situations.

Meets Grade Level

Students in this category are likely to succeed in the next grade or course, though they may need short-term support.

They generally show strong understanding and can apply skills in familiar settings.

Approaches Grade Level

This is considered the minimum passing level.

Students are likely to succeed with targeted academic intervention or extra support.

Did Not Meet Grade Level

Students in this category are unlikely to succeed in the next grade or course without significant ongoing support.

This indicates gaps in understanding of the tested material.

What Counts as a Passing STAAR Score?

As shown in most STAAR score reports:

• Purple / Blue / Green bands = Passing
• Red band = Not passing

Generally speaking, students need to score around the 25th–35th percentile or above to pass, depending on the grade and subject.

For many families:

• Approaches Grade Level = Passing
• Meets Grade Level = Good
• Masters Grade Level = Excellent

STAAR score ranges can vary slightly from year to year based on the difficulty of the exam. To get a better idea of the scores needed to pass or achieve higher performance levels, it’s helpful to review the most recent official raw score conversion tables.

Below is a photo of the Spring 2025 Grade 3–8 Mathematics STAAR score conversion table, showing how raw scores are converted into scaled scores and performance levels.

How to Use STAAR Results to Support Your Child

1. If your child has achieved Masters Grade Level, it indicates readiness for advanced math classes and competitive opportunities.
2. Students at Meets Grade Level are meeting grade-level standards, making this the ideal moment to pinpoint strengths and address gaps, which can lead to substantial growth.
3. Even if your child scored at Approaches Grade Level or Did Not Meet Grade Level, identifying foundational gaps or improving learning habits can swiftly boost their performance.

If you’re unsure when to begin advanced courses, how to balance academics with competitions, or whether your child is on the right long-term track, a Think Academy Free Evaluation can help.

This 1-on-1 evaluation diagnoses current progress and provides a personalized learning pathway aligned with future academic goals.

If your priority is building solid fundamentals, access Think Academy’s free math worksheets for PreK through Algebra 2. Worksheets are organized by grade and topic to support consistent, targeted practice.

Prefer to Practice First?

Download free targeted math practice for the skills your child needs most. Our grade-specific worksheets are aligned with Common Core concepts and cover every level from Kindergarten through Algebra.

Inside, you’ll find:

• K–5 Worksheets: Choose from foundation practice for students who need extra support with grade-level skills, or advanced practice for students ready for more challenging, above-grade-level work.
• Course-Based Worksheets (Grade 6+): Select your current course — Grade 6, Pre-Algebra, Algebra 1, Geometry, or Algebra 2 — and receive targeted practice for your learning stage.

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Looking for more practice by grade level? Visit our full worksheet library to download additional resources across every grade and topic.

How Think Academy Supports Your Child’s Next Step in Math and ELAp

This test result is more than a score—it can help families identify strengths, uncover skill gaps, and choose an appropriate next step. Start with the student’s lowest goal area, then use the overall result to decide whether they need additional support or greater challenge.

For Math

Below Average: Begin by strengthening foundational skills in the areas identified on the report. Download targeted Math worksheets from Think Academy to practice important grade-level concepts and address specific gaps.

Average or Above Average: A strong overall result may still hide a weaker goal area. Start a Free Math Evaluation with Think Academy to identify hidden gaps and assess readiness for advanced coursework, acceleration, or competition Math.

Depending on the student’s age, interests, and readiness, the next step may include:

• Strengthening school Math foundations
• Preparing for Honors, Advanced Math, or AP courses
• Exploring math competitions such as Math Kangaroo, MATHCOUNTS, or AMC 8

For Reading and Writing

Grades 2–5: Try a Reading & Writing Trial Class with Think Academy to identify the student’s specific reading and writing needs.

Students performing Below Average can focus on foundational gaps in vocabulary, comprehension, grammar, and written expression. Students performing Average or Above Average can work with more complex texts, develop deeper analysis, and communicate their ideas more effectively through speaking and writing.

Whatever the result, use the score together with the goal-area breakdown, classroom performance, and teacher feedback. This provides a more complete picture than any single score or percentile.

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About Think Academy

Think Academy US Online, part of TAL Education Group (NYSE: TAL), provides structured math and ELA programs that help students build strong academic foundations and grow with confidence. With expert teachers, proven methods, and innovative AI tools, we nurture learning ability, curiosity, and healthy study habits that support long-term growth and a lifelong love of learning.

Check our programs:

• Think Kids: Ages 3-5
• Math
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• ELA
  • Elementary ELA — Grades 2–5

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