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Bastrop ISD STAAR scores notch another year of gains

Bastrop ISD students posted slight gains on math and reading state assessments in 2026, according to Texas Education Agency data released June 16.

The results follow improvement seen across several STAAR testing areas in 2025, as previously reported by Community Impact.

The overview: Across math, reading and social studies, the district’s average share of students who scored at Approaches Grade Level or above on the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, or STAAR, increased 2.1 percentage points in 2026.

The agency considers Approaches Grade Level to be a passing score.


The details: Math saw the largest subject-level increase, rising 7.8 percentage points year over year. Reading also increased, improving 1.5 percentage points, while eighth-grade social studies declined 3 percentage points.

The biggest grade-level gains came in seventh- and eighth-grade reading, which increased 13 and 11 percentage points, respectively. Reading scores in grades 3-5, however, declined.

Next steps: District officials told Community Impact they are already reviewing the results and plan to meet June 22 for further analysis.

 
Latest News
LCRA: Lake Bastrop Dam floodgate closed; crews ready if needed

Officials at the Lower Colorado River Authority said they do not expect additional floodgate releases at Lake Bastrop Dam after briefly opening one June 15 following heavy rains.

With the National Weather Service predicting more rain, LCRA officials said crews are monitoring inflows and ready to respond if needed.

As of 3:30 p.m. on June 17, no further gate operations were expected at Bastrop Dam, per LCRA data.

The why: The temporary release was part of flood-control operations following heavy rainfall, according to the agency. Water released from Lake Bastrop Dam flows through nearby creeks before eventually reaching the Colorado River, a major natural and recreational draw in Bastrop.

Learn more: As reported by Community Impact in December, LCRA will soon begin improvements at nearby Lake Bastrop South Shore Park, located at 375 S. Shore Road. The $1.2 million project will replace the park’s waterfront and day-use restroom buildings.

Construction is expected to begin July 1 and wrap up June 30, 2027.

 

Your Weekend To-Do List

Check out these weekend events across the metro area.

Juneteenth celebrations

Yoga on the Plaza

June 19
Austin, Leander and Pflugerville

June 20, 8-9 a.m.
Round Rock

More info

More info

 

Blue Flame Cruisers Car and Motorcycle Show

ScareWaves Movie Night

June 20, 8 a.m.-2 p.m.
Bastrop

June 21, 7:30 p.m..
Austin

More info

More info

 
To submit your own event, click here.

Stay In The Know
Austin Parks unveils renovated Parque Zaragoza Bathhouse, a landmark 90 years in the making

Austin Parks and Recreation cut the ribbon on a renovated Parque Zaragoza Bathhouse at 2611 Webberville Road on June 10, celebrating more than nine decades of community history.

Local artist Samson Barboza's stainless steel sculpture—"Brown Birds" and "Grackle"—was installed as part of the project, drawing on Mexican American culture and the natural environment surrounding the park.

The backstory: Parque Zaragoza has anchored East Austin’s Mexican and Mexican American community since the early 20th century, when residents were pushed into the neighborhood by discrimination and displacement from areas like the Old Mexico neighborhood near today’s Republic Square, according to Austin Parks and Recreation.

After years of lobbying by cultural advocacy groups, the city purchased land for the park in 1930, and it opened the following year—quickly becoming a cultural center with organized activities, celebrations and community maintenance.

 

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General Manager

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