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Austin ISD beats most state averages on delayed 2026 STAAR science exams

Austin ISD students outperformed most state averages on both fifth and eighth grade STAAR science exams this spring, per Texas Education Agency results released July 31.

In fifth grade, AISD led the state at every performance tier, with the gap widening toward the top. Eighth grade showed a similar pattern at the top, though AISD fell just short of the state on base passing rate. Both grades improved year over year.

Why now: Science was the only subject held back from the June 16 statewide release. TEA delayed these scores to allow "standard setting" tied to 2021 science curriculum standards, fully implemented into STAAR for the first time this year.

Zooming out: These scores are the last piece of this year's grades 3-8 STAAR data. AISD outperformed the state average in five of 13 exams released in June, and with these two science exams added, outperformed the state on 7 of 15 total exams for the 2026 spring testing cycle.
 
On The Business Beat
Studio Blu Natural Skin Care now open in Northwest Austin

A new skin care business is now open in Northwest Austin, offering a range of treatments to help people maintain healthy skin.

The gist: Studio Blu Natural Skin Care, ran by licensed esthetician Jessica Blu Heron and her mother Jeri Heron, opened on Pond Springs Drive earlier this year. The business offers facials, waxing, brows and lashes, skin peels, dermaplaning and more.

Customers can receive ProCell Microchanneling treatments, which help improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, acne scarring, stretch marks and rosacea.

  • 13625 Pond Springs Road, Ste. 102, Austin
 

Your Weekend To-Do List

Check out these weekend events across the metro area.

Float and Flick

Cedar Park Rodeo

Aug. 7, 7:15-10 p.m.
Dripping Springs

Aug. 7-8, 7:30 p.m.
Cedar Park

More info

More info

 

Buda Summer Concert Series

New Moon Sound Bath

Aug. 8, 8-9:30 p.m.
Buda

Aug. 9, 6-8 p.m.
Georgetown

More info

More info

 
To submit your own event, click here.

CI Texas
85K students will use new Texas Education Freedom Accounts this school year

At least 85,000 students will use Texas' new education savings accounts during the 2026-27 school year, an Aug. 3 report shows. Enrollment may grow as the school year kicks off and more families opt in to the program.

The overview: The Texas Education Freedom Accounts program gives families state funds to send their children to private schools or homeschool them, with priority going to students with disabilities and children from low-income households.

About 24% of students participating in the TEFA program have a disability, according to state data, and 80% of participants are from low-income families.

Zooming in: The largest numbers of students participating in the program live in Texas’ largest school districts, data shows. The report lists that 3,327 participants live in Houston ISD’s boundaries, followed by 2,645 participants from Dallas ISD, 2,271 participants from Northside ISD and 2,024 participants from Fort Bend ISD.

Previous state data showed that about 43% of students selected for the program had previously attended a Texas public school, although the Aug. 3 report did not include that information.

 

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Taylor Stover
General Manager

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