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Hays CISD maintains ‘B’ streak in 2025-26 TEA accountability ratings

Hays CISD received a 'B' for the 2025-26 school year in the Texas Education Agency A-F accountability ratings. The district scored 81 out of 100 possible points.

The big picture: The results released on Aug. 14 signify the district’s fifth consecutive 'B' rating.

HCISD’s ratings include:

  • Two 'A' campuses

  • 15 'B' campuses

  • Nine 'C' campuses

  • One 'D' campus

  • One 'F' campus

Seven campuses received a higher rating than the previous year, 14 received the same score and six earned a lower score. Lamont Ramage Elementary opened in August 2025, so this it the first rating for that campus. 

Explained: The TEA ranks school districts on three metrics: student achievement, school progress and closing the gaps. The system is designed to drive continuous improvement, according to a news release from the TEA.

The results released on Aug. 14 are preliminary, and the TEA will release final results at a later date.
 
CI Business
Dirty soda and drink shop opens first San Marcos location

A dirty soda shop offering a variety of unique drinks to customers in San Marcos opened its first location in the city at the end of July.

What happened: Swig, a drink shop with over 150 locations across the country, has officially welcomed customers in San Marcos. The business, located in the city along I-35, offers customers its signature dirty sodas and other drinks.

Swig announced its official opening in San Marcos through a July 24 social media post.

On the menu: Swig’s dirty sodas let customers combine their favorite sodas with a variety of flavors, fresh fruits, purees and creams, according to previous Community Impact reporting.

The spot offers a variety of other drinks, including refreshers and exclusive Reviver energy drinks. Refreshers are water-based and include fresh fruit and the option of sugar-free flavors, according to the Swig website.

  • 180 N. I-35, San Marcos
 
Election News
Q&A: Meet the candidates on the ballot for the US House District 35

Carlos De La Cruz and Johnny C. Garcia will appear on the ballot in the November election for the U.S. House of Representatives District 35 seat, taking place Nov. 3.

Zooming in
The U.S. House District 35 seat stretches from Austin to San Antonio, along the I-35 corridor, according to Ballotpedia.

The current District 35 representative is Democrat Greg Casar, who ran for the U.S. House District 37 seat in the March primary elections and received 80.75% of the vote, securing a spot on the November ballot.

Early voting begins Oct. 19.

Learn more
Candidates were asked to keep responses within 50 words, respond to the questions provided, and avoid attacking opponents. Answers may have been edited or cut to adhere to those guidelines, or for style and clarity.

For more election coverage, visit www.communityimpact.com/voter-guide.

 

Your Weekend To-Do List

Check out these weekend events across the metro area.

As the Knife Twists

Main Street Market

Aug. 21-23, showtimes vary
Round Rock

Aug. 22-23, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Bastrop

More info

More info

 

Austin Pride Parade

Puppy Plunge

Aug. 22, 11 a.m.
Austin

Aug. 23, 6:30-8 p.m.
Dripping Springs

More info

More info

 
To submit your own event, click here.

Statewide News
Live updates: ERCOT will complete data center audit in late 2026, officials say

The Texas House State Affairs Committee heard from power grid officials; data center developers and industry representatives; local government officials; cybersecurity experts; and utility companies during an Aug. 19 hearing on the growth of data centers in the state. Dozens of Texas residents also testified about the impact of data centers in their communities.

The details: Pablo Vegas, CEO of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, said it will take the grid operator several months to audit about 200 gigawatts of data center proposals. ERCOT will request information from all large and medium-sized data centers that are expected to use at least 25 megawatts of electricity.

ERCOT and the Public Utility Commission were ordered on Aug. 3 to audit all data centers seeking to connect to Texas’ power grid. They anticipate completing that audit in late November or early December, Vegas said.

 

Your local team

Sierra Martin
Senior Editor

Heather Demere
General Manager

Email [email protected] for story ideas, tips or questions.

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