Achievement refers to your child's current proficiency level in mastering the key knowledge and skills for their grade level. Tracking your child's STAAR achievement level each year helps monitor their overall progress in reaching grade-level mastery. STAAR results report achievement by performance levels:
Masters Grade Level:
Performance in this category indicates that students are expected to succeed in the next grade or course with little or no academic intervention. Students in this category demonstrate the ability to think critically and apply the assessed knowledge and skills in varied contexts, both familiar and unfamiliar.
Meets Grade Level:
Performance in this category indicates that students have a high likelihood of success in the next grade or course but may still need some short-term, targeted academic intervention. Students in this category generally demonstrate the ability to think critically and apply the assessed knowledge and skills in familiar contexts.
Approaches Grade Level:
Performance in this category indicates that students are likely to succeed in the next grade or course with targeted academic intervention. Students in this category generally demonstrate the ability to apply the assessed knowledge and skills in familiar contexts.
Does Not Meet Grade Level:
Performance in this category indicates that students are unlikely to succeed in the next grade or course without significant, ongoing academic intervention. Students in this category do not demonstrate a sufficient understanding of the assessed knowledge and skills.
Growth reflects how much your child has learned over a period of time. It specifically measures their learning gains from year to year. Robust academic growth means your child is making meaningful progress in acquiring new skills.
Achievement and growth provide complementary lenses into your child's academic performance. Examining both creates a more complete story of their academic understanding and abilities:
Achievement demonstrates current proficiency, while growth shows the learning trajectory
Progress may be strong even if current achievement is not yet on grade level
Data on achievement and growth can both inform support needed to reach full potential
Texas' school accountability framework emphasizes both achievement outcomes and growth
Unlike the annual STAAR given at year end, Irving ISD uses NWEA MAP Growth assessments to periodically monitor student performance throughout the school year. MAP Growth generates interim benchmarks of your child's performance and growth between STAAR exams.
MAP Growth empowers parents with timely data to:
Identify learning gaps early and work with teachers to address them
Track your child's progress and trajectory throughout the year
Leverage your child's RIT scores to set goals and find resources tailored to their needs
Take an active role in supporting your child's continual growth
Together, the STAAR and MAP Growth assessments provide a robust profile of your child's achievement and growth over time. STAAR gives an annual proficiency snapshot, while MAP Growth reveals the learning story across the year. Leveraging both assessments allows parents to celebrate progress and pinpoint potential gaps warranting collaborative attention.
