Fourteen Texas districts face possible state takeover over failing grades

Preliminary 2026 accountability data reveal that fourteen Texas public school districts have at least one campus with a fourth straight failing grade, putting them at risk of a state takeover unless performance improves. The districts—ranging from Clarksville to Waco—are largely situated in the Austin, Houston and San Antonio metros and serve an average of about 11,700 students, many of whom are low-income and Black or Hispanic.

Texas law allows the education commissioner to dismiss locally elected trustees and install a state-appointed board after five consecutive unacceptable ratings. Several districts have already averted harsher measures by boosting scores, shuttering chronically failing schools, or signing Senate Bill 1882 agreements with entities like Third Future Schools. Austin ISD, for example, meets the trigger criteria with two campuses failing for a fifth year, while Spring ISD improved DeKaney High School’s rating but still faces risk elsewhere. Superintendents such as Kregg Cuellar, Luz Martinez, Bryan Taulton and Jill Anderson stress ongoing turnaround plans and confidence that targeted interventions will raise scores before the 2027 ratings.