Spring ISD posts Houston region’s largest Algebra 1 gain as OpenStax curriculum expands districtwide

Spring Independent School District led the Houston region with a 16-point increase in Algebra 1 passing rates on the 2026 STAAR End-of-Course exam, the largest year-over-year gain among large Houston-area districts. Spring ISD uses OpenStax “Algebra 1,” the free, standards-aligned curriculum developed at Rice University, as the primary curriculum for students retaking the Algebra 1 End-of-Course exam and as a supplemental resource in Tier 1 instruction.

According to results released by the Texas Education Agency, 74% of Spring ISD students reached Approaches Grade Level or above in Algebra 1, up from 58% the prior year. Forty percent reached Meets Grade Level or above, up from 28%.

Good Reason Houston identified Spring ISD as one of the Houston-area districts leading year-over-year improvement in student achievement, citing gains in mathematics and reading.

“Spring ISD’s growth this year stands out across the Houston region,” said Thomas Pich, director of district partnerships at Good Reason Houston. “Districts that build a culture of accountability at every level, from the classroom to central office, create the conditions for gains like these. Spring ISD is demonstrating what that looks like in practice.”

Spring ISD credits its progress to a districtwide focus on stronger instruction, targeted academic support and high expectations for students. The district first used OpenStax “Algebra 1” with students retaking the End-of-Course exam, then expanded its use to support Tier 1 instruction.

Teachers used the curriculum in a six-week End-of-Course review, small-group instruction, and daily intervention. Because OpenStax “Algebra 1” is openly licensed, educators can adapt the materials for different instructional settings and student needs.

“OpenStax ‘Algebra 1’ gave our teachers a flexible resource they could use in different settings, from EOC review to small-group intervention,” said Michelle Florez, former secondary STEM specialist at Spring ISD and current district math coordinator for Channelview ISD. “Teachers could adapt the materials to the needs of their students while maintaining the rigor of the course.”

OpenStax “Algebra 1” was developed through the Rice Algebra Initiative for Success and Equity, a research-practice partnership that engaged more than 75 Texas math teachers in curriculum development. The curriculum received unanimous approval from the Texas State Board of Education through the 2024 Instructional Materials Review and Approval process and qualifies as a High-Quality Instructional Material.

The curriculum is fully aligned to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills and English Language Proficiency Standards. It is available free online with low-cost print, and an optional LMS-integrated version is also available.

Districts interested in OpenStax “Algebra 1” can learn more at openstax.org/k12/algebra.