On paper, iUniversity Prep’s (iUP) return to a top-tier A rating in Texas Education Agency’s State Accountability system is a story about numbers. However, behind the triumph over TEA’s tougher state accountability standards isn't a complex algorithm; it’s a deep commitment to personal relationships.
When recent state-wide benchmark changes briefly dipped the virtual academy’s long-standing A rating down to a B, iUP staff didn't just chase data points to soar back up. Instead, they doubled down on student-teacher relationships, proving that putting people over metrics is the ultimate way to get students truly future ready.
What Happened?
In 2022-2023, TEA ratings across the state dropped abruptly because the agency raised its accountability standards, most notably spiking the threshold for high schools to earn an A in college readiness from 60 percent to 88 percent, effectively moving the goalposts and penalizing campuses despite no actual drop in student performance.
For example, iUP’s College, Career and Military Readiness (CCMR) scaled score in 2022 was at 88 percent, but with no significant change in student outcomes or future readiness indicators, the score dropped to 62 percent in 2023. This brought the school’s overall rating from a 92 in 2022 to an 87 in 2023.
What is CCMR?
CCMR indicators are the state’s way of measuring whether a high school diploma actually translates into real-world success. These metrics are critical because they signal that a school isn't just graduating students, but actively launching them into college, meaningful careers or military service.
To earn CCMR credit for their school, a student must hit at least one state-approved benchmark before stepping across the graduation stage. On the academic side, students can earn CCMR credit by scoring high enough on SAT, ACT, TSI, or AP exams, or by passing dual-credit college courses. Students can also gain CCMR credit by earning a state-approved industry-based certification or enrolling in the military.
For iUniversity Prep, the majority of CCMR credit has historically come from students demonstrating they are college-ready. When it dipped to a B rating, iUP recognized CCMR efforts needed to increase, and the Owl’s staff knew the solution to this state-enforced math problem was never going to fully be in the numbers.
People Over Data
What sets iUP apart from other virtual academies is the strength of its interpersonal relationships. Despite physical distance, Owls and their teachers remain closely connected. That connection is precisely what Jessica Alaniz leaned into most.
Ms. Alaniz, an iUP middle school counselor with deep CCMR experience from previous districts, immediately stepped up to help lead the effort
“I really tried to not have any action plan we created be focused strictly on numbers,” Ms. Alaniz explained. “If we shift our focus to helping kids become truly college ready, whatever measurement that may be, the TEA numbers naturally fall into place.”
The iUP staff as a whole were immediately willing to lean on Ms. Alaniz’s leadership and leverage their relationships with students. Teachers tackled iUP’s new focus on CCMR from the perspective of their students. They began talking one-on-one to students about the options they had to be prepared for college in the state’s eyes, but more importantly, how those indicators can tangibly impact their life after iUP.
Culture of Future Ready
Embedding being future ready into the culture of iUP has been a complete team effort. Phrases such as “taking flight” and “soaring to new heights” are commonplace now within the virtual walls of iUP, and all echo a shared commitment to postsecondary preparation.
Some tangible examples of a renewed focus on life beyond iUP include:
An iUP-staff led TSI Virtual Bootcamp - Three full days focused on preparing students for the TSIA2 test, one of the leading ways Texas students earn CCMR credit
Increased dual credit course offerings and increased enrollment in those courses
A PTA-sponsored guest speaker to discuss college readiness with students and families
Students earning their “wings,” a pin to show off they’ve achieved a state-recognized CCMR indicator
Seniors who are already CCMR recognized being able to take one fewer class
The value in being empowered for life after high school is certainly not lost on iUP students.
Barriers as a Virtual Academy
The TEA’s drastic change in CCMR measurement affected every school and district across Texas. From traditional brick and mortar campuses to online schools like iUP, the instant dip in rating was felt, but the solutions to recovering that score have been varied.
For example, most traditional high schools across Texas have testing days built into their instructional calendar. This may include a day where all juniors take the SAT, and any student who scores high enough on the exam earns their CCMR credit in the state’s eyes.
Because the SAT must be taken in person, blanket testing days like this are not an option for iUP students.
As another example, imagine a hypothetical iUP student who is enrolled in AP US History. Students can receive CCMR credit if they score a 3 or higher on any AP exam, but like the SAT, AP exams must be taken in person.
Students living near GCISD’s physical boundaries can certainly travel to the district to take their exam, but let’s say our hypothetical student lives in El Paso. Districts in that area could allow that student to report to a location and take the exam, but they are not required to do so.
The student could have the best grade in their AP US History class, fully mastering the content, but unless iUP staff and the student can find a facility to proctor the exam, they won't receive CCMR credit from TEA.
Situations like this illustrate why the relationships between iUP teachers and students are the school’s biggest superpower. Whether it's helping secure a testing location for that student in El Paso, devoting extra hours to a virtual test prep academy or simply serving as a trusted mentor, iUP staff are intentional about meeting students where they are and individualizing efforts to make sure they are building a path forward.
“We are going to partner with students and help them along the way, no matter what it takes,” Ms. Alaniz proudly said.
State and Nation’s Best
iUP’s commitment to excellence has long been recognized across Texas and the nation. Still ranked the best public online high school in Texas and second best in the nation by Niche.com, iUP once again has an A rating from TEA to reflect those high standards.
iUP’s renewed focus on making sure students are real-world ready has led to it being one of only three virtual schools in Texas to earn an A rating.
However, the true victory isn't found in a letter grade or ranking; it’s in the personal relationships that proved, once and for all, when you put people over data, the numbers take care of themselves.
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