Lubbock ISD Earns A Rating from TEA for Financial Integrity for the 25th Year in a Row
Lubbock Independent School District (Lubbock ISD) has earned a perfect rating – 100 out of 100 – from the Texas Education Agency’s School Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas (FIRST). This is the 25th time the district has received a rating of A – Superior Achievement. In fact, the district has received an A rating every year since the creation of the rating system.
FIRST ensures that Texas public schools are held accountable for the quality of their financial management practices and that they continue to improve these practices. The system is designed to encourage Texas public schools to better manage their financial resources to provide the maximum allocation possible for direct instructional purposes.
“We are incredibly proud of this achievement – a score of 100 represents the highest level of achievement possible and reflects the hard work and dedication of the district’s financial and business operations teams,” said Dr. Dewayne Wilkins, Chief Financial Officer. “The FIRST rating is designed to evaluate the financial health and stewardship of Texas school districts through a comprehensive review of financial indicators. Earning a perfect score demonstrates an exceptional level of financial accuracy, accountability, administrative efficiency, and internal controls.”
Established by the 77th Texas Legislature in 2001 to provide accountability for Texas public schools on the quality of their financial management practices, the ratings are based on annual financial reports submitted by school systems to TEA for the past fiscal year. The reports are subsequently reviewed by the agency and a rating is assigned.
School systems are assigned one of four possible letter grades (A, B, C or F) under the financial accountability ratings, along with a coinciding financial management rating: Superior Achievement, Above Standard Achievement, Meets Standard Achievement or Substandard Achievement.
Dr. Kathy Rollo, Lubbock ISD Superintendent, said the district’s achievement is due to the Business and Finance team’s countless hours of work behind the scenes, including their attention to detail, commitment to accountability, and dedication to excellence. The district isn’t just financially responsible – it is setting the standard for financial excellence.
“An A is an accomplishment; a perfect 100 is exceptional. But this accomplishment is about much more than a number on a report,” Rollo said. “It represents our commitment to being responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars and ensuring that every dollar entrusted to Lubbock ISD is managed wisely, transparently, and effectively. Strong financial management allows us to protect the resources that matter most — our classrooms, our teachers and staff, our facilities, and most importantly, our students.”
About Lubbock ISD
Lubbock Independent School District is the largest K-12 public education provider in the surrounding area, educating more than 23,000 students. Its mission is to nurture, develop and inspire every child, every day. Guiding that mission are three leadership pillars – Develop Leaders, Love People and Value Data – which aim to empower staff to their full potential, embrace our community and cultivate student success at every level. With a wide range of academic and career programming, the district has innovated itself to provide growth opportunities for students and staff alike.
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