December 12, 2025 - The Comal Independent School District earned the Superior Achievement rating under the Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas (FIRST) for the 2024-2025 school year.
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) announced the 2024-2025 FIRST ratings for Texas public schools on Nov. 13 with 81 percent of school systems earning an ‘A’ or Superior Achievement.
“This FIRST Superior Achievement rating is further confirmation that Comal ISD continues to be financially responsible,” says Courtney Biasatti, Comal ISD Board of Trustees president. “This diligence runs throughout the district to ensure that taxpayer dollars are managed thoughtfully.”
This is the 10th consecutive year that the district has received the Superior rating, and it has received the top rating since the School Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas (FIRST) was established by the 77th Texas Legislature in 2001. The purpose of FIRST is to provide accountability for Texas public schools on the quality of their financial management practices. The current ratings are based on annual financial reports submitted by school systems to TEA for the 2024 fiscal year. The reports are subsequently reviewed by the agency and a rating is assigned.
“By maintaining strong financial practices, these school systems are building brighter futures for the students and communities they serve,” according to TEA’s press release.
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.
FIRST ratings are calculated using 21 financial indicators for both traditional school districts and public charter schools, such as administrative cost expenditures; the accuracy of a district or charter school’s financial information submitted to TEA; and any financial vulnerabilities or material weaknesses in internal controls as determined by an external auditor.
All Texas public school systems are required to share their financial accountability ratings with parents and taxpayers at a public meeting to discuss the financial report.
For more information on FIRST ratings and to view 2024-2025 final ratings, visit txschools.gov, School FIRST web page for independent school districts or Charter FIRST web page for charter schools.