Tyler ISD has earned a perfect score of 100 on the Texas Education Agency’s (TEA) preliminary 2025-2026 School FIRST (Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas) for the 23rd year in a row, highlighting the District’s continued commitment to strong financial management, transparency, and responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars.
“A perfect score is certainly something to celebrate, but what matters most is what strong financial stewardship enables us to do for our students,” Superintendent Dr. Marty Crawford said. “When we manage our resources responsibly, we can keep our focus where it belongs—providing outstanding teachers, programs, facilities, and opportunities that lead to successful student outcomes. Our community entrusts us with these resources, and this rating reflects how seriously we take that responsibility.”
The Texas Education Agency created School FIRST to hold Texas public schools accountable for the quality of their financial management practices. The system also encourages school districts to manage financial resources to maximize the allocation for direct instructional purposes.
Tyler ISD’s perfect preliminary score demonstrates strong performance across the financial indicators evaluated by the state and continues the district’s emphasis on fiscal responsibility. The district provides taxpayers with access to information about revenues, expenditures, tax rates, debt obligations, budgets, annual financial reports, and other financial documents through its Financial Transparency resources.
“Every financial decision we make ultimately connects back to serving our students,” Chief Financial Officer Kasey Russell said. “Earning a 100 reflects the disciplined work of our finance team and the responsible decisions made throughout Tyler ISD. Strong financial systems give our district stability, allow us to plan strategically, and help ensure that the resources entrusted to us are available to support instruction and student opportunities. We are proud of this score and of the team effort behind it.”
The preliminary 2025-2026 School FIRST ratings are based on a school district’s financial data for fiscal year 2025. TEA released the preliminary ratings on August 7, 2026, and anticipates releasing the final ratings in November.
Tyler ISD will continue building on its record of responsible financial stewardship while strategically directing resources toward the people, programs, and opportunities that prepare every student for success.
For more information, contact Jennifer Hines at Jennifer.Hines@TylerISD.org.