STAAR Math & Reading | Build the Skills Texas Students Need

What Is the STAAR Test?

STAAR stands for State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness. It is the standardized testing system administered by the Texas Education Agency to all students in Texas public schools and open-enrollment charter schools.

STAAR tests are designed to measure whether students have mastered the grade-level content defined by the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) curriculum standards. The results tell students, parents, schools and the state how well students are learning and whether they are ready to move to the next grade level.

Every question on the STAAR is directly tied to the TEKS standards for that grade and subject.

Who Takes STAAR and When?

All Texas public school students in Grades 3 through 8 take STAAR tests in math and reading every spring. Some grades also take science and social studies tests. High school students take End-of-Course assessments in Algebra 1, English 1, English 2, Biology and US History.

The 2026-2027 STAAR testing windows are:

High school End-of-Course subjects (December sitting): December 1 to December 11, 2026
Grades 3-8 Reading and Language Arts, English 1 and English 2: April 6 to April 16, 2027
Grade 5 and 8 Science, Grade 8 Social Studies, Biology and US History: April 13 to April 23, 2027
Grades 3-8 Mathematics and Algebra 1: April 20 to April 30, 2027
Retests for students who did not pass: June 15 to June 25, 2027

Schools choose their specific test days within these windows. Results are typically available to families around four to five weeks after each testing window closes.

For high school students, passing the Algebra 1, English 1, English 2, Biology and US History EOC exams is a graduation requirement under Texas law. EOC results also count for 15% of the final course grade.

A note for families planning ahead: Texas is transitioning to a new assessment called the Student Success Tool (SST) from the 2027-2028 school year onwards. The last STAAR administration for Grades 3-8 will be spring 2027. Details of the new SST format are still being finalized by the Texas Education Agency. Whatever form the new assessment takes, it will continue to measure the same foundational math and reading skills, and the curriculum work your child does now will be just as relevant. We will update this page as more information becomes available.

What Does STAAR Math Test at Each Grade Level?

STAAR math tests become progressively more demanding as students move through the grades, with each year building on the foundations of the year before.

Grade 3: Number sense, addition and subtraction, multiplication and division concepts, fractions, area and perimeter, time and measurement.
Grade 4: Multi-digit multiplication and division, fractions and decimals, geometry, data analysis, input-output tables and patterns.
Grade 5: Multiplication and division fluency, fractions and decimals, percentages, order of operations, geometry including volume, data and graphs.
Grade 6: Ratios and rates, integers and the number line, expressions and equations, area and surface area, data representation and statistics.
Grade 7: Proportional relationships, percentage problems, integers and rational numbers, expressions, equations and inequalities, geometry including circles.
Grade 8: Linear equations and functions, transformations, the Pythagorean theorem, surface area and volume, bivariate data and scatterplots.
Algebra 1 EOC: Linear equations and inequalities, systems of equations, quadratic functions, exponential functions, algebraic reasoning throughout.

What Does STAAR Reading and Language Arts Test?

STAAR reading and language arts assesses whether students can read and understand complex texts, identify evidence to support ideas, and understand how authors use language and structure.

At elementary level the focus is on decoding, comprehension, vocabulary and identifying key ideas. In middle school the demands increase to include literary analysis, inferencing, understanding author purpose and evaluating evidence. In high school English 1 and English 2, students are also assessed on their own writing through extended constructed responses.

Developing Strong Foundations

APLUS America is K-12 curriculum-based tutoring, not a test prep company. We do not offer STAAR practice papers, timed mock tests or exam strategy coaching.

What we offer is a structured, personalized approach that builds genuine understanding of the math and reading skills that STAAR tests. A student who genuinely understands Grade 6 ratios, Grade 7 proportional relationships or Algebra 1 functions is in a much stronger position for STAAR than a student who has only drilled past papers without understanding the underlying concepts.

The Math Doctor assessment identifies exactly which skills your child has gaps in, and the weekly lesson plan works through those gaps in the right order. For Texas families, this means your child is developing the foundational skills STAAR measures throughout the year, not scrambling to catch up in the weeks before the test.

Starting in January or February gives your child several months of consistent, structured work before the April testing window. That is a meaningful amount of time to close real gaps.

How APLUS America Works

Step 1: Math Doctor Assessment

Every student starts with the Math Doctor diagnostic assessment, which maps exactly where their math understanding is solid and where the gaps are. For a Grade 5 student preparing for STAAR, this shows precisely which of the Grade 5 and earlier skills need work before April.

Step 2: Personalized Weekly Learning Plan

Every Monday, your child's personalized learning plan is updated with lessons targeting the specific areas that need attention, at a pace that works best for them. The plan is based on their assessment results, ongoing progress, and how they are performing in their lessons. Lessons are short, interactive, and engaging, helping your child build understanding one step at a time.

Step 3: Tutor Support When They Need It

Our tutor line is available Monday to Thursday after school, up to 10 hours per week. If your child gets stuck on a concept, a tutor can walk through it with them using screen sharing and an interactive whiteboard. Tutor support is included in the weekly pricing, so your child can access extra help when they need it.

A Note on Reading Support

STAAR tests both math and reading. APLUS America covers English tutoring as well as math, including reading comprehension, writing, and grammar from Kindergarten through Grade 12.

If your child needs support in both areas, math and English can be included together from $24 per week.

Pricing

Math tutoring with APLUS America starts from $24 per week, which covers the full K-12 curriculum, the Math Doctor diagnostic assessment, a personalized weekly plan, access to the tutor helpline and weekly progress reports. New students get their first two weeks free.

From $24 / week

Full K-12 curriculum (math, English optional)
Math Doctor diagnostic assessment
Personalized weekly lesson plan
Tutor helpline up to 10 hrs/week
Weekly progress reports

Start Your 2 Weeks Free

Frequently Asked Questions

When should my child start if they want to be ready for the spring STAAR window?

Starting in January or February gives your child two to three months of consistent structured work before the April testing window. The Math Doctor assessment at the start shows exactly where the gaps are, so the first few weeks of the plan are targeted at the most important areas to address.

Does the curriculum cover the specific TEKS standards that STAAR tests?

Our curriculum is aligned to Common Core Standards, which cover the same foundational skills as TEKS. There are some differences between Common Core and TEKS, particularly in the sequencing of certain topics, but the core mathematical and literacy skills are the same. The curriculum builds the genuine understanding that both sets of standards measure.

Does the curriculum cover Algebra 1 EOC preparation?

Yes. Algebra 1 is fully covered in our curriculum, including all the major topics tested in the Algebra 1 EOC: linear equations and functions, systems of equations, quadratic and exponential functions. A student who understands those topics thoroughly will be drawing on that knowledge in the EOC.

Can you help with both math and reading for STAAR?

Yes. APLUS America covers both math and English from Kindergarten through Grade 12. You can enroll in math only or include both math and English together, with pricing starting from $24 per week.

My child failed STAAR last year. Can APLUS America help before the retest?

Yes. The Math Doctor assessment identifies exactly where the understanding broke down and the weekly plan addresses those areas directly. Retests take place in June, which gives a student who starts in April several weeks of targeted work on the specific skills they need.

Enter your details to receive 2 weeks free Math tutoring

⁺By entering your details, you give APLUS America permission to contact you to discuss its tutoring via phone, SMS and/or email and record such communication for training and compliance purposes. You understand that the 2 weeks free tutoring is only available to children that have not previously received any free tutoring from APLUS America.

STAAR Math & Reading: Building the Skills Texas Students Need