In what marks a notable shift in academic performance, Southside Independent School District has been showing steady academic growth, distinguishing itself within the San Antonio area. The district's recent accomplishments come as a point of pride for Superintendent Rolando Ramirez, who noted the district's significant improvement in science scores over the past decade. In a conversation with the San Antonio Report, Ramirez conveyed his pride in the district's progress and his anticipation for the continued work.

Statewide, students have faced challenges in math and science, according to Ramirez. However, Southside ISD still saw an increase in the number of students approaching grade level, which is the threshold needed to pass the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR). Ramirez also made mention of the improvements that have to carry forward, stating that  “For us to be able to match that component score with the region and be short one point from the state is something that we’re very proud of.”  Nevertheless, many students are still reported to be struggling to meet the grade-level expectations.

Dispelling old preconceptions of educational disparities on the city's South Side, Sylvia Rincon, a spokeswoman for Southside ISD, said “That stigma of ‘you go South and your grades drop,’ that’s not true anymore," in an interview with the San Antonio Report. She went on to describe the South Side's school environment as competitive, reflecting a changing narrative for the community it serves.

The debate over school performance was fueled by Ramirez’s comparison of Southside’s test scores with those of Northside ISD, a much larger district. Southside's superintendent highlighted how his district outperformed the larger Northside in various math scores, a noteworthy accomplishment for the substantially smaller district. In contrast to Northside's student enrollment of 102,000, Southside ISD educates approximately 6,100 students. Ramirez explicitly told the San Antonio Report, "From all our math scores, we did better than they did."

On the topic of state accountability scores, Ramirez underscored that the recent improvements reflect actual score comparisons and not merely growth from previous years. However, due to disputes over scoring system changes, the Texas Education Agency did not release accountability scores last year, and the grades for this year remain uncertain. Despite this, data from Southside ISD shows competitive performance in comparison to nine neighboring districts.

Embracing the role of school leadership in defining educational success, Somerset ISD Deputy Superintendent Sheila Collazo stated, "Every student can achieve at whatever level is expected of them," according to the San Antonio Report. This sentiment is supported by Somerset's success in several academic areas, even as state performances in tests like seventh-grade math saw widespread declines. Collazo ascertained that systemized approaches and processing of immediate test data have prepared them to swiftly address educational needs for the next school year.