October 5, 2021

In final ratings from the Texas Education Agency, Dripping Springs ISD received the highest rating of “Superior,” a letter grade “A”, and a numerical score of 98/100 on the 2019-20 Texas FIRST (Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas) report. 

The rating is based on 15 indicators that include results of the annual external audit, debt management, fund balance, and administrative cost ratio, among other financial indicators. The Schools FIRST accountability rating system uses ratings of “A-Superior,” "B-Above Standard", “C-Meets Standard,” or “F-Substandard Achievement.”  This recent designation is based on financial information from the 2019-20 fiscal year.

The FIRST rating, which has been issued for the past 19 years, measures the quality of school districts’ financial management and reporting. The report ensures that Texas public schools are held accountable for the quality of their financial management practices and that they improve those 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. Dripping Springs ISD has received a Superior Rating every year since the FIRST system’s inception.

The report and public hearing, which includes an opportunity for public comment, will be presented by DSISD Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations Catherine Knepp at the DSISD Board of Trustees meeting on Oct. 25, 2021. The meeting begins at 6 p.m. in the auditorium at Dripping Springs High School. The FIRST hearing will occur early in the agenda.