WESLACO – State school financial accountability ratings show the majority of Rio Grande Valley districts are getting an A rating, but some are falling behind.

The Texas Education Agency released their preliminary F.I.R.S.T ratings showing how well school districts and charter schools are using tax dollars.

The Valley is part of Region One with 37 school districts under it.

Out of those school districts, 26 schools received an A rating, eight districts received a B rating and three districts received a C rating, which is considered meeting standards.

TEA representative Lauren Callahan told CHANNEL 5 NEWS there are 15 financial indicators taken into consideration when determining each district’s rating.

“These indicators are such indicators as administrative cost expenditures, the accuracy of the information that they submit to us at TEA, takes a look at any sort of financial vulnerability or material weakness in internal records. These are all based on audits that the districts and charter must have done

The ratings are preliminary and an appeal can be submitted by Sept. 8.

We visited Mercedes ISD and Santa Maria ISD which received a C rating, but we have not been told if they’re planning on appealing their grade.

Only five districts in the state of Texas received an F rating for substandard achievement. None of these are in the Valley.

These assessments do not include charter schools.

You can visit the TEA’s district status summary website for more information on the school district’s preliminary classification.