Boerne ISD Maintains Top A-Rating Despite Funding Challenges, Highlighting Educational Excellence

Boerne Independent School District has maintained its top A-rating from the Texas Education Agency every year since the state's accountability system was established, a distinction held by only 31 of the more than 1,200 districts in Texas. BISD is the only medium-large district in the greater San Antonio area to make that claim. Board Secretary Rich Sena, who is running for re-election in the May 2 school board race, said the rating reflects a community-wide commitment to holding high standards across all 13 campuses.

The district's results are made more notable by the financial constraints under which they were achieved. Boerne ISD receives approximately $3,000 less per student than the average Texas school district under state funding formulas, placing it well below peer districts in per-pupil spending. The district spends roughly $10,000 per student compared to local private schools that charge between $18,000 and $30,000. Sena explained that efficiency measures have been crucial, stating that administration identified $1.5 million in efficiencies and reductions in central office and administrative overhead, redirecting those funds directly to classroom support.

Despite the funding gap, BISD graduates at a 95 percent rate of College, Career, or Military Readiness, far above the state average of 82 percent. The district outperforms neighboring competitors including Alamo Heights, Dripping Springs, and Lake Travis while serving a student population with higher rates of poverty than those districts. The A-rating has held even as the district has managed significant growth, expanding from 7,200 students in 2014 to more than 11,200 currently.

Maintaining academic quality through that expansion required deliberate investment in teachers and campus leadership according to Sena, who emphasized the importance of supportive community values and good governance. The board has earned the Texas Financial Integrity Rating System's Superior rating for 15 consecutive years, even as nearly 60 percent of districts statewide now face budget shortfalls. Sena testified before the Texas Senate Education Committee in support of the teacher retention allotment, which secured raises of up to $5,000 for educators across the state.

Locally, a successful voter initiative last November raised starting wages for hourly district workers to $15 per hour and provided incremental raises for teachers. Sena is running for re-election alongside Board President Kristi Schmidt, who holds Place 6, with both seeking to continue their service on a platform of academic excellence, fiscal responsibility, and preserving community values. Early voting for the May 2 election begins April 20 at locations including the Fair Oaks Ranch City Police Department headquarters and the Kendall County Annex across from Boerne High School. For more information about the campaign, visit https://www.senaforbisd.com/.