Explanation of Accountability Masking Rules

2026 Explanation of Masking Rules

The 2026 Accountability Reports and Downloads employ masking in order to comply with the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Generally, the term "masking" refers to the use of special symbols to conceal the performance results.

The tables below show each of the masking situations that are possible on the reports. Different rules apply for the STAAR indicators compared to other performance indicators.

Symbols Used for Masking STAAR Performance

Scenarios Numerator Denominator Percent Meaning

Case 1 * * * Denominator is 1, 2, 3, or 4

Example 4 4 100%

Case 2 ** ** Percent Shown When only one racial/ethnic group is masked, then the second smallest racial/ethnic group's numerator and denominator are masked (regardless of size) with double asterisk. The rate remains unmasked.

Smallest Group: 3 4 75%

Next Smallest Group: 190 200 95%

Case 3 - - - Denominator is 0.

Example 0 0 -

Scenarios	Numerator	Denominator	Percent	Meaning
Case 1	*	*	*	Denominator is 1, 2, 3, or 4
Example	4	4	100%
Case 2	**	**	Percent Shown	When only one racial/ethnic group is masked, then the second smallest racial/ethnic group's numerator and denominator are masked (regardless of size) with double asterisk. The rate remains unmasked.
Smallest Group:	3	4	75%
Next Smallest Group:	190	200	95%
Case 3	-	-	-	Denominator is 0.
Example	0	0	-

Symbols Used for Masking Graduation and Dropout Rates

Scenarios Numerator Denominator Percent Meaning

Case 1 * * * Denominator is 1, 2, 3, or 4.

Examples 4 4 100.0%

3 4 75.0%

0 4 0.0%

Case 2 - - - Denominator is 0.

Example 0 0 •

Case 3 ** ** Percent Shown When only one racial/ethnic group is masked, then the second smallest racial/ethnic group's numerator and denominator are masked (regardless of size) with double asterisk. The rate remains unmasked.

Smallest Group 3 4 75.0%

Next Smallest Group 150 200 75.0%

Scenarios	Numerator	Denominator	Percent	Meaning
Case 1	*	*	*	Denominator is 1, 2, 3, or 4.
Examples	4	4	100.0%
3	4	75.0%
0	4	0.0%
Case 2	-	-	-	Denominator is 0.
Example	0	0	•
Case 3	**	**	Percent Shown	When only one racial/ethnic group is masked, then the second smallest racial/ethnic group's numerator and denominator are masked (regardless of size) with double asterisk. The rate remains unmasked.
Smallest Group	3	4	75.0%
Next Smallest Group	150	200	75.0%

Symbols Used for Masking Downloads
Data available for download (2026 Data Download) are also masked:

Masking Symbol in Download Masking Symbol on Data Table What is Masked

-1 * Small numbers

-3 ** Next smallest racial/ethnic group

• - Data are not available

Masking Symbol in Download	Masking Symbol on Data Table	What is Masked
-1	*	Small numbers
-3	**	Next smallest racial/ethnic group
•	-	Data are not available

Distinction Designations

Numerator Denominator Percent Meaning

Attendance Rate Indicator Download • • • Denominator (days membership) is less than 1800

Example 800 1700 47%

Other Distinction Indicators Download • • • Denominator is less than 10

Example 3 9 33%

Blank values for a Quartile occur if there are fewer than 20 campuses in the campus comparison group for each qualifying indicator.

		Numerator	Denominator	Percent	Meaning
Attendance Rate Indicator	Download	•	•	•	Denominator (days membership) is less than 1800
	Example	800	1700	47%
Other Distinction Indicators	Download	•	•	•	Denominator is less than 10
	Example	3	9	33%

2026 Accountability | Performance Reporting