Fort Bend ISD earned the state's highest financial accountability rating, the district announced Tuesday, Sept. 8.

The district received an A, or Superior Achievement, through the School Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas (FIRST). The Texas Education Agency administers the program under state law to hold public schools accountable for how they manage money. The district said on social media it has held the top rating for 24 consecutive years.

The FIRST rating is separate from the TEA's academic A-F grades. FIRST measures financial management practices, not student test scores. Fort Bend ISD earned a B (82 out of 100) on the academic side in August.

The distinction matters for families at Ridge Point, Elkins, Marshall and the district's 75 other campuses. It signals that the district met every state benchmark for how it tracks, spends and reports public dollars across a budget that includes $857.9 million in revenue.

That budget is not without strain. The board of trustees voted unanimously on June 15 to approve a fiscal year 2026-27 budget carrying a $32.8 million shortfall, with $898 million in expenditures outpacing revenue. The district's 2023 bond program also produced a $132.6 million shortfall after administrators did not adjust project costs for inflation when the $1.26 billion bond was delayed from November 2022 to May 2023, according to a third-party investigation.

New Chief Financial Officer Kristopher Lynn, announced Wednesday, Sept. 2, now oversees the district's finances. Lynn brings more than 20 years of K-12 finance experience and replaces Bryan Guinn, who served about 11 years.

Fort Bend ISD said in its announcement that the rating recognizes strong financial management and responsible stewardship of district resources. The district serves more than 75,000 students and is the largest employer in Fort Bend County with nearly 12,000 employees.

Under state law, the district must hold a public hearing on the FIRST report. Fort Bend ISD has not yet announced a hearing date.