Killeen ISD has earned the state’s highest financial accountability rating for the 24th consecutive year, receiving a perfect score of 100 on the Texas Education Agency’s annual review of school district financial management practices.
The district recently received an “A – Superior Achievement” rating through the 2026 School FIRST (Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas), the state’s financial accountability system for public school districts.
School FIRST evaluates how well public school districts manage their financial resources and meet state financial accountability requirements. The system reviews indicators related to financial reporting, audit findings, debt obligations, cash management and other measures of a district’s overall financial health and practices.
Killeen ISD earned all 100 points available. Districts must earn at least 90 points to receive the Superior Achievement designation.
“Earning the state’s highest rating for 24 consecutive years reflects the responsibility we have to our taxpayers and our community,” Chief Financial Officer Kallen Vaden said. “We are entrusted with public funds, and we take seriously our responsibility to manage those resources carefully, transparently and with a long-term focus. This perfect score is also a reflection of the work of our Finance team and their commitment to strong financial practices that support our students, staff and schools.”
School FIRST was established to hold Texas public schools accountable for the quality of their financial management practices and encourage districts to direct the maximum amount of resources possible toward instruction.