La Joya ISD Celebrates Major Financial Milestones: Perfect FIRST Score and S&P Outlook Upgrade
La Joya ISD is celebrating two significant financial achievements that reflect the District’s continued focus on fiscal responsibility, sound financial management, and long-term stability.
La Joya ISD earned a perfect score of 100, the maximum points possible, and an “A – Superior Achievement” rating in the Texas Education Agency’s preliminary 2025–2026 Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas (FIRST) report. This perfect score demonstrates the growth made towards financial stability over the past two years under the TEA intervention and under the new leadership of the District.
The Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas, commonly known as FIRST, evaluates the quality of financial management practices in Texas public school districts and measures how effectively districts manage their financial resources while maximizing funding for direct instructional purposes.
The District’s financial progress was further reinforced by S&P Global Ratings, which upgraded the outlook on La Joya ISD’s general obligation debt rating from A - negative to A- stable.
The upgraded outlook reflects the District’s progress in addressing the financial circumstances associated with the 2024 Texas Education Agency intervention, including reduced costs, greater fiscal responsibility, and strengthened financial management and fiscal discipline.
Together, these results directly support Priority #5: Operational Excellence & Financial Stability of La Joya ISD’s Achieving Excellence Together 2030 strategic plan. Priority #5 focuses the District on operating responsibly and effectively while building the financial stability necessary to support students, employees, campuses, and the District’s long-term future.
“These achievements are a reflection of the deliberate and responsible financial decisions that have been made to strengthen La Joya ISD,” said Mirgitt Crespo, Chief of Business, Finance and Administration “Earning a perfect 100 on FIRST while also seeing our S&P outlook upgraded to stable demonstrates meaningful progress in our financial position. We remain focused on managing every dollar responsibly, protecting the District’s long-term financial health, and ensuring our resources are aligned with the needs of our students, staff, and schools.”
A credit rating and its outlook are important indicators of an organization’s financial health and its ability to responsibly repay debt. A more favorable outlook can also positively influence future borrowing conditions, helping protect taxpayer resources as the District plans for long-term facility and operational needs.
These accomplishments build upon La Joya ISD’s broader work to strengthen its financial position through reduced costs, fiscal responsibility, careful financial planning, and disciplined management of District resources.
“Financial stability allows us to keep our focus where it belongs: on our students and classrooms,” Crespo added. “We are proud of the progress reflected in these results, and we will continue doing the work necessary to maintain responsible financial practices for our community.”
La Joya ISD thanks its Board of Managers, Superintendent, Administration, Business and Financial Services team, employees, and community for their continued support as the District works toward operational excellence and financial stability.