Dripping Springs ISD earned 98 out of 100 possible points in the Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas, known as FIRST. The 2025-26 report uses data from fiscal year 2024-25. The score is two points lower than the district's score last year, when it earned 100.
The Texas Education Agency uses FIRST to rate the financial accountability of all public school districts in the state. Scores are based on 21 indicators, according to previous Community Impact reporting. Four of those indicators are critical, and a district fails automatically if it does not meet them. The indicators cover audit reporting, timely debt and employee-benefit payments, fund balance levels, the relationship of revenues to expenditures, student attendance estimates and staff ratios.
This year the district earned eight of 10 points on indicator eight, which measures whether its assets-to-liabilities ratio is enough to cover short-term debt. Board member Rob McClelland said the results were similar to last year. "Outside of being two points off, this is all very positive," he said. He also said, "Our debt is under control," and that the district has done a good job managing its growth.