Published: August 05, 2008 08:56 am      

Area schools show academic gains

Santo, Gordon among districts attaining 2008 ‘Recognized’ status

By Libby Cluett
lcluett@mineralwellsindex.com

Districts across the state received their official accountability ratings last week. Locally, some saw gains, with many moving into or maintaining recognized status.

The ratings categories for campuses and districts are “Academically Unacceptable,” “Academically Acceptable.” “Recognized” and “Exemplary.”

No area campuses or districts achieved the highest rating for 2008.

Conversely, no area campuses or districts were rated unacceptable, the rating Strawn ISD received in 2007 but was able to overcome and improve to acceptable this year.

‘Recognized’
Recognized – the sometimes elusive, but highly sought-after rating – did not seem to elude too many area schools and districts. Those campuses receiving the Texas Education Agency’s “Recognized” rating are:

• Garner ISD and Garner Elementary.

• Gordon ISD and Gordon School.

• Graford ISD and Graford Elementary.

• Millsap High School and Elementary.

• Houston Elementary (Mineral Wells ISD).

• Lamar Elementary (MWISD).

• Santo ISD, Santo Elementary and Santo High School.

• Palo Pinto ISD and Elementary.

• Perrin Elementary (Perrin-Whitt Consolidated ISD).

“When you move into recognized, you’re moving out front,” said Gordon ISD Superintendent Jon Hartgraves, whose district moved up from academically acceptable to recognized this year. “People start to take notice – like real estate agents. You can begin to brag a little bit.”

“We’re excited because we’re in the top 30 percent in the state in recognized,” he added.

The rating is a standard partly based on Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills tests.

“This is not a bar that sits there while we try to get to it,” noted Hartgraves. “As the standards to be acceptable move, the standards are increasing.”

“The rigor of what’s being expected is increasing,” concurred Mineral Wells ISD assistant superintendent Bobbye Estes, who saw two campuses, Lamar and Houston, repeat their recognized status.

While several single-school districts garnered a “recognized” rating for their campus and districts, Graford and Santo ISD, both with more than one campus, also received an overall “recognized” rating.

Santo ISD Superintendent Greg Gilbert saw both campuses rise to recognized this year. He attributes it to a focused effort by campus administrators and staff who motivated the students and the use of enrichment programs, including technology-driven programs.

“When we do well, it’s the work of everybody,” said Gilbert. “When your high school does well, it’s because of the groundwork your elementary has put forth.”

“We made great strides in reading scores. They are very strong and they help us in all the subject and curriculum areas. You have to read well to do well in these areas.”

In addition to Santo High School’s “recognized” merit, Millsap High School also scored the esteemed rating.

Millsap ISD Superintendent Jerry Lee Hunkapiller sent board members an e-mail Friday – as soon as the ratings were official – informing them that the elementary and high school were recognized.

“All of you should be very proud of your hard work and dedication for our children. I have never been prouder as an administrator. Every campus made significant gains in all areas,” he stated, adding that the middle school is “right on target to be recognized.”

‘Acceptable’
Academically acceptable ratings went to the following:

• Graford High School

• Millsap ISD and Middle School

• Mineral Wells ISD, High School, DREAM Academy, Junior High and Travis Elementary

• Perrin-Whitt Consolidated ISD and Perrin High School

• Strawn ISD and Strawn School

For Strawn ISD, achieving the acceptable rating was an improvement over last year’s academically unacceptable rating. Superintendent David Lindsey attributes their achievement mainly to “the students wanting to do well on the test.”

“Five students could affect a rating in a small school or subclass that’s small,” he added.

Strawn saw strong gains from 4 percent in writing and English-language arts to a whopping increase of 26 percent in Science and 28 percent in Math.

“Tutorials were a big factor,” he said, adding of optional tutorials Strawn offered before, during and after school.

Not only are districts rated by how all students do in subject areas, but also by sub-categories, defined by race, ethnicity and socio-economic categories. Like smaller districts, larger districts rely on overall gains, but also gains in subgroups.

“Math and Science continue to be areas we’ll work on as well as closing any gaps in our sub-groups,” she said. For instance, in each subject areas, Estes said, “We’d like to see all subgroups clustered within two-to-three points in performance.”

***

Meanwhile, while they gear up for school many local superintendents will encourage staff to celebrate, but then will get to work on the next step.

Hartgraves said he’s has calculated that they are just shy of “exemplary” by 15 students in math and one student in science. “With 49 kids [taking those tests], each kid is worth a lot,” he said.

“We’ll celebrate and look to the future. We’re not many away from being exemplary,” he said.