KISD Has Done It Again

Katy ISD’s McMeans Junior High was recently named as one of only seven exemplary Texas “Schools to Watch” for 2015 as part of a recognition program developed by the National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform and the Texas Middle School Association.

Schools involved in this program demonstrate that high-performing middle/junior high schools have a clear focus on academic growth and achievement. They also recognize the importance of meeting the needs of all of their students and ensuring that every child has access to a rigorous, high-quality education. McMeans Junior High was selected for its academic excellence, responsiveness to the needs and interests of young adolescents, and its commitment to helping all students achieve at high levels.

Selection is based on a written application that required schools to show how they met criteria developed by the Forum. Schools that appeared to meet the criteria were then visited by state teams who observed classrooms, interviewed administrators, teachers, students and parents, and looked at achievement data, suspension rates, quality of lessons and student work. The schools vary in size from several hundred to several thousand students and represent urban, suburban and rural communities.