CCISD and FISD tops in area-Clear Lake HS Exemplary.
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Local schools climb in TEA ratings
By MARY ALYS CHERRY
The Clear Creek School District had plenty to celebrate Friday when the Texas Education Agency ratings were released in Austin. They edged closer and closer to perfection.
All CCISD schools received one of the two top ratings. A total of 25 schools were rated Exemplary — the highest number in history — with the other 13 campuses earning the Recognized rating.
In the past from six to eight schools were rated Acceptable each year. This year none were.
“There are many student success stories behind our test scores and accountability ratings,” said Dr.Greg Smith, superintendent of schools. “I am very proud of our students and staff for a tremendous year despite the challenges,” he added as he thought back to the days following Hurricane Ike when nearly every one of CCISD’s 38 schools was damaged or lost part of a roof.
CCISD was one of dozens of Texas school districts that experienced a substantial increase in the number of Exemplary schools because the TEA gave them credit for improving student test scores.
Commissioner of Education Robert Scott explained: “We saw increased passing rates on the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills tests for virtually every subject and at every grade when we released test results in May.
“We knew that boded well for the ratings. A new growth measure called the Texas Projection Measure, which gives schools credit for the academic growth of students, also increased a school or district’s chance of earning a top rating.”
The dropout rate also improved with 97 percent of students graduating, Information Director Elaina Polsen said as she proudly looked over the TEA documents.
To see just how much the district has improved academically, one only has to look back to 2003 when only five schools were Exemplary, 21 Recognized and eight were Acceptable. The five taking top honors then were all elementary schools.
The school district also won the Recognized rating this year for the 12th time in 13 years — the most by any large district (25,000 or more) in Texas. CCISD is the 29th largest district in the state.
All elementary schools but two were rated Exemplary, as were both Clear Lake High and Clear Horizons Early College High School and Space Center Intermediate. Last year Clear Lake, Clear Creek and Clear Brook High School received Acceptable ratings, so CCISD officials were particularly pleased with that, Polsen said.
Last year, McWhirter Elementary and Clear View High both received Recognized ratings for the first time. Both maintained that rating this year.
The TEA Accountability System is based on the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) scores, high school completion rates and annual dropout rates. All students’ scores on the TAKS count toward the rating, regardless of their special needs requirements.
Clear Lake High School is the largest high school in Texas with an Exemplary rating. (student population of 3,501)
Clear Creek High School, Clear Brook High School, Clear Springs High School went from acceptable to recognized in one year.
Approximately 66 percent of Clear Creek ISD campuses are rated Exemplary, the first time in district history — 25 Exemplary and 13 Recognized
Ninety-two percent of all students passed science compared to 89 percent in 2008
Ninety-three percent of all students passed math compared to 91 percent in 2008.
The Clear Creek and Friendswood School Districts did much better in the Texas Education Agency ratings than most neighboring districts.
All six Friendswood schools were rated Exemplary and 25 out of 38 CCISD campuses got the top rating with the rest rated Recognized.
Galveston and Texas City schools, still battling the ravages of Hurricane Ike, were both rated Academically Unacceptable, as were their secondary schools, Ball High and Texas City High.
La Porte ISD and La Porte High School were rated Academically Acceptable, as was the Pasadena School District and its four high schools.
Other nearby districts receiving the Recognized rating like CCISD included Alvin, Deer Park, Pearland and Galena Park, as did their high schools — Alvin and Manvel High in AISD, Deer Park High, Pearland High, and North Shore and Galena Park in GPISD.
All CCISD schools received one of the two top ratings. A total of 25 schools were rated Exemplary — the highest number in history — with the other 13 campuses earning the Recognized rating.
In the past from six to eight schools were rated Acceptable each year. This year none were.
“There are many student success stories behind our test scores and accountability ratings,” said Dr.Greg Smith, superintendent of schools. “I am very proud of our students and staff for a tremendous year despite the challenges,” he added as he thought back to the days following Hurricane Ike when nearly every one of CCISD’s 38 schools was damaged or lost part of a roof.
ONE OF MANY
CCISD was one of dozens of Texas school districts that experienced a substantial increase in the number of Exemplary schools because the TEA gave them credit for improving student test scores.
Commissioner of Education Robert Scott explained: “We saw increased passing rates on the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills tests for virtually every subject and at every grade when we released test results in May.
“We knew that boded well for the ratings. A new growth measure called the Texas Projection Measure, which gives schools credit for the academic growth of students, also increased a school or district’s chance of earning a top rating.”
DROPOUT RATE DOWN
The dropout rate also improved with 97 percent of students graduating, Information Director Elaina Polsen said as she proudly looked over the TEA documents.
To see just how much the district has improved academically, one only has to look back to 2003 when only five schools were Exemplary, 21 Recognized and eight were Acceptable. The five taking top honors then were all elementary schools.
The school district also won the Recognized rating this year for the 12th time in 13 years — the most by any large district (25,000 or more) in Texas. CCISD is the 29th largest district in the state.
GETTING BETTER
All elementary schools but two were rated Exemplary, as were both Clear Lake High and Clear Horizons Early College High School and Space Center Intermediate. Last year Clear Lake, Clear Creek and Clear Brook High School received Acceptable ratings, so CCISD officials were particularly pleased with that, Polsen said.
Last year, McWhirter Elementary and Clear View High both received Recognized ratings for the first time. Both maintained that rating this year.
The TEA Accountability System is based on the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) scores, high school completion rates and annual dropout rates. All students’ scores on the TAKS count toward the rating, regardless of their special needs requirements.
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS:
Clear Lake High School is the largest high school in Texas with an Exemplary rating. (student population of 3,501)
Clear Creek High School, Clear Brook High School, Clear Springs High School went from acceptable to recognized in one year.
Approximately 66 percent of Clear Creek ISD campuses are rated Exemplary, the first time in district history — 25 Exemplary and 13 Recognized
Ninety-two percent of all students passed science compared to 89 percent in 2008
Ninety-three percent of all students passed math compared to 91 percent in 2008.
HOW OTHERS DID
The Clear Creek and Friendswood School Districts did much better in the Texas Education Agency ratings than most neighboring districts.
All six Friendswood schools were rated Exemplary and 25 out of 38 CCISD campuses got the top rating with the rest rated Recognized.
Galveston and Texas City schools, still battling the ravages of Hurricane Ike, were both rated Academically Unacceptable, as were their secondary schools, Ball High and Texas City High.
La Porte ISD and La Porte High School were rated Academically Acceptable, as was the Pasadena School District and its four high schools.
Other nearby districts receiving the Recognized rating like CCISD included Alvin, Deer Park, Pearland and Galena Park, as did their high schools — Alvin and Manvel High in AISD, Deer Park High, Pearland High, and North Shore and Galena Park in GPISD.
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