From our March 15, 2001, edition.

CHS receives award for student performance  

Roger Estlack, Clarendon Enterprise

A monetary award in the amount of $1,267 was made to Clarendon High School as part of the Texas Successful Schools Award System, CHS Principal Larry Jeffers announced this week.

The school was recognized for gains in student performance on indicators that are part of the Academic Excellence Indicator System, more commonly known as the state’s report card.

According to a school press release, CHS is among 552 cash-winning schools statewide receiving awards for: 1) exemplary recognized, or acceptable performance; 2) a ranking in the top 25 percent of all campuses in the unique comparison group statewide, with respect to growth on the Texas Learning Index derived from the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAAS) reading and mathematics tests given at Grades 3 through 8, and 10; and 3) a campus exemption rate in TAAS reading, math, and writing for special education students and for Limited English Proficient students that was not deemed excessive.

The awards are based on the spring 2000 performance on the TAAS test, which measures performance in reading, writing, and mathematics.  Schools also had to meet performance standards for dropout and attendance rates.

Cash awards ranging from $500 to $5,000 per school were given, depending on the number of students served at the school. 

In the exemplary category, schools had at least 90 percent of all students and students in each student population group (White, African American, Hispanic, and Economically Disadvantaged) passing each section of the TAAS, a 1998-99 dropout rate of one percent or less for all students and each student group, and an attendance rate of at 94 percent or greater. Clarendon High School falls in this category.

TSSAS award recipients had to rank in the top 25 percent of all campuses that are in the same unique comparison group statewide, with respect to their growth in student performance in reading and math.  Campus categories are based on several factors including the percent of students identified as African American, Hispanic, White, Economically Disadvantaged, Limited English Proficient, and Mobile.

In addition, if the campus exemption rate in any subject area of the TAAS test was greater than the exemption rates of 75 percent of all campuses in a least one subject area, the campus was eliminated from the list of possible winners.

A total of $2.5 million is being awarded to schools this year under TSSAS.