Dateline: August 3, 2006

CISD earns recognized rating from state

By Ashlee  Estlack, Clarendon Enterprise

State accountability ratings released August 1 by the Texas Education Agency show that Clarendon ISD has earned a Recognized school district rating for the second year in a row.

The ratings are partly based on Texas Assessment of Knowledge & Skills (TAKS) scores.

“I’m very pleased with the results this year,” Monty Hysinger, CISD Superintendent said.

On the TAKS, Clarendon had 93 percent of students pass the reading portion, the same as last year; 94 percent in writing, up from 89 percent; 86 percent in social studies, down from 93 percent; 79 percent in math, up from 74 percent; and 82 percent in science, down from 84 percent in 2005.

Hysinger said that math is still the area the district is focusing on improving, and that follows a trend across the state.

“We’ve made gains and we’re still working.”

Clarendon campuses were also rated individually with Clarendon High School and Elementary being named Recognized for the third year and Clarendon Junior High being named Academically Acceptable for the second year.

“We’re very proud of our teachers and students,” Hysinger said.  “We’re looking forward to a great year.”

Clarendon TAKS results are as follows: Third grade – reading, 100 percent, math 92 percent; Fourth grade – writing 97 percent, reading 94 percent, math 94 percent; Fifth grade – reading 90 percent, math 93 percent, science 93 percent; Sixth grade – reading 93 percent, math 90 percent; Seventh grade – writing 93 percent, reading 85 percent, math 67 percent; Eighth grade – reading 95 percent, math 64 percent, social studies 81 percent, science 60 percent; Ninth grade – reading 97 percent, math 72 percent; Tenth grade – English/language arts 86 percent, social studies 80 percent, math 64 percent, science 66 percent; and Eleventh grade – English/language arts 100 percent, social studies 100 percent, math 79 percent, and science 87 percent.

Statewide, 3,380 Texas public schools earned the Exemplary or Recognized rating because of their students’ strong academic performance, compared to 2,213 campuses that earned one of these top two ratings in 2005.

The accountability standards for Exemplary and Recognized ratings are unchanged from 2005. 

At least 70 percent of students passing TAKS and State-Developed Alternative Assessment II (SDAA II); a high school completion rate of 85.0 percent; and an annual dropout rate of 0.7 percent or less are required to earn a Recognized rating.

Requirements needed to earn an Academically Acceptable rating increased substantially this year.

Passing rates for all students and each student group of 60 percent or higher on the TAKS English language arts/reading, writing, and social studies exams; 40 percent passing rates or better on the TAKS math test; and a passing rate of 35 percent or higher on the science TAKS test are required to achieve an acceptable rating. The school or district must also have 50 percent or more of its students who take the SDAA II pass it and have a high school completion rate of 75 percent or more and have an annual dropout rate of 1.0 percent or less to earn an Academically Acceptable rating.

These requirements for the acceptable rating reflect a 10-point increase in the standards for English language arts/reading, writing, social studies and science and a 5 point increase for mathematics. The 10-point increases are the largest single year increase in standards in the 12-year history of the Texas accountability system.