4 thoughts on “The List: Do San Marcos schools measure up?”

1. FROM SAN MARCOS CISD:

   On Friday, July 29, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) released state accountability ratings for the 2010-2011 school year. Standards for ratings this year were higher as two new components, Commended Performance and English Language Learner Progress measure, were added to the system which evaluates schools and districts on TAKS passing rates, the dropout rate for grades 7 and 8, and the completion rate for high school seniors.

   Four SMCISD elementary schools–Bowie, Crockett, DeZavala, and Hernandez–earned Recognized Ratings from the Texas Education Agency. All other campuses and the district are Academically Acceptable.

   SMCISD Superintendent of Schools, Mark E. Eads, notes growth in performance despite a nominal drop in ratings. “SMCISD saw growth in 18 of 24 TAKS performance measures assessed. This year’s ratings did not account for student growth through the Texas Projection Measure as last year’s ratings did, and our schools continue to make progress,” Eads said.

   District-wide performance in Reading, Writing, and Math were at recognized levels with social studies performance at an exemplary level. Percentages of students performing at commended rates in reading and math were also at recognized levels. The district saw the strongest growth in math and science scores, and science performance remains the greatest challenge for the district.

   The district is aggressively pursuing performance in science, working in conjunction with Texas State University on the STELLAR grant which supports science instruction in grades K-8 and with a National Science Foundation Grant, Project Flowing Waters, which engages students and faculty in grades 6-12. SMCISD faculty presented strategies at a STELLAR conference earlier this week.

   “We are aware of our challenges and are working closely in conjunction with Texas State to leverage state and federal resources to address our local challenges—and to share our findings with the rest of the state. We are poised and ready to meet the higher standards of the new STAAR assessments which our students will begin taking in the spring of 2012,” notes Yolanda Almendarez, Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning.

2. I would like to remind everyone that there is a Special Called Board Meeting this upcoming Monday, August 1st at 5:30 p.m. The board will be meeting at the SMCISD Central Office Building. (501 South LBJ Drive).

3. Two exemplary campuses dropped to recognized. Two recognized campuses dropped to acceptable. The district dropped from recognized to acceptable. That’s not a nominal drop. Enough with the spin attempts.

   Enough smoke and mirrors. Every year, our poor results are explained away by changes in how things are measured. Somehow other districts manage to get good ratings.

   That the TPM was not included this year, only means that these are the real results, not some bogus “projected” results. If we have been improving, then that means last year’s applauded results were actually even worse than these.

   Just tell us how we’re going to fix this mess. We’re a “property wealthy” district, with resources that few, if any, other districts have. There is no excuse for not striving for an exemplary rating.

4. I think we need more adult tutors/mentors for the kids. One-on-One teaching is pretty great stuff. My son made 5s on the AP World History and American History tests. He has had great teachers. Then, to supplememt that, he and my husband yack history for hours after school. Nothing like having someone-who-really-loves-a-subject to hang with.