Posted 1:47 am Friday, June 19, 2009
Jacksonville Elementary Schools Show TAKS Score Growth
By KELLY GOOCH
Staff Writer
Staff Writer
JACKSONVILLE -- Preliminary Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) scores show that Jacksonville ISD saw growth in scores at Joe Wright and Fred Douglass elementary schools but fell short of its goal to be rated recognized by the state, district officials said.
West Side, Fred Douglass and Joe Wright elementary schools are expected to achieve exemplary ratings, the highest given by the state, while East Side Elementary School and Nichols Intermediate School are expected to receive the state's second-highest rating of recognized.
Jacksonville Middle School, Jacksonville High School and the district as a whole are looking at possible acceptable ratings.
"I think they're tremendous," Superintendent Dr. Joe Wardell said of the scores. "I think it's a real positive thing that's a result of hard work by the teachers, administrators, the parents and the students. ΓΆΒ?Β» Only 12.2 percent of campuses in the state were exemplary last year, and here we are with almost half ours being exemplary."
Judy Terry, assistant superintendent of instruction and curriculum, said the district improved in 73 percent of the areas tested compared to last year and met or beat the state average in 79 percent of the different areas.
Jacksonville ISD was unable to achieve a recognized rating, though, due to science scores for eighth-. 10th- and 11th-graders, she said.
Preliminary scores show that 74 percent of eighth-graders and 66 percent of 10th-and 11th-graders passed the science portion of TAKS.
In hopes of improving scores, Ms. Terry said, the district is looking at revising curriculum for 10th and 11th grade and will extend the time eighth-graders spend in a science class.
District officials say that although it doesn't look like Jacksonville ISD will achieve its goal of being recognized, they are pleased overall with preliminary scores.
The percentage of Fred Douglass students who passed the reading portion of TAKS increased by 3 points from last year to this year, while the percentage of students who passed the math portion went up 4 points.
At Joe Wright, the percentage of students who passed the reading and math portions increased by 6 and 7 points, respectively.
Ms. Terry attributed accomplishment at Joe Wright and Fred Douglass to focused instruction from teachers, students working hard and parents' support.
Teachers knew what level their students were at in different subjects, and the schools put forth extra effort, she said.
As of now, West Side potentially will be the first school in Jacksonville ISD to be rated exemplary two years in a row.
"Students have high expectations and give over 100 percent," said Sandi Jones, West Side principal "ΓΆΒ?Β»(and)West Side staff is committed to providing a high-quality education for all students."
She said the school spends a lot of time on scheduling and have a "pow wow" every six weeks to celebrate students' success.
"I think celebrating success is very important in keeping everyone motivated," Ms. Jones said.
East Side and Nichols Intermediate are expected to have recognized ratings for the second consecutive year.
Ms. Terry said some subgroups at East Side did not meet the 90 percent passing rate required for an exemplary rating.
At Nichols, she said math scores for one subgroup and science scores for two subgroups kept the school from being rated exemplary.
Jacksonville Middle School and Jacksonville High School did not achieve recognized ratings because of science scores at the middle school and math and science scores at the high school, Ms. Terry said.
In addition to meeting the state's passing standards, a school may also use the new Texas Projection Measure (TPM) to achieve a particular rating.
Ms. Terry said TPM estimates whether a student is likely to pass portions of the TAKS at a future high-stake grade level such as fifth, eighth and 11
th
grades.
If a student doesn't pass a portion of the TAKS but is deemed likely to pass in the future, they still could be considered a "yes" for passing instead of a "no" for accountability ratings, she said.
grades.
If a student doesn't pass a portion of the TAKS but is deemed likely to pass in the future, they still could be considered a "yes" for passing instead of a "no" for accountability ratings, she said.
East Side used TPM for the subgroup African American reading and Fred Douglass used TPM for the subgroup Hispanic writing.
Joe Wright used TPM for the subgroups All, African American, Hispanic and Economically-disadvantaged reading and math.
Ms. Terry said the accountability ratings could change as drop-out and completion rates have not been factored in.
"We will continue setting goals high and working with staff and students to make sure we reach those goals," she said. "We've never had three exemplary campuses, so we're very excited to have three exemplary and two recognized campuses."
