During the course of nine Saturdays beginning January 24, de Zavala Middle School has hosted a morning interactive TAKS academy, offering tutoring and mentoring sessions for students.
Breakfast was provided for students at 7:45 a.m. , and classes were from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. The first Saturday, approximately 147 students attended class and on the final Saturday, 215 students attended.
Sessions were designed to help students master Texas Essential Knowledge & Skills (TEKS) in math, reading, and math and science vocabulary. The three study areas provided students extra exposure to the TEKS that are tested each year on the TAKS test. As a result of the Saturday studies, eighth grade students’ scores on the first round of TAKS tests increased four percentage points in reading and increased nine percentage points in math.
The added percentage points brought de Zavala eighth graders to 93 percent passing reading and 75 percent passing math. The final Saturday, April 25, advanced placement Spanish preparation was added to the rotations.
