Irving Independent Schools District’s Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) scores for math continue to rise with 80% of students meeting state standards. Science (78% meeting standards), and social studies (95% meeting standards) scores are holding steady. Reading/ELA (86% meeting standards) and writing (92% meeting standards) took a 1% point dip in the all student category.
The Irving ISD Planning, Evaluation & Research Department has been documenting TAKS data for the last seven years and has seen gradual, incremental improvement in student performance each year. This year, 12 Irving ISD schools are projected to earn an Exemplary or Recognized state accountability rating by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) for 2011. John Haley Elementary School is in line to earn an Exemplary rating for the third year in a row. The eleven schools to potentially be named Recognized are: de Zavala Middle School, Lamar Middle School, Barton Elementary School, Elliott Elementary School, Farine Elementary School, Good Elementary School, Hanes Elementary School, Thomas Haley Elementary School, Keyes Elementary School, Schulze Elementary School and Stipes Elementary School.
These accomplishments are additionally noteworthy considering a change on April 22, 2011 to the Texas accountability system which does not use the Texas Projection Measure (TPM). In years past the TPM had the potential to boost a rating by taking into consideration a student’s projected passing in a subsequent year. Also due the make-up and size of Irving ISD, the District is subject to be rated on at least 35 of the 40 possible ratings indicators; many more than typical for a smaller or less-diverse district.
With TPM in place, Nimitz High School would once again be rated Academically Acceptable. However, that school could potentially fall just short and earn an Academically Unacceptable rating depending on the yet to be reviewed dropout rate, completion rate and other subgroup data. The other 19 schools in Irving ISD not listed above are projected to earn an Academically Acceptable rating.
Dr. Whit Johnstone, Division Director for Planning, Evaluation & Research reminds us that, “all of the rating projections provided in this report are just that, projections that are based on 2011 TAKS results. The actual ratings could change with additional data.” For instance, last year Nimitz High School was also projected to be Academically Unacceptable, but when the actual ratings came out it was determined to be Academically Acceptable. The district expects to receive the actual ratings from the TEA by the first week in August.
This is the last year for students to take the TAKS test. There will be no ratings in 2012. Instead the state will use 2012 to develop a new accountability system based on the new State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness (STAAR). This spring, Superintendent Dr. Dana T. Bedden has lead the teaching and learning staff in implementing a new core curriculum aligned with the STAAR. Irving ISD will use the 2011-2012 school year for continued development and implementation. The first ratings under this new system will be issued in the spring of 2013.
