Staff Reports
news@jacksonvilleprogress.com
Jacksonville Independent School District is excited about the Texas Education Agency’s release of state accountability ratings on Friday. The preliminary results were publicized in May, but the official data confirmed the good news for the district.
West Side Elementary, Fred Douglass Elementary and Joe Wright Elementary all received an Exemplary ratings, the Highest TEA score possible. East Side Elementary and Nichols Intermediate both earned a Recognized rating. Jacksonville Middle School and High School each hit Acceptable ratings.
Judy Terry, assistant superintendent for instruction and curriculum, said the school is elated about the accountability ratings for 2008-2009.
“Three exemplary campuses are something for us to shout about, then we add two recognized campuses to the mix,” Terry said. “Our other two acceptable campuses are very close to being recognized.”
Marc McCloud, JISD public relations official, said the requirement for Recognized is 75 percent on the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills test for each subject and student group, an 85 percent completion rate and an annual dropout rate of two percent or less.
“It looks like the science passing rates are what’s keeping them acceptable,” McCloud said. “It’s a statewide problem.”
As a whole, the district was judged as Acceptable. JISD’s goal was to be a Recognized district this year, but the improved scores and advancement show signs of progress.
Superintendent Dr. Joe Wardell said the results are tremendous.
“The improvement we’ve seen is a product of JISD’s continued commitment to academic achievement. The hard work and dedication of our students, parents and staff are clearly reflected in our ratings.”
West Side Elementary is the first JISD campus to earn Exemplary two years in a row. The school’s principal, Sandi Jones, attributed the success to “an amazing staff and students who come to school every day ready to give 100 percent”.
East Side Elementary maintained its Recognized rating while the other two elementary schools in the district, Fred Douglass and Joe Wright, went from Recognized to Exemplary. Nichols Intermediate also held at Recognized while Jacksonville Middle and High Schools barely missed the Recognized mark.
Terry said with the first day of school a few weeks away, JISD officials are expecting great things from the students in the coming school year.
“We are so proud of our students and staff and excited to see what the 2009-2010 year will bring,” Terry said.
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