Conroe ISD Superintendent Don Stockton praised the school district and its faculty for the district's test scores, ratings, lower property tax rate and impact on students' lives throughout Montgomery County.

"I thank you for allowing me to be your superintendent," Stockton said. "Personally, it's a dream come true to represent each and every one of you. You bring me great joy, and I appreciate that."

Hundreds of Conroe ISD teachers and faculty filled the auditorium at Woodlands Church Aug. 22. With less than a week until the first day of school for students throughout the district on Aug. 26, Stockton painted a picture of the school district and how it compares with districts around the state.

Stockton said Conroe ISD has about 55,000 students at its 58 campuses spanning 348 square miles. Conroe ISD is also the largest employer in Montgomery County with 6,130 employees. The 22^nd largest district in the state when Stockton first arrived, he said Conroe ISD is now the 16^th largest in Texas and the 78^th largest district in the country.

"[The growth] is not going to stop with all the growth and ExxonMobil," he said.

The upcoming school year will be the first for Ann Snyder Elementary School in The Woodlands, as well as the new John Peet Junior High School in Conroe. The old Peet Junior High School will be used as a ninth grade campus for Conroe High School, Stockton said.

Looking back at the 2012-2013 school year, Stockton praised the district's STAAR test results, which were above the state averages across the board, including in math, reading, writing, science and social studies, among other subjects and advanced courses. He said the district also posted SAT and ACT scores above the state average, and he was pleased with the district' completion rate, which was above 95 percent for both four-year and five-year high school students.

Not just concerned about the students' performances at Conroe ISD, Stockton emphasized the district's encouragement for students to addend college after graduation. CISD students received nearly $33 million in scholarships a year ago, Stockton said. Also, 1,000 advanced placement exams were added a year ago and 1,700 students were enrolled in dual credit courses through Lone Star College-Montgomery.

"My vision is that all students feel all adults care about their success," he said. "We want our kids to think education, to think college."

The superintendent said much of the $369 million budget recently passed for the 2013-2014 school year comes from payroll. However, despite a 3.25 percent increase in salaries this year, Stockton said the property tax rate decreased to $1.285 per $100 valuation this year from the $1.29 per $100 valuation rate a year ago.

"The board has been very good every year at providing salaries first and foremost," Stockton said.