Texas Education Agency releases results for students in grades 3–8 and cumulative results for ninth grade students
Results from the STAAR tests taken by students in grades 3–8 were released by the Texas Education Agency in February and both Tomball and Magnolia ISDs came out ahead of the state average.
"We are pleased with the results and think this is a good reflection upon the dedicated staff and administrators we have working throughout our district," said Randy Reedy, TISD's director of accountability.
Cumulative results were also released for the STAAR tests administered to ninth grade students at the end of the 2012 school year, including results from those who opted to retake the test. Students in grades 10 and 11 will continue to take TAKS tests in compliance with the graduation requirements set when they entered high school. However, STAAR tests will be administered to the advancing ninth grade students next year.
In Tomball, average scores were mostly in the 80s and 90s and were ahead of state averages across the board. The only lagging areas were ninth grade writing, where the average score was 64, and eighth grade social studies, where the average was 70. While TISD officials were satisfied with the above average performance, they acknowledged the need to address weaknesses.
"We have not changed our curriculum, but we are establishing a bridge between eighth and ninth grade to help students improve their writing skills," said Staci Stanfield, director of communications at TISD. "Students who need to improve their skills will attend extended instructional time for writing."
MISD also surpassed state scores across the board in regards to the STAAR test Moving forward, both districts say they will be making minor adjustments, but no major changes are planned.
"The teachers are only allowed to administer the test and are under oath from the state not to look at them," said Anita Hebert, assistant superintendent of curriculum at MISD. "So we really can only tailor our instruction so much based on our results. Things went well so there isn't a need for any major overhaul, but our goal is to always be improving."
No new accreditation status will be issued to any district for the 2012–2013 school year, according to an announcement from Commissioner of Education Michael L. Williams. A district's accreditation status can be one of four levels—accredited, warned, probation and revoked. The status is based partially on student performance on standardized tests.
"Because student performance is a key indicator in the state accreditation system, and because that data is not available due to the transition to STAAR, the agency will suspend the assignment of accreditation statuses until the 2013-2014 school year," Williams said in a prepared statement.
