Southwest Austin students have strong showing on state tests
By Kelli Weldon
Austin ISD met the Texas Education Agency's 2014 accountability standards, but not all of its schools did, according to a preliminary summary released Aug. 8.
In AISD, 110 schools met all standards, but the TEA gave its Improvement Required rating to nine schools: Eastside Memorial, International, LBJ and Travis high schools; Garcia, Martin, Mendez and Pearce middle schools; and Ridgetop Elementary School.
Southwest schools' performance
Akins, Bowie and Crockett high schools in Southwest Austin met all standards. Interim Chief Schools Officer Edmund Oropez said he is proud of the work happening at those campuses.
Schools can receive distinction designation acknowledgements based on strong performance in different areas. Bowie was awarded one for closing performance gaps, and Crockett earned a distinction designation for academic achievement in science. Crockett Principal Craig Shapiro said the TEA compared Crockett to 49 other Texas schools with similar demographics and it was in the top 25 percent on science tests.
As part of a science research program, Crockett students can work on research projects with University of Texas professors, Shapiro said. He added the school focuses on postsecondary readiness with hands-on classes that prepare students for entering the workforce as well as college.
"We have gotten 100 percent of our seniors for the last four years to [apply for college]. We average $7.5 million in scholarships and grants from each of the senior classes," he said. "It does not mean that you must go to a four-year college. But kids are walking out of Crockett being able to take that road."
