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THS rated academically unacceptable By Jason Schaefer The Texas Education Agency (TEA) rated Taylor High School as academically unacceptable in the agency’s preliminary 2008 school accountability ratings released Aug. 1. However, the Taylor Independent School District overall was rated academically acceptable. Out of 124 elementary, middle, high and alternative schools in Williamson County, THS was the only school to receive the lowest of the four possible ratings — exemplary, recognized, academically acceptable and academically unacceptable. THS is one of 13 high schools in districts across the county, including Florence, Georgetown, Liberty Hill, Jarrell, Leander, Hutto, Thrall and Round Rock ISDs. All other high schools were rated academically acceptable or recognized. The ratings are based on the results of the 2008 Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills standardized test. Results for THS this year report low scores in the mathematics section of the exam for ninth- and 10th-graders. TAKS results for Region XIII, to which Taylor ISD belongs, and for the state of Texas also indicate similar trends — low math scores for ninth and 10th grade. Granger ISD, with one K through 12th school, was rated academically acceptable, which “was not a surprise with the new things they were counting this year for the first time,” principal John Thornton said. TEA restructured the scoring system for accountability ratings to include the scores of disabled students, who were tested at the state-designated grade level based on age. Disabled students have always been tested “on-level,” according to Thornton, but their scores were never averaged into the majority. Prior to 2008, TEA placed average scores for special education students in a different category. Disabled students are given modified tests, such as the TAKS-M for children with reading and sight problems. Non-native English speakers are tested on-level as well, which poses another set of challenges, Thornton said. However, whereas those students were given three years to learn English before being tested on-level, now they are given only one, he said. “That’s another issue,” Thornton said. “How can you teach a kid to read and write in another language in a year’s time?” Thornton believes the test is fair, but that the state puts too much emphasis on accountability. “I’d like to see them space the test out a little more,” he said. “It could be done in third, fifth, 10th and 11th grade and that would be sufficient. I think testing every year is not conducive to the kids experiencing their education and enjoying it.” Thrall ISD was also rated academically acceptable, but the high school and elementary school were both given a recognized rating. Thrall Middle School was rated academically acceptable. Thrall ISD secondary principal Curtis Haley said he is thrilled the high and elementary schools received recognized ratings. The schools were rated exemplary last year. Haley was appointed principal two weeks ago. Though he is new in town, he expected the results from last year to be down, based on the preliminary TAKS results for Thrall ISD. He has no reservations about the TAKS test. “The system, as it’s set up, is applied to everyone,” he said. “The state wants to have some measure of the school districts, and I can live with it. It’s something they put in place. We know how to take care of our students, and we’ll do our very best to improve.” Haley believes Thrall’s success in the past is due to the stability of its community, and the high expectations of the district. “The effort put forth by the students and the faculty to prepare them, obviously, are a big part of that equation,” he said. Coupland Elementary School, the only school in Coupland ISD, earned a recognized rating. Taylor ISD superintendent Bruce Scott recently sent out a memo to all TISD employees asking them to refer media personnel to him. He attended a meeting Monday afternoon and led a conference Tuesday morning, and was unable to answer media calls. His comments will follow in a later article.
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