Campus News

Lamar CISD schools earn high grades

Aug 09, 2013 | Community Relations

Lamar CISD and all District schools achieved the highest ranking possible as part of the Texas Education Agency’s 2013 accountability system.

“We’re so proud to say that Lamar CISD and every eligible campus Met Standard,” Lamar CISD Superintendent Dr. Thomas Randle. “We’re also encouraged to see that the majority of our campuses received one or more Distinction Designations. This shows that our students are not only achieving the standards set—they’re going beyond them. In all, our campuses received 39 Distinction Designations in either Reading/ELA, Math and/or Student Progress.”

 For eligible campuses that achieve the rating of Met Standard, distinction designations in the following areas have also been assigned: Top 25 Percent Student Progress; Academic Achievement in Reading/English Language Arts; and Academic Achievement in Mathematics.

 Lamar CISD schools received the following Distinction Designations:

  • Austin, Ray and Meyer elementary and Wertheimer Middle School earned Distinction Designations in all three categories;
  • Lamar Consolidated High School and Bowie Elementary earned Distinction Designations in Reading/ELA and Math;
  • George Jr. High, Long and Williams elementary schools earned Distinction Designations in Reading/ELA and Top 25 percent Progress;
  • Campbell, Dickinson, Frost and Hubenak elementary schools all earned Distinction Designations in Math and Progress;
  • George Ranch High School, Wessendorff Middle School, Frost, Huggins, Hutchison, McNeill and Thomas elementary schools all earned a Distinction Designation in Reading/ELA;
  • Lamar Junior High earned a Distinction Designation in Progress; and
  • Pink and Velasquez elementary schools earned a Distinction Designation in Math.

The 2013 ratings are based on a revised system that uses various indicators to provide greater detail on the performance of a district or charter and each individual campus throughout the state. The performance index framework includes four areas:

  • Student Achievement - Represents a snapshot of performance across all subjects, on both general and alternative assessments, at an established performance standard. (All Students)
  • Student Progress - Provides an opportunity for diverse campuses to show improvements made independent of overall achievement levels. Growth is evaluated by subject and student group. (All Students; Student Groups by Race/Ethnicity; English Language Learners; Special Education)
  • Closing Performance Gaps - Emphasizes improving academic achievement of the economically disadvantaged student group and the lowest performing race/ethnicity student groups at each campus or district. (All Economically Disadvantaged Students; Student Groups by Race/Ethnicity)
  • Postsecondary Readiness - Includes measures of high school completion, and beginning in 2014, State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR®) performance at the postsecondary readiness standard. (All Students; Student Groups by Race/Ethnicity; English Language Learners; Special Education)

Districts and campuses with students in Grade 9 or above must meet targets on all four indexes. Districts and campuses with students in Grade 8 or lower must meet targets on the first three indexes (excluding Postsecondary Readiness).