AREA SCHOOLS GRADED BY TEA

FERRIS – When the Texas Education Agency’s accountability ratings were released last Thursday, Ferris ISD had reason to rejoice.

Up from a D last year to a B last week, most ISD’s in the area keep a B rating.

James Hartman, Ferris ISD’s superintendent said, “We are certainly proud of the work put forth by teachers, staff, and students over the past several years, and believe this enhanced rating validates the path we have charted for FISD.”

Hartman said the focus at Ferris ISD is to grow every child academically to ensure all students are college/career/military ready upon graduation.

“Although we believe the accountability system is disproportionately punitive to students of poverty and students that are non-native English speakers, we are determined to meet and overcome those challenges,” Hartman (who was vocal last year about the district’s D rating because of those issues) said last week when the 2018/19 results were made public.

One way which Ferris worked to improve its TEA rating was, as Hartman explained “strategically deploying 1:1 technology into the hands of our students from first grade through twelfth grade – we expanded our STEM labs and robotics offerings, broadened our college credit opportunities, enriched our instructional support for teachers, provided a robust counseling program targeting student social/emotional well-being, and increased the opportunities for student participation in extra and co-curricular programs.

“All of this work has been accomplished while maintaining balanced operating budgets and earning “superior” financial integrity ratings from the State of Texas.”

Ferris ISD also completed a pre-kindergarten expansion at Ingram Elementary, and is nearing completion of a new, state-of-the-art Ag Project Facility at Ferris High School.

The superintendent gave a nod to the board of trustees in regard to the B rating too.

“The board of trustees maintains a progressive mindset and is currently reviewing options to accommodate the dramatic increase in student athletic and band participation numbers at our secondary campuses,” he said.

Red Oak keeps B+ rating

Red Oak ISD earned a B+ rating from the Texas Education Agency, improving two points from an 86 to an 88 for the 2018/19 school year.

“We are very proud of the continued improvements in Red Oak ISD student achievement,” stated Interim Superintendent Ann Dixon. “The district continues to make strides towards the A rating and, more importantly, our students showed gains in about 90% of tested categories.”

This year, campuses received letter grades for the first time. Red Oak ISD saw improvements over last year’s scores on five campuses, and one remained even. Overall, schools earned 5 Bs and 2 Cs. Russell P. Schupmann Elementary saw gains and jumped from a 67 to an 87 this year.

In addition, campuses earned twelve distinctions. Distinctions are earned based on scoring in the top quartile of a state assigned comparison group. Comparable schools are selected from across the state and usually do not include neighboring schools or even schools within the district.

Other Ellis ISD districts

Palmer, Italy, Maypearl and Waxahachie kept B ratings the same as last year. Ennis moved up one from a C rating to a B rating.

Milford went from meeting standards to being given an F on Thursday. The District received a D in student achievement, although there is a 100% graduation rate in that district. The district also received a C in school progress, which resulted in the F rating overall.

The Texas Education Agency’s mission as stated on its website is to improve outcomes for all public school students in the state by providing leadership, guidance, and support to school systems. The agency also administers the distribution of state and federal funding to public schools, among a variety of other duties.