Paris ISD earns 13 distinctions in 2016 TEA accountability rating

The Texas Education Agency released the Accountability Summary and Designation Report this month.  Under the new accountability system, schools and school districts will receive a rating of either Met Standard or Improvement Required.  This is the third consecutive year that all of the campuses in PISD received at least one distinction and all “Met Standard.”

The accountability system measures schools and school districts with a four index model.

Index 1, Students Achievement, measures the percentage of all students passing the STAAR exams.  To meet the state standard in this index, a school or school district is required to achieve 60 points.  Paris ISD achieved 70 points.

Index 2, Student Progress, measures the percentage of students who met progress and/or exceeded progress.  Growth is evaluated by subject and individual student groups.  To meet the state standard in this index, 22 is required for a school district.  Paris ISD achieved 40.

Index 3, Closing Performance Gaps, measures the performance of the students who are identified as Economically Disadvantaged.  This also measures the two lowest performing race/ethnicity groups from the 2014-15 school year. Index 3 calculates the percent of students meeting the STAAR passing standard and percent at Level III (Advanced).  To meet the state standard in this index, 33 is required for a school district.  Paris ISD achieved 35.

Index 4, Post-Secondary Readiness, measures high school completion rate and STAAR performance at the final level II standard, to meet the state standard for this index, 57 is required.  PISD achieved 69.

At PISD we continue to excel in the state accountability system.  As a district, we were one percentage point away of receiving the postsecondary readiness distinction – the only distinction at the district level under the state accountability system.  This takes into account factors such as graduation rates, ACT/SAT participation and performance, Career and Technical Education (CTE) graduates, and dual-credit course completion rates.  Only 24 school districts in the state received a district distinction.  Also, our high school was one of only 400 campuses to earn all possible distinctions. There are over 8,500 school campuses across the state.  Current Commissioner of Education Mike Morath stated “Earning all possible distinctions is a significant accomplishment and should signal to parents that there is extraordinary work taking place on that campus.”

 As a district we earned 13 distinctions:

Paris High School earned distinctions in Academic Achievement in ELA/Reading, Academic Achievement in Mathematics, Academic Achievement in Science, Academic Achievement in Social Studies, Top 25 Percent Student Progress, Top 25 Percent Closing the Performance Gaps, and Postsecondary Readiness.
Paris Junior High earned distinctions in Academic Achievement in Science and Postsecondary Readiness. 
Crockett Intermediate earned Academic Achievement in Mathematics and Postsecondary Readiness.     
Aikin Elementary earned a distinction in Postsecondary Readiness.            
Justiss Elementary earned a distinction in Top 25 Percent Closing Performance Gaps.                 

PISD Superintendent Paul Jones states “Earning distinctions in the state accountability system is extremely difficult to do, and we should be proud of our students, staff, parents and community members for assisting in achieving these outstanding honors.”   Former Educational Commissioner Michael Williams acknowledges “earning a distinction designation is not easy and that any campus earning one or more distinctions should be recognized in their community for the outstanding work taking place on that campus.”

To view the 2016 state accountability ratings and distinction designations for all districts, charters and campuses, visit the Texas Education Agency website at http://tea.texas.gov/2016Accountability.aspx.

At PISD we recognize that the STAAR test does not define our district, staff or students, however we are proud that our students and staff are performing at the highest level in the state.