In addition to the Texas Education Agency accountability system used to rank campuses and districts, TEA also awards schools for performance on additional categories not included in the accountability ratings system. The awards are known as Gold Performance Acknowledgments.
In order to receive the Gold Performance Acknowledgment (GPA) in reading, math or science, 25 percent or more of the tested students must have received a “commended performance” score on the 2009 Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills test. For a GPA in writing, 25 percent or more of tested students must have received the commended performance score and a three or higher on the essay portion of the test. An additional category, comparable improvement (CI), a measure that calculates student performance on the TAKS test, has changed or grown from one year to the next, and compares the change to that of the 40 schools that are demographically most similar to the target school.
Schools were also given acknowledgments for attendance, and for the number of juniors who are considered ready to begin college-level work based on their performance on the exit-level TAKS test. To qualify for the recognition, the district must have at least 60 percent or more of their examinees to score at or above the Texas Success Initiative (TSI) standard in both English/language arts and mathematics.
Three of the seven campuses rated in the Sulphur Springs Independent School District — Lamar and Bowie Elementary schools and Douglas Intermediate — have been awarded Gold Performance Acknowledgments. Early Childhood Learning Center also was rated by TEA for accountability purposes based on its pairing with Lamar Elementary.
Lamar and Bowie Elementary schools each received GPAs for commended performance in mathematics and writing, and CI in mathematics. Lamar also received a GPA for performance in reading. Douglas Intermediate School received a Gold Performance Acknowledgment for comparable improvement in reading.
“The students and staff of the campuses receiving Gold Performance Acknowledgments are to be commended for their achievements,” said Betty Lawson, director of elementary education.
Elsewhere in the county, eight campuses schools in six districts also were honored by TEA with GPAs for their achievements.
Cumby High School earned GPAs for attendance, college readiness, commended social studies, CI in math and reading. Cumby Elementary was commended in science and had CI in math. Overall, the district earned GPAs for college readiness and commended social studies.
North Hopkins High School earned GPAs for commended social studies CI in math and TSI in English/language arts. Overall, North Hopkins Independent School District received GPAs for commended social studies and TSI English/language arts.
Como-Pickton’s district was broken down into two areas, the main campus for all grades, and the Holy Highway School in Pickton. Both earned a GPA for attendance. The C-P school also received GPAs for commended social studies and CI in reading. Overall, C-P Consolidated Independent School District earned GPAs for attendance and commended social studies.
The three remaining districts in Hopkins County — Miller Grove, Saltillo and Sulphur Bluff – each received received only a district rating based on data from all grade levels at the school. MG received GPAs for college readiness and commended writing. Saltillo earned a whopping five GPAs — for attendance, college readiness, commended social studies, and TSI English/language arts and math. Sulphur Bluff earned GPAs for attendance, commended writing, commended social studies and TSI math, and also were noted for CI in math.
More information about GPAs and campus and district accountability ratings can be found online at http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/perfreport/account/index.html. Or simply go to the TEA website, www.tea.state.tx.us and click on the Nov. 5, 2009, release “Final 2009 state accountability ratings and Gold Performance Acknowledgments posted” link found below the Agency News heading on the home page.
— Information compiled from data submitted by SSISD Director of Elementary Education Betty Lawson and found on TEA’s website.
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