15 May 2002
DALLAS-Overall preliminary TAAS results for grades 3-8 and 10 in the Dallas Independent School District continue to show significant six and seven-point increases among the district's 164,000 students in reading, math and all tests taken, Superintendent Mike Moses announced Tuesday, May 14.
The test scores in reading and math, 82 and 85 percent passing, would qualify DISD as a recognized district. The writing scores, 77.3 percent passing, continue to keep the district from qualifying for the rating, Moses said. The superintendent said the criteria for passing the writing section was raised from 50 to 55 this year.
"This is another positive improvement trend that reflects the level of dedication our teachers and students have toward achieving academic excellence," Moses said during a news conference. "Our reading and math results show we are capable of being a recognized school district. Our all tests taken and writing scores show us where we need to focus to do better. We know we can still improve in reading and math, but we know we must do everything possible to increase our students' writing skills," Moses said.
Preliminary TAAS results also show that DISD likely will have 29 exemplary schools, an increase of 11 over last year. The district also will likely have 38 recognized schools, an increase of 8 over last year. But Moses said there will likely also be an increase of four additional low-performing schools over last year, increasing the number to 14.
"These numbers give us something to be proud of-29 exemplary and 38 recognized schools-and it means that we have to keep asking tougher questions about why some of our schools appear to be taking backward steps instead of moving forward," Moses said.
Moses said that the results announced Friday are not official results from the Texas Education Agency. Although the district has tended to be very accurate in the past in its estimates, TEA will make the final determination of accountability status for the district's schools.
|
READING |
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
GAIN |
|
African American |
75 |
76 |
83 |
7 |
|
Hispanic |
68 |
73 |
80 |
7 |
|
Anglo |
90 |
91 |
94 |
3 |
|
Economically Disadvantaged |
68 |
72 |
80 |
8 |
|
All |
72 |
76 |
82 |
6 |
|
MATH |
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
GAIN |
|
African American |
70 |
76 |
83 |
7 |
|
Hispanic |
70 |
78 |
85 |
7 |
|
Anglo |
87 |
90 |
93 |
3 |
|
Economically Disadvantaged |
68 |
76 |
84 |
8 |
|
All |
71 |
78 |
85 |
7 |
|
WRITING |
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
GAIN |
|
African American |
77.6 |
80 |
80.6 |
0.6 |
|
Hispanic |
69.8 |
73.9 |
73.1 |
-0.8 |
|
Anglo |
91.1 |
89.6 |
91.3 |
1.7 |
|
Economically Disadvantaged |
70.4 |
74.5 |
74.5 |
0 |
|
All |
74.9 |
77.6 |
77.3 |
-0.3 |
|
ALL TESTS TAKEN |
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
GAIN |
|
African American |
60 |
64 |
71 |
7 |
|
Hispanic |
56 |
63 |
70 |
7 |
|
Anglo |
82 |
84 |
88 |
4 |
|
Economically Disadvantaged |
56 |
62 |
69 |
7 |
|
All |
60 |
65 |
71 |
6
If the preliminary results hold true, the 29 DISD exemplary schools would be: the School of Business and Management and Carter High School (both rated as recognized last year); Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, School for the Talented and Gifted, School of Science and Engineering, Magnet Center for Public Services: Government, Law and Law Enforcement, School of Education and Social Services, School of Health Professions and Middle College. The others include Dealey 7-8, Harry Stone 7-8, Longfellow, Travis TAG 7-8, Dade, De Golyer, Douglass, Frazier, James, Harris, Hotchkiss, Stonewall Jackson, Mount Auburn, Navarro, Pease, Rhoads, Rice, Starks, Travis TAG 4-6, and Wheatley. Likewise, if the preliminary results hold true, the 38 recognized schools would be A. Maceo Smith, Kimball, Lincoln, Seagoville, Skyline and W.T. White. The others include Dallas Environmental Academy, Nathan Adams, Arlington Park, Bethune, Bonham, Bryan, Carpenter, Carr, Casa View, Darrell, Dealey K-6, DeZavala, Hexter, Hooe, Martin Luther King, Kleberg, Kramer, Marsalis, Marshall, Oliver, Patton, Peabody, Ray, Reagan, Reilly, Russell, Stone K-6, Seguin, Turner, Tyler, Walnut Hill, and Whitney Young. Kimball, Lincoln and Seagoville were all rated as acceptable last year. According to the preliminary data, the 14 low-performing schools would be: North Dallas High School, Hulcy Middle School, Blair, City Park, Henderson, Hernandez, Hogg, Houston, Macon, Milam, Peeler, Rowe, Truett, Withers elementary schools. There are 218 schools in the DISD. |