19 May 2009
Schools Likely to be Removed from Academically Unacceptable List
DALLAS–After four years of posting academically unacceptable test scores and facing possible closure, H. Grady Spruce High School and W.W. Samuell High School scored significant gains on this year's administration of the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills.
The accountability ratings for both Spruce and Samuell will not be official until the Texas Education Agency analyzes results. The data, however, indicates that Spruce will be rated Academically Acceptable based upon absolute performance. Samuell is expected to be rated Academically Acceptable when the required growth indicators are factored into its results.
"This is a tremendous day for both of these campuses," said Superintendent of Schools Michael Hinojosa. "I simply cannot say enough about the principals at Samuell and Spruce or the teachers and students who worked especially hard this year. The staff worked with students after school, on weekends, even on spring break, and finally their efforts have been rewarded."
Spruce High School underwent a massive restructuring prior to this school year with the naming of a new principal and the transfer of all of its 10th and 11th grade students to Madison and Lincoln High Schools. This school year, Spruce had only 9th and 12th grade students.
"The credit for this performance belongs to the students and staff," said Spruce Principal Lucy Hackemack. "We all believed that they could rise to the occasion, and they did."
Samuell High School continued to serve students in grades 9-12 during the 2008-09 school year. Just a couple weeks prior to the beginning of school, Israel Cordero was named as the school's principal because the previous principal took a position in another school district.
"Everyone at our campus developed a sense of urgency and worked enormously hard to achieve these results," said Cordero. "This is a real team victory and we are all very proud."
In addition, the majority of the district's 12 multi-year academically unacceptable schools scored high enough to be removed from the list, with as many as eight schools reaching acceptable levels. There will, however, likely be some campuses named academically unacceptable for the first time.
"The progress at these campuses should be a source of pride for everyone who worked so hard on behalf of the students," said Leslie Williams, executive director of the Superintendent's Learning Community, who was given the responsibility to work with low-performing campuses. "Our work is not finished but it is impossible to ignore the gains at most of these campuses."
Other preliminary data indicates that 9th grade students scored a double digit gain in the percentage of students passing the mathematics exam. Gains were made in all subject areas and student groups.