Dallas Independent School District' 3rd through 8th graders posted all-time highs and gains in nearly every category on this year's Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAAS). In addition, African American and Hispanic students continued to narrow the achievement gap with Anglo students.

"These results are excellent across the board," said General Superintendent James H. Hughey. "I can't say enough about how pleased we are with these scores. My hat is off to the hard work by our teachers, staff and students."

Dallas students scored all-time highs in reading in 5 of 6 grades tested, all-time highs in mathematics in 5 of 6 grades tested and all-time highs in both grades tested in writing. The highest gains posted this year were in the areas of 3rd grade reading (up 9 points), 4th grade reading (up 11 points), 5th grade reading (up 7 points) and 8th grade math (up 12 points). There were gains of 6 points or better in 8 of 19 categories tested.

Also of significance is that while test scores improved throughout the state, Dallas students' growth gains were markedly higher than other students across the state. For example, the percentage of 3rd graders who passed the reading test statewide went up 5 points. In Dallas, the percentage went up 9 points. This trend was repeated in 9 of 19 categories, with the same gain as the state in 6 of 19 categories.

"Our students are outpacing other students throughout the state of Texas," said Board President Hollis Brashear. "At this pace, it won't be long before we catch up with the state average."

The gains cut across ethnic lines as well. District African American students posted all-time high scores in 17 out of 19 categories with Anglo and Hispanic students scoring gains in 14 categories. Overall, at least 60% of Dallas students passed the TAAS tests in every category except 8th grade Social Studies.

"For the past two years we have seen remarkable gains at every grade level on the TAAS," said Hughey. "This is important news that will only help us as we work to re-establish the confidence of the community in our school district."

Comparative totals show the true gains, particularly among ethnic groups, For example, the percentage of Hispanic 3rd graders who passed the reading portion of the test rose 15 points--from 61% passing last year to 76% this year, reversing a 3-year downward trend. Since 1994, the percentage of African American 4th graders who passed the reading test has gone from 35% passing to 62% passing.

"We should be encouraged with how minority students are closing the achievement gap with Anglo students," said Brashear. "For instance, minority students' gains nearly doubled that of Anglo students in most every category. At the same time, Anglo scores continue to improve as well."

While the scores indicate improvement throughout Dallas, there are still many areas which need improvement. The Texas Education Agency has raised the bar in its criteria to determine low-performing schools. The percentage of students by ethnicity needing to pass each test has been raised from 35 to 40 percent. Any lower percentage of students by ethnicity who pass a sub-test (for example: mathematics) means that a school will be designated low-performing.

"Despite our gains, we're likely to have a few more low-performing schools this year than last year," said Hughey. "That's understandable with the raising of the criteria. We'll work as hard AS we can during the summer and the school year to raise the number of students passing these tests. There is obviously room for improvement. Overall, however, we should be encouraged by these results."

Other findings show: • African American students scored higher than ever in 5 of 6 grades in reading, with significant gains in grades 4, 5, and 8. Math scores were up in grades 3, 4, 5, and 8. Math scores showed impressive gains in grade 4 where the scores went up from 53 to 62; in grade 6, up from 67 to 74; and grade 8 with scores up from 52 to 67. African American students were the only student group to show improvement on the 8th grade science test.

"This indicates that the Dallas National Science Foundation initiative in science and math is working," said Dr. Hughey.

• Math scores among Hispanics showed improvement over last year's scores, particularly among eighth graders—from 58 percent passing to 70 percent passing; and 78% of Hispanic fifth graders passing over last year's 71%.

• Anglo students scores went up in almost every category with gains in 5th grade mathematics up from 83 last year to 88.

These test scores do not include scores from Dallas' 21 year-round schools. Information on those schools is still being compiled.

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