FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – 8/10/2006

FOR INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Judy Everett Ramos, 817-399-2025
 

District officials got some great news from the Texas Education Agency, just in time to begin the new school year: the excellent student performance during spring 2006 has led to higher ratings from TEA.

Students outperformed their peers across the state and in neighboring districts on the 2006 Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) exams, illustrating that HEB ISD continues to be a dominant force in the public education landscape.

The Texas Education Agency recently released official state ratings, and in the HEB ISD, 17 of the district’s schools received a “Recognized” rating based on student performance on 2006 state exams, eight received an “Academically Acceptable” rating, and for the first time under the more rigorous accountability standards, two schools received a rating of “Exemplary.” The district maintained its overall rating of “Academically Acceptable.”

These incremental increases will pave the way for the district to prepare students for a competitive future when they leave HEB ISD.

"We are proud of our scores and pleased at the dramatic improvement our schools have made,” Steve Chapman, deputy superintendent for instruction, said. “We are especially proud of the fact that we had improvement in every single area of TAKS for all student groups over the previous year. We also made significant improvement in science, where most of our student groups made double-digit gains."

“We missed becoming a ‘Recognized’ rated district by eight students,” Chapman said, underscoring the importance of providing that academic “edge” to all students, so they are empowered to take responsibility for their own learning.

Dr. Buinger, superintendent of schools, said that HEB students outperformed their peers in several categories.

“We outperformed the state in every grade level in math,” he said, “and we also outperformed the state in every grade level in writing, science, and social studies. We are preparing our children for a very competitive future.”

Board members were pleased with the results, and Dr. Jeff Burnett said, “The improvement that has taken place in this district is dramatic, and we want to commend you.”

School List and State Ratings
(in campus number order, as designated by state)

LD Bell HS - Academically Acceptable

Trinity HS - Academically Acceptable

KEYS Learning Center - Academically Acceptable

Central JH - Academically Acceptable

Euless JH - Recognized

Hurst JH - Academically Acceptable

Bedford JH - Recognized

Harwood JH - Recognized

Bellaire ES - Academically Acceptable

Harrison Lane ES - Academically Acceptable

North Euless ES - Recognized

Oakwood Terrace ES - Recognized

Shady Oaks ES - Recognized

South Euless ES - Recognized

Stonegate ES - Recognized

West Hurst ES - Academically Acceptable

Wilshire ES - Recognized

Donna Park ES - Recognized

Midway Park ES - Recognized

Hurst Hills ES -
Recognized

Bell Manor ES - Recognized

Shady Brook ES - Recognized

Lakewood ES - Recognized

Bedford Hts. ES - Exemplary

Transition Program - Academically Acceptable

Spring Garden ES - Recognized

Meadow Creek ES - Exemplary

River Trails ES - Recognized

###
HEB - Empowering Today to Excel Tomorrow