<b>By Libby Cluett</b><br><a href="mailto:lcluett@mineralwellsindex.com">lcluett@mineralwellsindex.com</a>

Districts across the state received their official accountability ratings Friday afternoon, and area districts saw some tremendous gains.

The Texas Education Agency offers four possible ratings for campuses and districts – Exemplary, Recognized, Academically Acceptable and Academically Unacceptable. These are largely based on students' scores on the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills tests, but are also determined by a few other factors.

In 2008, of nine local districts and their combined 19 campuses, none were Exemplary, five districts and 11 schools were Recognized and four districts and eight schools were Academically Acceptable.

But 2009 ratings paint a much improved picture. Two districts and four schools are Exemplary, six districts and 13 schools are Recognized and one district and two schools are Academically Acceptable.

Below is a listing of the 2009 TEA accountability ratings for these districts and their campuses. Bold type denotes a campus or district that rose in accountability rating from last year.

‘Exemplary’

This rating means a school district or campus must have at least 90 percent of its students meet or exceed the TAKS standard on each subject and have a dropout rate of 2 percent or less.

2009 Exemplary districts and campuses are:

• Gordon ISD and Gordon School.

• Palo Pinto ISD and Elementary.

• Perrin Elementary.

• Santo Elementary.

“We at the school are proud of this accomplishment by the whole community,” said Palo Pinto ISD Superintendent Eric Cederstrom. This marks the district's third time to achieve this rating in the past six school years; the other three years, PPISD achieved Recognized.

“Simply, 'Exemplary' is the highest academic recognition a district can receive,” said Cederstrom. “Most importantly, it recognizes the effort and passion for success within the Palo Pinto community. Additionally, it provides a reference point to the high quality instruction the teachers provide that gives each student the opportunity to excel.”

“On a related note, those wishing to participate in the success should contact our office for student transfer applications,” he added. “I passionately believe Palo Pinto ISD is 'The Education Destination' for success. Limited transfers spots are still available at each grade level for those meeting the transfer guidelines.”

‘Recognized’

This rating generally means a school district and its students met 75 percent of the TAKS standard on each subject – Reading/English Language Arts, math, writing, social studies and science.

Last year, Gordon ISD Superintendent Jon Hartgraves explained the rating by saying, “When you move into Recognized, you’re moving out front. People start to take notice – like real estate agents. You can begin to brag a little bit.”

Recognized area districts and schools are:

• Garner ISD and Garner Elementary.

• Graford ISD, Graford Elementary and Graford High School.

• Millsap ISD, Millsap Middle School, Millsap High School and Millsap Elementary.

• Mineral Wells ISD, Mineral Wells High School, Travis Elementary, Houston Elementary and Lamar Elementary (Lamar is paired with Houston and receives the same rating).

• Santo ISD and Santo High School.

• Perrin High School.

• Strawn ISD and Strawn School.

“We are elated,” said Millsap ISD Superintendent Jerry Lee Hunkapiller. “I'm extremely proud of our staff, our students and our board of trustees.”

Not only did the district rise this year, but the middle school did too. He said Millsap High School was Recognized for the second year in a row and the elementary for the third year in a row.

Hunkapiller attributed MISD's overall gain to “hard work and dedication from everyone and a commitment to every child.”

For the first time since 2001, Mineral Wells ISD achieved Recognized.

“I am proud of the students and the teachers. As a result of their hard work, we have four campuses with Recognized status and two with Academically Acceptable,” stated MWISD Superintendent Dr. Ronny Collins.

Like Millsap ISD, Graford ISD is Recognized across the board.

“Due to hard work from our students and teachers, we are excited that our high school is again recognized,” said Graford ISD Superintendent Chance Welch of GHS's previous Recognized status in 2007.

“We were 2 percent from being Exemplary as a district and we are excited to be close to that goal,” he added.

‘Academically Acceptable’

Academically Acceptable means a district or campus met the following requirements: 70 percent on Reading/English Language Arts, writing and social studies; 55 percent in math; and 50 percent in science; or must meet required improvement.

This rating went to the following:

• Mineral Wells Academy and Mineral Wells Junior High.

• Perrin-Whitt Consolidated ISD.

This is where most of the area districts and campuses rated in 2008. Four districts and six schools rose up to Recognized. Although PWCISD remained Academically Acceptable, its two campuses rose a category in rating – Exemplary for Perrin Elementary and Recognized for the high school.

Additional factors

In smaller districts, the performance of each child is important. For some, as few as five students could affect a rating.

Not only are districts rated by how all students do in subject areas, but also by sub-categories, defined by race, ethnicity and socio-economic categories. Districts rely on overall gains but also had to meet specified goals in subgroups.

In addition to TAKS, state accountability system measures a few other factors. High schools and districts are held accountable for completion rates of students in grades nine through 12 and middle schools and school districts are held accountable for drop-out rates of students in grades seven and eight.