EDITORIAL: ACADEMICS

Singing the praises of success at Austin area schools

AUSTIN AMERICAN STATESMAN
EDITORIAL BOARD
Friday, September 04, 2009

There are schools in the Austin district that are soaring academically and being recognized for their success. It is necessary to say so because high performing schools are often overlooked as the media and public focus on the low performers. So let's take a moment to recognize schools doing a good job.

This week, the Texas Business and Education Coalition announced 254 Texas schools that made its honor roll, and Austin had five campuses among that select group.

Congratulations to Doss, Highland Park and Pillow elementary schools, Kealing Middle School and Anderson High School.

Honor roll status is not easy to get; just 4 percent of Texas schools earned the honor. The selection is based on schools' performance on state standardized tests, grades and student demographics.

It's worth noting some of the features that have made Austin schools so successful. Anderson High School has the acclaimed International Baccalaureate program. Last year, the school produced 25 students who were National Merit Scholarship finalists, commended scholars or national Hispanic recognized students. It has an award-winning speech and debate team and high community support.

Doss, Pillow and Highland Park are designated Blue Ribbon Schools for their academic superiority. All three were ranked exemplary — the equivalent of an A — on the state's 2009 report card. And no school exceeds Doss when it comes to parental involvement: It has 100 percent PTA membership.

You would be wrong to think that it was just the high-flying magnet school at Kealing that got it on the honor roll. It was the entire campus — the big-brain science and liberal arts magnet kids and traditional students of various races and income levels — that elevated the school.

In recent times, Austin schools have endured not only harsh scrutiny but also sanctions because they failed to meet state standards. This year, failure to meet state standards triggered the forced overhaul of Pearce Middle School — the second Austin school sanctioned in two years. Last year, Johnston High was ordered closed for failing to meet state standards.

New schools Superintendent Meria Carstarphen shoulders a difficult task in avoiding more campus closures for low performance. Reagan High School has failed to meet standards for four consecutive years. But Austin should not be judged solely by performance of its low-performing schools. Keep in mind that 99 campuses met or exceeded state standards for 2009, with 54 of those receiving top grades — exemplary or recognized.

We also want to congratulate the Round Rock school district that had eight schools named to the honor roll. They are: Cactus Ranch, Canyon Creek, Fern Bluff, Great Oaks, Laurel Mountain and Spicewood elementary schools; Canyon Vista Middle School; and Westwood High School.

Pflugerville schools that made the honor roll are Parmer Lane and Timmerman elementary schools. The Eanes school district had three campuses on the honor roll: Barton Creek and Forest Trail elementary schools and West Ridge Middle School. Lake Travis' Lake Pointe and Lakeway elementary schools were honored, too.

In announcing the honor roll schools, TBEC said the selection criteria for 2009 were the toughest in the 10-year history of the award. All schools were expected to improve their commended performance from 2008.

To celebrate those schools, TBEC is throwing a bash in their honor in November that is sponsored by H-E-B and IBM.

Please join us in applauding all of the 254 schools for their outstanding performance and hard work.

http://www.statesman.com/opinion/content/editorial/stories/2009/09/04/0904schools_edit.html