July 2010 - Community Impact Newspaper

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22 | July 2010 Community Impact Newspaper • Lake Travis/Westlake Edition Education Focus Eanes Independent School District 2010 5 Forest Trail Elementary School boundaries 9 Westlake High School Elementary schools Middle schools High schools 1 7 Hill Country Middle School 6 Bee Caves Rd Barton Creek Elementary 1 6 5 2009 Statistics State District Economically Disadvantaged 56.7% 2.5% Limited English Proficient (LEP) 16.9% 1.8% Average years experience of teachers 11.2 13.8 Average actual salaries of teachers $47,159 $50,284 Subject State 2009 District 2009 District 2010 Reading 91% 99% 99% Math 82% 97% 97% Writing 93% 99% 100% Science 78% 96% 98% 4 Total students: 7,490 Social Studies 93% 99% 100% 3 2 Valley View Elementary 7 8 Bee Caves Rd District scores by grade 4 Eanes Elementary 2010 TAKS Preliminary Scores (sum of all grades tested) Sponsored by: 8 Westridge Middle School 2 Bridge Point Elementary Bee Caves Rd 360 360 29 360 Grade 3 Reading 99% Math 97% Grade 4 Reading 99% Math 99% Grade 5 Reading 98% Math 99% Grade 6 Reading 99% Math 97% Grade 7 Reading 100% Math 99% Grade 8 Reading 99% Math 98% Grade 9 Reading 99% Math 94% Grade 10 English Language Arts 98% Math 95% Grade 11 English Language Arts 99% Math 98% 9 3 Cedar Creek Elementary 1 1 1
Elementary schools Address Phone Year opened Projected 2010–2011 enrollment Community Impact Newspaper • impactnews.com July 2010 | 23 2009 TAKS Results 2010 Preliminary TAKS Scores by Grade 1 Barton Creek 1370 Patterson Road, Austin 732-9180 1991 500 Exemplary 2.1% 99% 99% 100% 96% 100% 100% 100% 99% 2 Bridge Point 6401 Cedar St., Austin 732-9200 1997 600 Exemplary 0.8% 99% 99% 99% 95% 99% 98% 97% 99% 3 Cedar Creek 3301 Pinnacle Drive, Austin 732-9120 1976 420 Exemplary 3.9% 99% 99% 99% 97% 100% 100% 100% 99% 4 Eanes 4101 Bee Caves Road, Austin 732-9100 1874 500 Exemplary 3.2% 99% 99% 100% 99% 99% 99% 99% 100% 5 Forest Trail 1203 Loop 360, Austin 732-9160 1984 600 Exemplary 1.0% 99% 99% 100% 100% 98% 99% 98% 100% 6 Valley View 1201 Loop 360, Austin 732-9140 1981 500 Exemplary 6.5% 99% 98% 100% 98% 100% 99% 97% 100% 2009 TAKS 2010 2009 Preliminary TAKS TAKS Scores by Grade Middle 7 Gidsschools Results 98% 6th Results 98% 97% 7th 98% 98% 8th 98% 7 Hill Country 1300 Walsh Tarlton, Austin 732-9220 1975 800 Exemplary 2.3% 99% 98% 99% 97% 100% 99% 100% 99% 8 West Ridge 9201 Scenic Bluff Drive, Austin 732-9240 1987 800 Exemplary 2.3% 99% 99% 99% 98% 99% 99% 99% 97% 2009 TAKS 2010 Preliminary TAKS Scores by Grade 10 High Lauselch school Bush Results 99% 95% 97% 93% 100% 100% 9th 10th 11th 9 Westlake 4100 Westbank Drive, Austin 732-9280 1969 2,400 Exemplary 2.6% 99% 95% 99% 94% 98% 95% 99% 99% TAKS testing to become STAAR testing By K. Jenney Each year schools administer the annual Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills test to students in grades 3–11. Designed by the Texas Education Agency, the state-mandated assessments measure what students have learned in particular subjects in each grade level. The tests cover subject areas including reading, writing, mathematics, science and social studies, as well as an exit-level assessment required for high school graduation. A student is required to achieve a score of 2,100 to pass; a score above 2,400 earns “commended” status. Modified versions of the test are administered to students receiving special education services. Students’ cumulative TAKS scores are tabulated and the school’s assigned one of four accountability ratings to reflect how the district and its schools are meeting educational requirements. For schools deemed academically unacceptable, the rating comes with a series of sanctions and penalties. Parents have the option of transferring their children out of the school, and the school can be reorganized by the state or even closed. The passage of former President George W. Bush’s No Child Left Behind Act in 2001 consistently increases the standards Texas schools need to meet each year. Leander ISD educators like Nancy Tarvin, executive director of elementary curriculum, and Todd Washburn, executive director of secondary curriculum, help the district ensure students’ learning is aligned to the state’s mandated curriculum, and ultimately, the topics on which they will be tested during the TAKS. “Our curriculum is focused on teaching for understanding,” Tarvin said. The district uses an online curriculum management application tool called Eduphoria, which provides assessment and data analysis. According to Washburn, the program can interpret test results in real time and provide teachers with online resources that support specific skills. From TAKS to STAAR In 2007, Texas legislators voted to repeal the TAKS in favor of a new evaluation called the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness. In the new system, which will be implemented in the 2011–12 school year, graduating high school seniors will be required to pass 12 end-of-course exams in four core subject areas: math, science, language and social studies. The first students required to meet the endof-course testing requirements to earn a diploma will be the class of 2015—current 2009 Accountability Rating 2009 Economically Disadvantaged Reading seventh graders. STAAR tests will also be administered to students in grades 3–8, with the aim of preparing them for English and algebra end-of-course exams. According to Gloria Zyskowski, TEA deputy associate commissioner of student assessment, the new tests will be significantly more rigorous and will measure a child’s performance and academic growth. To test or not to test Leander ISD parent Dale Harrison thinks standardized testing, in general, has its place. “Without standardized testing, it is difficult to compare relative performance and ensure students from different schools/ regions are provided the same level of education,” said Harrison, who admitted he T E S T STAAR T E S T TAKS VERSUS Math Reading 3rd 4th 5th Math Reading Math Reading Math knew nothing about the state’s announced transition to the STARR assessments. “I also feel that sometimes this kind of testing can get out of hand,” Harrison said. “I think one of the greatest challenges to interpreting the data is ensuring the district and the state are accurately taking into account those students who do not come from English-speaking homes.” Harrison added that having lived in Canada, California and Arizona, standardized testing in Texas receives much more attention. “Our kids spend more time preparing for and taking standardized tests here than anywhere we have lived,” Harrison said. Changes coming to standardized testing Source: Texas Education Agency Beginning with the 2011–12 school year, the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness Test will replace the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills Test. • Assesses mathematics, reading, writing, English language arts, science and social studies skills • Students tested in grades 3–11; promotion tied to test results for students in grades 3, 5 and 8 • Students must pass exit-level exams to meet graduation requirements in grade 11 • Administered with paper and pencil • 12 total end-of-course exams: algebra I, algebra II, geometry, biology, chemistry, physics, English I, English II, English III, U.S. history, world geography and world history • Grades 3–8 STAAR tests in reading and mathematics, by law, must prepare students at each grade level for the English III and algebra II end-of-course assessments. • Measure a student’s performance as well as academic growth, testing at every grade level • Assessment counts as 15 percent of student’s final grade in each subject • Administered online
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