Preliminary TAKS scores are out; most county schools score well
Rusk may receive recognized status for 2 campuses once scores are finalized
BY GLORIA JENNINGS

Most Cherokee County school districts scored well in the state preliminary TAKS results.

Dr. Jim Largent, superintendent for Rusk ISD, said last week, "If the numbers stay like the estimates we will have at least one recognized campus and possibly more when the final results are announced in August."

Overall the district improved in 19 out of 27 areas. "I looked at the 2007 and 2008 scores for one group of kids and I saw improvement in 13 out of 18 areas tested," he said. "We have shown a significant improvement in our district. We have finally gotten to the point where everyone confers with the curriculum for our individual students. We have brought in outside consultants and we are using labs to help those students who need special help," Dr. Largent said.

The high school was tagged last year because of test results for one sub-group. "This year we have no doubt that the school would be acceptable. We have improved in 10 out of 11 tests. One group that scored 57 percent last year has increased to 94 percent this year."

Rusk ISD has begun to get consistent scores in the 80s and 90s percent. "I feel really good this year. I am tickled with the principals, the staff and the kids who took the tests seriously and proved we have quality instruction," said Dr. Largent.

Alto's superintendent also feels positive after the preliminary results. "I am extremely pleased with our increases in TAKS scores. We will definitely be off the unacceptable rating that we received this time last year," Dr. Ray De Spain, superintendent at Alto ISD said. He added that the middle school will be close to being a recognized campus. "It might fall a little short because of the science score," he said.

"I had a synopsis of what our numbers look like. We figure up our percentages, and how our ratings would be. We have improved, and in some areas, more than 20 percentage points," he continued.

Alto high school's average math score was 50 percent and is now 71.7 percent. "That's a big gain in high school math. Last year, our score for social studies was 80.3 percent. It is now 95.3 percent," Dr. De Spain said.

"We did a lot of after-school tutorials and curriculum alignment to remove gaps. We put in Monday night tutoring and from 3:30- 4:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. Teachers worked with students before school and during lunch hours. Those things have paid off.

"I think, I am not the most popular guy in Alto. We have increased the school day from 3 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Five extra minutes were added to each class period. That makes a difference," Dr. De Spain said.

He quipped, "Maybe we'll extend it (school day) from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m."

Dr. De Spain said he believes TAKS will be replaced. Students will be tested at the end of course at each grade level.

Stuart Bird, Jacksonville ISD superintendent, said, "I am well pleased with our results but a little disappointed that we did not have more campuses move up a rating. We will get there next year. We think we will have two recognized campuses and all the others will be acceptable. Both recognized schools missed being exemplary by one and two percentage points in one area. Three others of the acceptable campuses missed by narrow margins as well. We are proud of our progress and motivated to have more exemplary and recognized campuses next year."

Judy Terry, curriculum coordinator for Jacksonville ISD said, "Our campuses have been very focused on student achievement this year. Next year our focus will be in the area of math and science and a focus on the ninth grade year for our students. We will be focused on increasing the ratings as well as the scores."

Wells ISD Superintendent Dale Morton declined to share TAKS test scores with the Cherokeean Herald this year. He said he wanted to wait until the final scores are released in August.

Because class sizes in Wells are often as small as 10-13 students, one child who tests poorly can cause a wide variance in the scores when comparing one year to the next. Mr. Morton told the Cherokeean Herald he prefers to withhold the scores to protect the identities of those children.

New Summerfield ISD is another small school district in Cherokee County. While Superintendent Greg Weiss released test scores to the Cherokeean Herald, the TAKS test scores may not be an accurate reflection of academic standing.

While New Summerfield gained in some categories, such as fifth grade math with a 50- point increase, other subject and grade areas show a drop when comparing 2006 and 2007. Superintendents say these disparities are to be expected in small classroom settings.

New Summerfield Superintendent Weiss said his district has shown gains in many areas such as fourth grade reading and fifth grade math.

"We have hired some excellent personnel this year and had good teachers who have stayed here for a few years. This helps bring consistency to our district," he said.

"Some of our gaps that needed attention were early intervention. We have bi-lingual and English as a Second Language personnel looking to build reading scores. This will increase our math and science scores as well," Mr. Weiss said.