AISD: Improvements while the TEA raises its pass rate requirements

While everyone is still waiting for the release of the Pearce Middle School repurposing plan, there are still another 199 Austin ISD campuses to worry about. This afternoon, the Texas Education Agency has released the 2009 accountability reports, which show some district-wide improvement but some troubled campuses.

The district itself stays academically acceptable. The total number of exemplary and recognized campuses has risen, and those judged academically unacceptable (AU) has dropped slightly. However, the stats confirm that Pearce missed the TEA’s grades, and Reagan High School and Garcia Middle are both still on the list. Interestingly, all the elementaries on last year’s list are saved this year, but three new middle schools go on it. That may raise questions about the testing as much as the schools.

Districtwide, here’s the breakdown (2008 stats in parentheses):

Exemplary 24 (15)

Recognized 30 (19)

Academically acceptable 45 (63)

Academically unacceptable 9 (11)

Alternative Education Acceptable 6 (5)

Special facilities – Not rated 6 (6)

Total 120 (119)

The AU campuses are (number of years AU in brackets):

High schools: Reagan (4), Travis (1), LBJ (1), Eastside Memorial (1)

Middle Schools: Garcia (2), Lamar (1), Martin (1), Mendez (1), Pearce (5)

Seven schools made it out of AU status:

High Schools: Crockett

Elementary: Becker, Travis Heights, Norman, Winn, Hart, Overton

Find the full reports for the district here.

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The Chronicle's first Culture Desk editor, Richard has reported on Austin's growing film production and appreciation scene for over a decade. A graduate of the universities of York, Stirling, and UT-Austin, a Rotten Tomatoes certified critic, and eight-time Best of Austin winner, he's currently at work on two books and a play.