Go Rebels!

Big day for the staff and students at Travis High School: The Texas Education Agency has granted the Austin independent School District‘s appeal and classified the school as Academically Acceptable.

The school had initially been classified academically unacceptable because of (and this is not a joke) one child failing to graduate: In fact, that child was technically able to graduate, but had decided to stick around part-time and take extra classes. Throw that fact into the the state’s ridiculously complex and punitive accountability matrix, and a school with issues gets tarred as “failing.”

One could argue that this correction is a little too late, since the League of United Latin American Councils has been using this incorrect rating as part of its campaign to oust Principal Rene Garganta. However, this will keep the vultures of anti-public school sentiment away for another year.

AISD’s press release in full:

TEA Grants Appeal for Travis High School Accountability Rating

Improved Student Achievement Never in Question

Campus Now Rated Academically Acceptable

The Austin School District today received notification from Commissioner of Education Robert Scott that the appeal of the state accountability rating for Travis High School has been granted. Thus, Travis High School moves from Academically Unacceptable to Academically Acceptable for 2009. This means that 100 of Austin’s 114 campuses, or 88 percent, met or exceeded the challenges of the state’s increasing accountability standards for 2009.

Travis students met all Academically Acceptable standards for 2009, based upon academic performance. The Academically Unacceptable designation was initially issued by TEA because of the way in which one Travis student, who had already met all the requirements for graduation, was counted as a “non-completer,” because the student continued to be enrolled, part-time, taking additional classes.

I am delighted that the Texas Education Agency reviewed our record of success and granted the appeal,” said Travis High School Principal Rene Garganta. “This reflects positively on the efforts of everyone on our campus: our teachers, our students and our parents. I look forward to continuing to work with the Travis community for the educational advancement of our students.”

This article appears in October 23 • 2009.

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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.