Clarendon TAKS scores ‘acceptable’

Clarendon Independent School District received a rating of Academically Acceptable from the state’s accountability system this year due to increased standards.

The ratings are partly based on Texas Assessment of Knowledge & Skills (TAKS) scores. This year, in order to meet a Recognized rating, 15 – 24 percent of students must have commended performance scores, and 25 percent and up to be Exemplary. The state also removed the use of the Texas Projection Measure (TPM) this year, which did not count students who would fail but were projected to pass in the future.

Clarendon Elementary received a Recognized rating, down from an Exemplary rating the previous two years. Clarendon Junior High went up from Academically Acceptable last year to Recognized this year.

Clarendon High received a rating of Academically Acceptable, same as last year.

“We made gains all in all,” Superintendent Monty Hysinger said. “Especially considering more kids were brought into the accountability system this year.”
On the TAKS across the district, Clarendon had 94 percent of students pass the reading/English language arts portion of the test, down from 95 percent last year; 94 percent in writing, down from 96 percent; 99 percent in social studies, up from 95 percent; 84 percent in math, up from 82 percent; and 93 percent in science, up from 92 percent.

“We appreciate the hard work of the teachers and students,” Hysinger said. “Now we will start studying and preparing for the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) test, which will replace the TAKS test this year.”

Clarendon TAKS results for Clarendon Elementary are as follows – reading 96 percent, down from 98 percent last year; writing 97 percent, down from 100 percent; mathematics 93 percent, up from 92 percent; and science 90 percent, down from 100 percent.

“Overall, we had a good year,” Elementary principal Mike Word said. “Our commended performance went up and it’s nice to see that. I hope to see that continue in the Elementary building. We have really great teachers and a good curriculum.”

Clarendon Jr. High results– reading/English language arts 88 percent, same as last year; writing 92 percent, up from 91 percent; social studies 99 percent, up from 92 percent; mathematics 79 percent, up from 71 percent; and science 91 percent, up from 82 percent.

“Given the increased standards, the TPM being taken away and the added commended requirement, receiving a Recognized ranking shows how hard our teachers worked, how well our students performed, and that we’re the best Jr. High in the state,” Jr. High principal John Taylor said.

Clarendon High School results– reading/English language arts 96 percent, down from 97 percent last year; social studies 99 percent, up from 96 percent; mathematics 82 percent, same as last year; and science 95 percent, up from 93 percent.

Hedley Independent School District received a rating of Recognized again this year.

Across the district, Hedley had 98 percent of students pass the reading/English language arts portion, same as last year; 92 percent in writing, down from 100 last year; 86 percent in social studies, down from 91 percent; 93 percent in mathematics, up from 76 percent; and 76 percent in science, up from 74 percent last year.

“We were just a few kids short of reaching the Exemplary rating,” Principal David O’Dell said. “The teachers have worked extremely hard and I’m proud of them.”