Local schools meet state standards

Clarendon and Hedley schools met the state’s expectations during standardized testing this spring, according to information released by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) last week.

The state released the 2016 state accountability ratings for more than 1,200 school districts and charters, as well as more than 8,600 campuses statewide.

The ratings reveal that approximately 94 percent of school districts and charters across Texas have achieved the rating of Met Standard, including Clarendon and Hedley ISDs.

Clarendon exceeded the state’s target scores in all indices as a district as whole as well as on its high school, junior high, and elementary campuses.

In the Student Achievement Index with a target score of 60, CISD scored 80, CHS received an 81, CJH was a 77, and Clarendon Elementary earned an 81.

“We’re always glad to meet state standards,” CISD Superintendent Mike Norrell said. “We always want to do the best we can, and this reflects the hard work of our staff and students.”

Hedley ISD is scored as a whole instead of by campuses, and that school received a score of 84 in Student Achievement.

“With all the challenges the state keeps throwing at us, we’re very happy to meet standard and do so well,” HISD Superintendent Colby Waldrop said. “We’re just proud of how hard our students and faculty worked to keep us at a high standard.”

Districts, campuses, and charters receive one of three ratings under the accountability system: Met Standard, Met Alternative Standard, or Improvement Required. The 2016 ratings are based on a system that uses a range of indicators to provide greater detail about the performance of a district or charter and individual campuses throughout the state.

Campuses that receive an accountability rating of Met Standard are also eligible for distinction designations. Distinction designations are awarded to campuses based on achievement on performance indicators compared to a group of 40 campuses of similar type, size and student demographics. Distinction designations will be publicly released by Sept. 16.

For the 2015-2016 school year, the number of campuses achieving a rating of Met Standard or Met Alternative Standard increased compared to the previous years, while the number of campuses receiving a rating of Improvement Required decreased.

To view the 2016 state accountability ratings for districts, charters and campuses, visit the Texas Education Agency website at http://tea.texas.gov/2016Accountability.aspx.