Lubbock-area schools fare well in TEA ratings
For the first time in the pandemic era, the Texas Education Agency released its annual school accountability ratings this week, and following statewide trends, several local schools saw improvement since the ratings were last given in 2019, while others still have room to grow.
Schools and districts each receive a letter grade based on STAAR test results and year-over-year improvement, among other factors. Instead of the usual A-F ratings, TEA gave only A-C ratings this year, with those scoring Ds or Fs labeled "Not Rated."
More: Texas school ratings show improvement compared to 2019
In Lubbock County, Frenship and Lubbock-Cooper independent school districts each earned A ratings, with each individual school in the two districts receiving an A or B rating. Frenship ISD had four A campuses and eight B campuses; Lubbock-Cooper ISD received six As and three Bs among its schools.
"We are proud of the growth displayed by our students, which we know is a direct reflection of the dedication our teachers pour into their classes on a daily basis," Lubbock-Cooper ISD said in a statement following the release of the ratings.
"Although we accept the STAAR accountability rating as the measurement tool utilized by the Texas Education Agency to determine school success, it is important to note that this is a measurement of performance on one single test administered one single day of the school year," the statement continues. "It does not account for evidence of learning, diversity, academic needs and competency, teaching strategies, extracurricular offerings, or cumulative performance. It is an important measurement, but it is only one measurement. We will use this single rating, among several other measures, as a guide to continue enhancing learning throughout our district with intentionality and purpose."
Frenship ISD shared a similar sentiment in a statement, which reads, "Frenship ISD is proud to see improvement and receive the highest letter grade; however, no test or single letter grade can accurately reflect the complexities of educating a student or the numerous accomplishments received by students and staff each year.
"Rather than focus on a single district-wide letter grade, Frenship is, and will always be, focused on each individual student and providing them a quality education to prepare them for their future. Frenship will continue to create a thriving environment where learners maximize their potential and emerge as empowered, equipped, and diverse leaders who engage and collaborate to positively impact communities."
Lubbock ISD received an overall district rating of B. Twelve of its campuses earned an A rating, 19 were graded B, six received a C and seven were not rated because they would have received a D or F.
LISD held a news conference Wednesday to discuss the accountability ratings, including several notable improvements among its campuses from 2019 to now. In 2019, just 42% of LISD's schools were rated A or B.
"I'm excited," school board Vice President Bill Stubblefield said. "I'm hyped up about it, because this year, we're starting off with 75% (of our students) on an A or B campus. Our North Star goal is to have 80% of them by 2026 — and it's 2022! We're hyped up."
Dunbar College Preparatory Academy is one of LISD's big wins, moving from an F in 2019 to a C in 2022, which releases the campus from certain state sanctions it has been under for a decade.
"We're going to continue the great work that's going on there and continue to see improvement, but it is just such a celebration for that campus that was under so much duress for so long," said Superintendent Kathy Rollo.
Rollo also highlighted Wester Elementary, which jumped from an F to an A, and Wolffarth Elementary, which earned a high A and was the district's highest performing elementary school while serving a student population that is 97.5% in poverty.
Still, Rollo acknowledged there remains a need for improvement at some of the district's campuses.
"We still have room to grow," Rollo said. "I would say middle schools is an area that we need to continue to focus our efforts on."
"We added a counselor for middle schools. We also added an assistant principal to help with that instructional oversight, and we're continuing to provide very targeted support at our middle school campuses. Each campus is struggling in a little different way," she added.
Cavazos, Irons, Mackenzie and Slaton middle schools were not rated but would have received a D or F. Additionally, Bean Elementary, Wheelock Elementary and Matthews Academy were not rated under SB 1365, an improvement and accountability plan approved by state lawmakers.
Elsewhere in Lubbock County, New Deal ISD received an overall B grade, with the elementary school deemed not rated. Roosevelt ISD also received a B with an unrated elementary school.
Slaton ISD received a B rating overall, while Shallowater and Idalou ISDs earned As.
Plainview ISD received a B as a district, with College Hill and Highland elementary schools not rated. Levelland ISD was also given a B rating. Levelland Intermediate School was not rated.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Lubbock-area schools fare well in TEA ratings
