The National Center for Educational Achievement, a department of ACT, Inc., recognized Fort Bend ISD for having 10 schools in their district to make the 2010 NCEA Higher Performing Schools List.
NCEA’s identification of Higher Performing Schools comprises fewer than 10 percent of public schools in the state. In 2009, NCEA recognized 21 FBISD schools, which was fewer than 19 percent of public schools in Texas.
The following FBISD schools received the honor and Higher Performing (HP) recognition in the following areas:
- Austin High School – Math, Reading and Social Studies
- Clements High School – Math, Reading and Science
- Dulles High School – Math and Science
- Hightower High School – Reading and Science
- Kempner High School – Math
- Fort Settlement Middle School – Math, Reading, Science and Writing
- Sartartia Middle School – Math, Reading, Social Studies and Writing
- Colony Meadows Elementary – Math
- Commonwealth Elementary – Math and Writing
- Walker Station Elementary – All, Math, Reading, Science and Writing
The Higher Performing Schools, formerly known as Just for the Kids Schools, are identified by two measures: consistent improvement in student achievement from previous years (growth) and/or absolute student achievement using the school’s Commended Performance results on the spring 2010 TAKS (Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills) test.
NCEA’s higher performing methodology controls for school and student demographics allow for an apples-to-apples comparison of school achievement and demonstrate that with the commitment of educators, all schools can have success no matter the zip code. NCEA provided award certificates to each Higher Performing School and the district.
Aoibhann,
I was naive once upon a time. But, trust me when I say whatever your stories, I would not surprised
.
I went to the NCEA site and looked up the number of schools that were on the list in 2008 and now. It is a horrible decline but our superintendant assures us that all things are better. I am sorry but statistics can say what ever you want them to say, but awards based on merit and consistent performance mean more. Bottom line we have declined as a district.
However, a worse problem that we may be facing is that inspite of so many mandates from the states that could be chopped from the budget, the one that superintendants are ready to sacrifice is class size. It is the one mandate that is supported by huge amounts of data that says it improves the performance of students and the quality of teaching. Parents help us, as teachers, to let the board know before the budget meetings/townhall meetings in March that class size does not need to be increased. It is the one thing that benefits ALL students. regular, special, and gifted.
Thank you, Factually Speaking. You are absolutely on target. I could tell you stories that would make your hair turn 180 degrees from its current status. There is a principal now that I swear paints one of those international women’s restroom signs behind his door for every woman teacher he runs off. He is one very sick man who hates well-educated, competent women. He spends more time harassing women faculty members than he does doing his other duties. He does this rather than working to improve campus morale and other important things. Yes, I’ve seen worse (drinking, chasing skirts, stealing funds)but running off talent by bullying in critical needs areas is a crime in my book too; especially when the district’s long range mission is to improve in the very discipline that your principal is running off teachers.
If the board truly wanted to help the district’s budget and truly help the students’ futures, they’d all grow a pair and cut the fat off the top as recommended by numerous audits in the past and start paring down the athletics. Get their priorities strait.
We seen in previous decade that both the principles and teachers have been replaced for working to closely together with its community parents in helping improve school education!
I wonder why no one is discussing the huge drop in FBISD schools on this list. It has gone from 21 in 2009 to 10 in 2010????
Aoibhann,
Ditto to your commentaries.
Although principals are supposedly instructional leaders, but that is “lip service” and in “name only”. The majority of them did not teach longer enough to perfect the craft of teaching so they are actually incapable of “true” instructional leadership. Unfortunately, it is an often occurrence that school principals abuse power and run good teachers off—I have not been able to figure out the logic of why school administrators do this; to me this is not in their best interest, and certainly not in the best interest of children.
However, not everyone is in education for the best interest of children, sad but true. A lot of these administrators fancy themselves as little kingdoms of power and in essence this goes to their head and they crown themselves omnificence and so this seemingly leads to the abuse and mistreatment of teachers and all others they lord over.
Moreover, a business corporate style of management was introduced into education which is most inappropriate because children are not nuts, bolts, things, that you can screw together and make it work or deem it as malfunctioning because it does not work; and/or trace the malfunctioning parts of things and unproductively to the production crew; and then, you sit down to make your findings on pieces of paper. Teachers are not crews of workers who work with things. Teachers are professionals who are professionally trained to work with little human beings; there lies the dilema between trying to apply a corporate/business management. Human beings do not work like things.
I think I might understand what you are trying to say. But more principals run off good teachers by their abuse of power and beliefs that they were perfect teachers once themselves than you would ever believe. The first thing education needs is more parents working with their children towards their academic goals and making their children accountable rather than automatically blaming the overworked teachers and paraprofessionals. Then, as mentioned previously, cut out all these expensive specialists who treat the teachers like they have no brains and let the teachers teach….ALL of the content that’s needed in a course, not just the 35% that’s covered in a TAAS, TAKS or STAAR test. Then our colleges and universities wouldn’t have to dummy-down their curriculums.
Aoibhann; Yes, its teachers that provider to educate our students to learn, but its our principals leadership to view our teaching staff to do their job in educating our students! But when parents views that their son or duaghter are being deny help in class by both the teacher and the school principle of misleadership of lacking communication, thence the student fail th pass is grades.
If you’re trying to defend principals, then: My guess is that you’ve NEVER worked as a teacher; neither have I, but I’m quite close to a number of teachers (yes, some are even family!). That being said, I’ve aware of far more good teachers being run off by abusive principals (PALS) than good principals being run off. IN today’s educational systems, the power is almost always centered at the top and leadership is “dispensed” from above, and principals of today are more figureheads than campus leaders anymore – most are too afraid to “miscommunicate” what they’re programmed to do from above.
If you’re talking about something else (VERY POSSIBLE), then I have no clue how to respond, as I’m clueless as to what you’re saying.
Viewpoint, I’m not sure what you are trying to say regarding the principals. But just remember, it is NOT the administrators who make the difference in student performance. It is the teachers and paraprofessionals who work with the students daily (who in this district are woefully underpaid for what they must contend)and the parents who demand excellence and responsibility of their children who make the biggest difference in student achievement. I am not cognisant of last year’s NCEA results, but at first glance, the greatest number of this year’s schools are in neighborhoods where the homeowners most probably come from college-degreed backgrounds who know the value of taking advantage of a good education. I would imagine that the parents of these schools know that their children must work hard to compete for college positions and good jobs and that the hard work starts early. Kempner got in there because their math teachers worked harder than any teachers should ever have to work.
Its the principles responsiblity of having a good teachers staff in school for good students education to come, an good parent communication for good school leadership support!
Sugarland Watch; Review the 21 FBISD schools listed of 2009 to compare with this 2010? Check, if how many of these same 21 school of 2009 did any better in 2010 tobe include an list or drop from this new 2010 list? Only schools
that did better are included of this new NCEA 2010 Higher list!
Review the 21 FBISD schools listed of 2009 to compare with this 2010? Check, if how many of these same 21 school of 2009 did any better in 2010 tobe include an list or drop from this new 2010 list? Only schools
that did better are included of this new NCEA 2010 Higher list!
I wonder why there were 11 fewer FBISD schools on this achievement list in 2010 over 2009? This trend doesn’t seem to be heading in the right direction does it.
Another school principle left for a bigger school career, to help improve teachers and students educations!
Former FBISD admin. principles of some school left their jobs because they were under pay. Some they moved to other district for higher paying wage salaries!