GISD Has Room to Improve Student Outcomes

A concerned citizen has looked at the test scores for the Round Rock ISD and found the following:

STAAR testing results have become particularly enlightening now that the archaic “Met Standard” vs. “Improvement Required” system has been replaced by the A-F accountability ratings, and domain calculations rely on weighted levels of performance. I was particularly horrified to learn from Round Rock ISD’s 2017/2018 Texas Academic Performance Report (TAPR) that passing the STAAR exam does not mean our students are performing on grade level, but rather that they are merely “approaching” grade level. For example: reading and mathematics are tested annually from grades 3 – 8. Although only 15% of students in Round Rock ISD failed the reading portion of the STAAR test at all grade levels, a full 35% of our students are reading below grade level, and will need targeted instruction in order to catch up during the following school year. Likewise, although only 11% of students in Round Rock ISD failed the math portion of the STAAR test at all grade levels, a full 33% of our students were performing below grade level. It is thanks to the STAAR test, and the TEA’s new accountability rating system that our district can finally begin addressing these academic challenges so that all of our students have a shot at developing into the best versions of themselves.

Looking at just the results for the Ford elementary school in Georgetown, the results look very similar. Here is the relevant data for 2018:

There is much analysis to be performed using this and other school data, but, just look at reading and Math that meets or exceeds grade level for 2018; 68% meet or exceed grade level in reading and 67% meet or exceed grade level in math. That means 32% and 33% respectively are failing or below grade level in reading and math.

It looks that there are tremendous opportunities to improve math and reading ability in Ford elementary.

If one examined all the schools in GISD it is likely one would see similar results.

Its time to hold the superintendent accountable for improving the outcomes in GISD. How about writing incentives into his contract to improve test scores?