On August 1, 2008 the Texas Education Agency for the second time in the last three years ranked the Katy ISD as "Recognized" in its preliminary accountability ratings with final ratings to be relesed in October. If you want to see other area schools go to the TEA web site at http://www.tea.state.tx.us/perfreport/account/.

Similar to other school districts, Katy ISD has more higher rated schools this year versus last year.

The TEA bases the ratings on Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills test scores of students in grades third through Eleventh, dropout rates and high school completion ratings.

Katy's 45 traditional campuses listed in this report found 16 are "exemplary", 19 are "recognized" and 10 are "academically acceptable". No KISD school received the lowest rating of " academically unacceptable".

"Exemplary" rating is very difficult to obtain and all student groups including subgroups, must score 90% or better on the TAKS test. Subgroups are broken down by race and economic status.

The fifteen elementary schools with "exemplary" ratings are: Alexander, Creech, Exley, Fielder, Griffin, Hayes, Hutsell, Katy, Kilpatrick, Nottingham Country, Pattison, Rylander, Williams, Winbon and Woodcreek. The only "exemplary" rating secondary school was McMeans which boosted its rating from "recognized" to "exemplary".

Seven Lakes High School in only its third year of existence and with graduating its first class of Seniors this past June moved up from "acceptable" to "recognized" while at the same time Taylor fell from "recognized" to "acceptable".

The TAKS test is one tool for measuring school and student progress and there is a constant debate in all circles ( education, family, community) about whether this is the best.

Does anyone out there have comments one way or the other regarding ratings, TAKS tests, or KISD? Please respond