Math TAKS show growth

ECISD math TAKS results for grades five and eight show some improvement for ECISD compared to last year. No state results were available.

The numbers show 83 percent of fifth-graders passed the math TAKS compared to 80 percent last year. Also, 41 percent of fifth-grade students scored at the commended level, meaning they got a score of 90 percent or better on the test. That number is 11 percent higher than last year.

At the eighth-grade level, 70 percent passed, up from 64 percent last year. The eighth grade also had a five percent increase in commended performance, from 12 to 17 percent.

"We are very encouraged by the reports. We worked very hard to achieve this," Assistant Superintendent for Secondary Operations Steve Brown said.

Noel Elementary principal Alicia Syverson said she was pleased with the results. The school scored 89 percent for fifth-grade math scores, well above the 80 percent average for the district. The campus came up 13 points from last year and also had 47 percent of the students score at the commended level.

"Man I'm proud of my students and teachers," Syverson said.

Ector Junior High principal Tony Parris said his campus eighth-grade score of 71 percent passing increased 12 points over last year's numbers.

"It was the biggest increase in the junior highs. I hope it's an indicator of the rest of our results," he said.

He said teachers targeted students for help and provided opportunities for tutoring, including Saturdays. The commended performance level of 18 percent was slightly above the district average of 17 percent.

Both fifth- and eighth-grade students must pass the math TAKS to move on to the next grade as part of the state's student success initiative. The math re-test will be given May 19.

Cameron Elementary principal Monica Sarabia said her school saw a double-digit increase over last year, with 85 percent passing the fifth-grade math TAKS. With a new round of testing going on this week, she hopes the numbers will translate into current testing.

Tracy Taylor, Gonzales Elementary principal, said her campus improved 19 percentage points compared to first testing last year, as 88 percent of the fifth-grade class passed the math TAKS.

"I feel very confident with our future results," she said.

DISTRICT RESULTS

Fifth-grade math:

Reagan                100

Cavazos              98

Hays                    96

Blackshear          92

Travis                    91

Jordan                 89

Noel                     89

Ross                    89

Blanton               88

Gonzales             88

Ireland                 86

Gale Pond/Alamo       85

Austin                 85

Cameron              85

Burleson             83

Johnson              83

Pease                   81

Burnet                 80

Sam Houston     77

San Jacinto         76

Milam                  74

Murry Fly           71

Zavala                 71

Dowling              65

Goliad                  57

Eighth-grade math:

Bowie                    86

Ector                    71

Crockett              70

Nimitz                  69

Bonham               68

Hood                   46

Youth Center      33