Honored schools

Texas Monthly named Reagan Magnet and Gonzales elementaries and Nimitz Junior High as some of the state’s top public schools in its December issue.

The Austin-based magazine ranked Texas public schools in an article by the number of subjects — such as reading, math and science — in which the schools’ students excel on the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills for the past three years.

According to the article, “The Best Public Schools,” this is the fourth time and second year in a row the maga-zine has ranked the campuses.

The magazine worked with the National Center for Educational Accountability to analyze student scores on the TAKS for the past three years to determine this year’s rankings.

Campuses on the list were noted as having better performance scores on the TAKS than other schools. Junior highs, middle schools and high schools were named on the list this year because those grade level students’ improved on the TAKS compared to their past scores.

Gonzales assistant principal Sandy Arneson said she attributes the honor to the hard work and dedication of the school’s faculty and staff.

“This is certainly a reflection of the teaching that is going on there,” Arneson said, noting the teachers have a passion and willingness to improve each day.