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The Texas Education Agency (TEA) released the results of the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) exam.  Although TEA has not released the passing standards for the STAAR exam, Tomball ISD’s students scored very well on the new state assessment. 

“As we look at the raw scores, it is apparent that in most areas our students scored better than students in our surrounding school districts,” John Neubauer, superintendent of schools, said.  “I am very pleased with our results.” 

As students and teachers prepared for the test last year, there were many uncertainties for all public schools.  Tomball ISD administrators knew that the test would align with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills curriculum that all public schools use, but administrators were uncertain of the test format and the design of the test questions.  The test was also timed, which presented a new challenge for students.  Furthermore, TEA did not provide school districts with the passing rates for the STAAR exam. 

“Despite a great deal of uncertainty, our teachers and students are to be commended for a job well done,” Neubauer said.

As a result of TEA implementing a new testing system, students in different grade levels took various tests.  Although students in grades three through eight took the STAAR test, students in grades seven through nine took STAAR End of Course (EOC) exams if they were taking a course requiring an EOC test.  Sophomores and juniors in high school took the TAKS test.  As students in these grade levels graduate, the TAKS test will be replaced by the STAAR EOC exams for all grades at the high school level.

Tomball ISD’s STAAR test results indicated that students in grades three through eight scored higher than the state scores on the reading, writing, math, science, and social studies STAAR tests.  Junior high and high school freshmen students scored higher than the state scores on the reading, writing, algebra I, geometry, science, and social studies STAAR EOC exams.  Sophomores and juniors who took the English language arts, math, algebra I, science, and social studies TAKS tests also scored higher than the state scores.

Neubauer expects the STAAR passing rates to be released by TEA in 2013.  “Even though we are still waiting on the passing standards, we remain committed to academic excellence,” Neubauer said.  “I am confident that our students and teachers will do their best as they prepare for the second administration of the STAAR and EOC exams.”