The state accountability ratings released by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) declared that Tomball ISD has maintained its Recognized rating for two consecutive years. Accountability ratings are based on Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) scores. Improvements in math and science contributed to Tomball ISD maintaining the Recognized rating.

“I am very proud of students, teachers and administrators for working hard to maintain our Recognized rating,” Superintendent John Neubauer said.  “In 2010, the district made history by earning a Recognized rating for the first time.”

Tomball ISD’s campuses also performed well. Four schools including Canyon Pointe Elementary, Creekside Forest Elementary, Willow Creek Elementary and Northpointe Intermediate received Exemplary ratings. Three schools earned Recognized and five earned Academically Acceptable. 

According to Dr. Randy Reedy, director of accountability, the district made gains within specific demographic groups. 

“Our economically disadvantaged and African American demographic groups met the required improvement for the recognized level,” Reedy said. “All of our other demographic groups achieved the recognized or exemplary levels in math, science, reading and social studies.” 

The demographic groups are broken down as African American, Hispanic, white, and economically disadvantaged students. Reedy stressed that gains within the demographic groups are an indication that targeted instruction is impacting the areas where the district needs the most improvement.

Tomball ISD will hold the Recognized rating for the next two years because the State of Texas is implementing a new test to measure accountability. The State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) is a more rigorous exam that will measure grade level improvement as well as a student’s readiness for the next grade level. The STAAR test will also include 12 end-of-course exams for high school courses. Ratings such as Exemplary, Recognized and Academically Acceptable will no longer exist.  Instead, the STAAR accountability system will indicate if districts and schools have or have not met the new state standard.

Regardless of the change in the accountability rating system, Reedy stated that Tomball ISD is working toward all students passing state assessments. 

“We want all of our students to succeed academically,” Reedy said. “We have made great improvements, but we have more work to do.”

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