The Tomball Independent School District announced its annual Academic Excellence Indicator System (AEIS) Report at a Jan. 11 Board of Trustees meeting and once again, district students are performing better than the state average.

Of all students in grades third through 11th who took the TAKS test in 2009, 82 percent met the minimum passing standards, compared to 74 percent of students in the state and 76 percent in Region IV, of which Tomball ISD is a member.

In fact, Tomball ISD outscored the state and region in every subject area in 2009: reading/ELA, math, writing, science and social studies.

The district’s highest scores came in social studies (96 percent), reading/ELA (95 percent) and writing (95 percent).

The report gathers cumulative data from last year’s TAKS standardized testing and compares the scores to past years in the district, as well as state and regional averages to gauge a school district’s academic performance.

But while the scores once again top state and regional averages, the district is perhaps seeing a peak in the scores it can reasonably expect. The 82 percent passing rate for all students remains unchanged from last year and social studies, math and writing each saw averages drop by one percent.

“We had a very good year in 2008,” Tomball ISD Director of Curriculum Dr. Randy Reedy said. “Keep in mind the closer you get to 100 percent, the harder it is to improve.”

With “Academically Acceptable” standards increasing for this school year in some subject areas, it may be difficult for Tomball ISD scores to get much higher than they are now.

Math (from 55 to 60 percent passing rate) and science (from 50 to 55 percent passing rate) are each seeing their standards increased this year.

The AEIS report also announces district and campus ratings for the 2008-09 school year. This year, three district schools earned Exemplary ratings: Lakewood Elementary, Willow Creek Elementary and Beckendorf Intermediate, which closed after last school year.

Canyon Pointe, Decker Prairie, Northpointe Intermediate, Tomball Intermediate and Tomball High School each earned Recognized ratings.

Receiving Academically Acceptable ratings were Tomball Elementary, Tomball Junior High and Willow Wood Junior High.

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