Posted: Fri, 29 Jul 2011 04:42 PM - 14,620 Readers

By: Taylor Short

The Texas Education Agency released state accountability ratings July 29, showing overall exemplary ratings—the highest awarded—for Lake Travis and Eanes ISDs.

The annual ratings are based on student performance on the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills, as well as completion and annual dropout rates. The scores also rate the performance of students groups by race and economic criteria.

While Eanes ISD received exemplary ratings for all nine schools in 2010, one campus, West Ridge Middle School, dropped one rating down to recognized this year. This is the third consecutive year EISD has earned a district-wide exemplary rating.

Superintendent Nola Wellman said she is proud of the hard work, but that the district has even higher level of expectation to reach.

"These ratings only reinforce that our staff is committed to excellence and the success of our students,” she said in a statement.

Lake Travis ISD matched their same ratings this year, though one campus dropped a rating while another increased—Bee Cave Elementary went down to recognized and Lake Travis Elementary gained an exemplary rating.

LTISD announced their district-wide exemplary rating July 20. Interim Superintendent Susan Bohn said new state accountability measures, like new evaluations of commended performance on TAKS math and reading exams and the English language learners progress indicator, made achieving the exemplary rating more difficult than ever.

The state accountability ratings system will be revised next year as districts across Texas transition to the new state test—the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, or STAAR. Ratings awarded this year will carry over through 2012.

*  Story Contributed by: Taylor Short