August 1, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:Megan Overman, Public Information Officer
Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District
817-251-5503

Eight GCISD campuses earn Exemplary status
District makes gains yet maintains Acceptable rating

Eight Grapevine-Colleyville ISD schools achieved the state’s highest rating of Exemplary, according to a report released Wednesday by the Texas Education Agency. Although the district was close, it did not meet the standards needed to achieve a Recognized rating. GCISD’s overall district rating remains at Academically Acceptable.

“I am so proud that we had eight campuses meet Exemplary status this year, and of the strides we have made in the area of commended performance,” said Superintendent Dr. Kay Waggoner. “We are disappointed as a district that we fell short of Recognized status, but we are so close to reaching that goal and will continue our efforts to inspire, encourage and empower students to achieve their maximum potential.”

Schools earning Exemplary ratings are Bransford Elementary, Colleyville Elementary, Dove Elementary*, Glenhope Elementary, Grapevine Elementary, Heritage Elementary, OC Taylor Elementary and Colleyville Middle School.

Recognized campuses are Bear Creek Elementary*, Cannon Elementary, Silver Lake Elementary and Heritage Middle School.

Timberline Elementary, Cross Timbers Middle*, Grapevine Middle*, Colleyville Heritage High and Grapevine High are rated as Academically Acceptable. Bridges Accelerated Learning Center also rated Academically Acceptable under the TEA’s Alternative Education Accountability procedures.

The ratings are based on the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills taken in April by Texas students in grades 3-11. Throughout the 2006-2007 school year, GCISD teachers, campus leaders and administrators targeted several specific areas in an effort to increase student performance. As a result, spring TAKS results showed improved student performance on 20 of the 27 tests administered.

Commended rates also increased in 19 of the 27 subject areas tested, with double-digit increases in the areas of science and reading in certain grades. In science, fifth-grade commended scores rose 10 percent over last year from 42 to 52 percentage points. In reading, sixth-grade scores increased 11 percent from 61 to 72 points. The largest increase in commended performance is in fourth-grade reading, where rates went up 13 percent – from 36 to 49 percent.

“Increasing commended performance, strengthening our ESL program and improving overall student performance have been the focus of our teachers and administrators for the past several years,” said Dr. Karen Vance, director of Assessment, Evaluation and Research. “While we saw growth in these areas this year, we also saw areas that need additional improvement and those will remain a focus for the upcoming school year.”

*Indicates a change in accountability rating from 2006.