Published: August 19, 2009 10:33 am      

Two campuses achieve exemplary rating

For the first time since 2003, Alvarado ISD has an exemplary campus. Two, actually.

Elementary North and Lillian Elementary were named exemplary schools by the Texas Education Agency when the statewide accountability ratings were released.

The district as a whole was academically acceptable for the ninth straight year. Four individual schools were academically acceptable.

Based on overall scores, the district would have had one other exemplary campus, but subpopulation scores at Elementary South kept it an academically acceptable campus.

At Alvarado Junior High, science scores kept the school from being recognized, despite an increase of eight points from 58 to 66 percent.

“We have made progress from last year,” said Ellen Cooper, assistant superintendent of instruction. “That is a very good sign that we are making the right academic decisions for our students, but it does not mean we are satisfied.”

The district narrowly missed meeting adequate yearly progress standards required by the annual federal evaluation system.

Each campus except one met its AYP, but the district’s graduation rate kept the district from meeting its goal.

The graduation rate needed to improve by 2.2 percent, but there was an improvement of only 1.9 percent.

“Even though our much-improved scores might tempt us to pause and take a breath, we are pressing harder than ever until we receive the exemplary rating for our entire district,” said Chester Juroska, Alvarado ISD superintendent.