Keene schools were already solid as the Rock of Gibraltar.

The high school, junior high, elementary and alternative learning center were all rated academically acceptable in 2008.

But Superintendent Kevin Sellers and the board of trustees raised the bar.

Teachers, staff and students met the challenge with an overall recognized rating for 2009.

Keene joined Grandview and Rio Vista as the only recognized districts in the county.

Keene’s elementary and junior high were exemplary, the high school was recognized, and the alternative learning center was acceptable.

“We’re excited and extremely proud of the hard work that the administrators, teachers and students are doing,” Sellers said Wednesday. “The rating shows the hard work they’ve put in. We’re not going to be satisfied until we have that exemplary rating at every campus, but we’re excited to move up in the ratings.”

The high school missed exemplary because of at least one subgroup, the economically disadvantaged.

This didn’t take Sellers by surprise.

“We still have our work cut out for us,” he said. “We’ve already met at the high school level to start analyzing those scores and look at the specific subgroups that we need to address. Right now, our largest subgroup would be economically disadvantaged. If we have other subgroups, we’ve found that a high percentage of those students fall into economically disadvantaged.”

Keene is studying ways to combat that problem.

“We started a districtwide free breakfast last year because we believe that’s a really important start to the day,” Sellers said. “And we’ve instituted an activity period at both the junior high and high school. It’s not a true eighth period but an activity period. Teachers work with students who are borderline or who are struggling in a particular area. It’s an opportunity for TAKS coaches, as we call them, to meet with students and set goals.

“They do that with each of the students. They look at the scores and set a goal with the student for what the student needs to work toward. If the student scores 82 on a particular test, then the teacher and student would look at the objectives. We set goals through benchmarking throughout the year.”

It’s key, Sellers said, for teachers to help students early in the game, before students fall so far behind they can hardly be helped.

“It’s important that teachers work closely with students on a regular basis, benchmarking and addressing the needs of the students before they aren’t successful. If the teacher sees that the student is not doing well, it can be corrected early.”

Keene teachers have bought into the importance of the activity period.

“Our teachers have the attitude of ‘whatever it takes,’ ” Sellers said. “One thing I’ve discovered in nine years is that our teachers and staff are not just here for a career. They’re here for the kids. I also have to say thank you to the school board. They’ve approved my recommendations for staff, supplies and budget. We’re able to give the staff and teachers the tools they need to be successful.”

Part of the tools is aligned curriculum.

“You always look to improve curriculum, but we’ve come a long way in aligning it so when those students move on to the next grade level, they understand what they’re going to have to learn,” Sellers said. “Teachers at each grade level work to align items. We’re all in this together.

“If one grade level or campus is successful, that’s nice, but the goal is for the entire district to be successful. The goal is also to graduate kids that colleges, universities and vocational schools want. Ultimately, we’re judged on kids who leave Keene ISD and go out in the world.”

Keene turned in a 91.2 percent completion rate for its class of 2008. Grandview and Rio Vista were also over 90.

“We’re instituting a dropout prevention program this year, starting at the elementary level,” Sellers said. “We have an academic camp to help fourth- and fifth-graders transitioning to junior high. Everything they do is related to core subject areas, especially science and math.

“They have several things at the junior high, including a career day. We invite people from the community and county to help give the students a variety of ideas to take to the high school. We work with college days, career days and vocational courses to give students different pathways.”

Sellers would like to see Keene’s career and vocational programs expand.

“I think it’s a must because students need those opportunities,” Sellers said. “If a student has talent in that area, and that’s what they wish to pursue, I think it’s our job to help them as best we can.”