2 grades above, 1 below average

By Philip Navarrette/reporter@trcle.com

March 28, 2008 01:42 pm

— The March 2008 reading results of the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills are in, and Cleburne ISD students in two out of three grades scored ahead of the state’s averages.
Eighth- and third-graders outscored the state’s average, while fifth-graders scored below.
In Cleburne, 93 percent of eighth-graders passed the exam, while 81 percent of fifth-graders passed and 88 percent of third-graders passed.
Statewide, 92 percent of eighth-graders passed, while fifth-graders had an 88 percent passing percentage and third-graders had 83 percent passing.
Superintendent Robert Damron said he thought the district compared well to the state’s averages.
“We were pleased with our results,” Damron said. “We got off to a great start on our TAKS, especially considering all the changes and moves we made this year.”
In August the district opened three new elementary schools, converted an early education center into another elementary and turned its intermediate school into a second middle school.
The reading results for eighth, fifth and third grade are the only TAKS results posted so far. Students take the math exam in April, while science portions come in May.
Those who did not pass the test this time have two more chances to retake the exam before the results are calculated to determine school accountability.