The Denton school district received its first “recognized” rating since the state’s implementation of the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills, or TAKS, exam.

The Texas Education Agency released its annual ratings of public schools and districts Friday.

Three other area school districts — Argyle, Pilot Point and Sanger — improved their overall ratings as well.

Argyle earned an “exemplary” rating overall; the other districts in northern Denton County earned “recognized” ratings.

Denton also increased its number of schools earning the state’s top accountability rating.

The district earned recognized ratings 2002 through 2004 under the previous test, Texas Assessment of Academic Skills, or TAAS. This year, the number of Denton campuses earning an exemplary rating and the number earning a recognized rating both rose from 10 to 13. Five Denton schools were rated academically acceptable.

Student performance on the TAKS test increased this year, with the largest gains seen in math and science. Sixth, ninth, 10 and 11th grades made gains in science, with passing rates improving 11 to 15 percentage points. Rivera Elementary School improved its passing rate on science exams to 90 percent, from the previous year’s 69 percent, while Denton High School’s rate increased 11 percentage points.

“I think the thing I’m most proud of is the actual gains from the previous year and particularly in the area of math and science. We’ve got gains in 24 out of 25 areas,” Superintendent Ray Braswell said. “The ratings obviously are a bonus, a plus, and we certainly want to celebrate that and enjoy that — but the fact is that we’re just continuing to see improvement, and that’s really and truly where we want to focus on is getting better this year.

“When you look at the real success of this, you’ve got teachers and students along with the other support really, really doing well, and I congratulate all of them.”

Braswell said he’d now like to see math and science scores climb even higher to match the district’s scores in reading, writing and social studies.

Braswell said student performance was helped by campus benchmarks, a curriculum-based assessment that allows teachers to monitor student performance throughout the year and identify areas where students may struggle.

The 2010-11 year will mark the final year of the TAKS system. Ratings earned next year will stay with the district two years as the new state assessment is phased in, Braswell said, so the district will look to make improvements in performance scores while preparing for the new assessment.

“Really what we’re focusing on is not the ratings but the importance of improvement each year, because if they [students] improve each year, the ratings will take care of themselves,” Braswell said.

Accountability ratings are determined based on student performance on TAKS exams, completion and dropout rates.

The TEA reported that 239 districts and 2,624 schools earned exemplary ratings for 2010, while 597 districts and 3,153 schools were recognized and 298 districts and 1,456 schools were academically “acceptable.”

Statewide, 45 districts and 125 schools received the state’s lowest rating, academically “unacceptable.”

Some of the improved ratings came from exceptions or progression measures, such as the Texas Projection Measure, which takes into account both the students who passed the test and the students who did not pass the test but likely will pass in a future grade.

That measure has drawn some controversy in recent months, and Education Commissioner Robert Scott said Friday in a news release that he will consider changing how the measure is used for 2011. His decision is due in the spring.

Jamie Wilson, deputy superintendent for Denton schools, said the measure helped his district earn its recognized status. The measure is important because it takes into account the progress a student made even if that student started the year behind, Wilson said.

“We expect all our kids to learn, but it’s just that sometimes it takes certain kids longer,” he said. “So time is the variable. We continue to allow them more time on TAKS and more time learning … because the learning is non-negotiable.”

Of the districts in the county’s northern region, Argyle was the only one to earn an exemplary rating.

Superintendent Telena Wright attributed the improvement to curriculum coordinators, which Argyle campuses did not have in the past. Argyle also focused on the remediation of specific TAKS objectives and offered mandatory TAKS classes.

Ultimately, the successes that were met without the assistance of TPM were that of “talented students, dedicated staff, [a] supportive board [and] supportive parents,” Wright said.

“We’re very, very excited. This is very, very good for the district,” she said.

Jackie McBroom, Sanger assistant superintendent for educational services, called his district’s improvement to recognized status the best since the 2003 academic year.

He attributed the improvement to teacher and principal commitment to students, a new curriculum implemented in 2009-10, and the hiring of new math and science specialists who worked to improve performance in secondary schools. He said the district saw its best improvement in science performance.

The district recently introduced the Optional Flexible Year Program, which works with students who may have struggled with a portion of the TAKS for 10 additional days during summer break. With that, McBroom said, he hopes performance will continue to improve next year.

“I was very, very proud. We’ve come a long way in a short time and obviously the teachers deserve all the credit,” he said. “I’m very proud and gratified by our success.”

To view a complete listing of accountability ratings for every state district and school, visit http://tea.state.tx.us.

BRITNEY TABOR can be reached at 940-566-6876. Her e-mail address is btabor@dentonrc.com.

SCHOOL RATINGS

The chart shows the 2009 and 2010 accountability ratings for school districts and schools in northern Denton County. Several schools were helped by the Texas Projection Measure, which gives schools credit for students who failed the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills test but are projected to pass in the future. Others earned credit under the state’s “required improvement.”

*Denotes where ratings are based on Alternative Education Accountability state data

+Denotes schools that earned their rating without the benefits of the state’s “Required Improvement” or “Texas Projection Measures” programs.

SOURCE: Texas Education Agency

BASIS FOR THE RATINGS

The following chart shows what was required of schools and districts to meet the Texas Education Agency’s standards for 2010:

Exemplary

Test results: 90 percent passing standard for each Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills subject or meets standard with the Texas Projection Measure.

Completion/dropout data: 95 percent completion rate for the class of 2009; dropout rate of 1.8 percent or less or meets required improvement.

Recognized

Test results: 80 percent passing standard for each TAKS subject; meets 75 percent floor and required improvement or meets standard with TPM.

Completion/dropout data: 85 percent completion rate for class of 2009 or meets floor of 75 percent and required improvement; dropout rate of 1.8 percent or less or meets required improvement.

Acceptable

Test results: 70 percent passing standard for reading, writing and social studies, 60 percent for math and 55 percent for science, or meets required improvement or meets standard with TPM.

Completion/dropout data: 75 percent completion rate for class of 2009; dropout rate of 1.8 percent or less, or meets required improvement.

Unacceptable

Failure to meet acceptable standards.