Traditional school districts in San Antonio met state standards

Nearly 50 schools in Bexar County were labeled 'improvement required' in the Texas Education Agency's 2014 school ratings. For a charter district to have its charter revoked, it must receive that label three years in a row in academic or financial performance ratings. Based on that state law, five of the schools on this list had their charters revoked Tuesday. To see how your child's school performed, search our database. less Nearly 50 schools in Bexar County were labeled 'improvement required' in the Texas Education Agency's 2014 school ratings. For a charter district to have its charter revoked, it must receive that label three ... more Photo: HELEN L. MONTOYA, San Antonio Express-News Photo: HELEN L. MONTOYA, San Antonio Express-News Image 1 of / 75 Caption Close Traditional school districts in San Antonio met state standards 1 / 75 Back to Gallery

SAN ANTONIO — Despite changes to the way public schools are graded, all San Antonio school districts continued to meet state standards this year — a contrast to a bleaker statewide snapshot that showed fewer Texas districts making the cut.

And two of the five charter school districts here that were rated as “improvement required” last year — the Henry Ford Academy Alameda School for Art + Design and the San Antonio Technology Academy — received a “met standard” or “met alternative standard” designation this year. The others, including the Shekinah Radiance Academy, City Center Health Careers and the Higgs Carter King Gifted and Talented Charter Academy, received a failing grade for at least the second year in a row. The total number of failing charter school districts jumped from five to eight this year.

About 90 percent of the state's 1,200 school districts received a “met standard” designation this year, down from close to 93 percent of school districts last year, Texas Education Agency officials said Friday.

Schools and school districts are rated as either “met standard” or “improvement required” based on how well they do across four “indexes” that measure student performance, student progress, the closing of performance gaps and students' postsecondary readiness. Campuses and districts have to meet standards in each category in order to be given a pass. While the system continues to lean heavily on a tougher state test, low passing standards have stayed the same since the test debuted in 2012.

“Texans should be pleased to see the vast majority of districts, charters, and campuses are meeting the standards set in the second year of the state accountability system,” Education Commissioner Michael Williams said in a news release. “While the 2014 numbers are positive, the work continues in districts across our state to meet and exceed increasing state standards and the expectations of their local communities.”

State education officials caution against direct comparisons to last year's results because of several changes to the accountability system.

The state snapshot is too reliant on “one data point” — the State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness or STAAR test, said Dineen Majcher, board president with the group Texans Advocating for Meaningful Student Assessment.

“I think parents put a lot more emphasis on what they see and experience on a local level than what the state is telling us,” she said. “Most parents can tell you the individual strengths and weaknesses of their school.”

See how your school did by searching our database above, or get full results at the TEA website at http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/perfreport/account/2014/index.html

For a complete analysis of the TEA ratings, go to our subscribers-only website, ExpressNews.com.

mcesar@express-news.net

Twitter: @mlcesar