The Texas Education Agency will soon release preliminary school accountability ratings and is now expected to designate Lake Highlands High School as Academically Acceptable. LHHS principal Walter Kelly has announced his intention to appeal that rating, not uncommon for schools teetering on the razor’s edge between one designation and another. He had been expecting the school to be named Recognized. In fact, the district was expecting all RISD schools to reach Recognized or Exemplary status for the first time ever.
In May, TAKS scores were released and LHHS showed dramatic improvement in several areas. Many scores fell solidly in the Recognized category and some even made it to the top Exemplary range. Teachers and students celebrated their gains and congratulated each other.
Over the summer dropout rates were factored in, and one student demographic group fell into the weaker Acceptable range. Since a school’s overall rating is based on the lowest indicator measured, LHHS is likely to be ranked Acceptable.
The difference between rankings may hinge on tiny percentages for a small number of students, but the impact is big and will be felt all over the neighborhood. Property values can flourish when young families direct realtors to show them only houses with “good schools,” and school staff evaluation and compensation relies on ever-improving performance in the ratings.
Principal Kelly reiterated his pride in gains made in his first year at the school when announcing his intention to appeal. “We have closed achievement gaps by as great as 21% in one year, and we will apply the same diligence and skill to increasing our completion rate.” Results of the appeal will be known in a few months.
