Published: June 07, 2009 07:54 pm      

Bridge City sees TAKS success despite Ike

BRIDGE CITY — The 2008-2009 school year will be one the students, employees and residents of the Bridge City Independent School District will never forget, courtesy of Hurricane Ike.

Despite the hardships presented by Ike, the teachers and students did not lean on it as a crutch and instead, according to the results of the 2009 Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills, continued a trend of success inside Bridge City ISD.

Students in third, fifth, and eighth grades are required to meet standard on various TAKS subjects in order to be promoted to the next grade level, while juniors must pass the exit level TAKS in order to graduate.

Each of these grade levels earned high marks as the students successfully overcame the obstacles of the most recent school year.

Third grade students held even in reading as 99 percent met standard for the second straight year, while math scores improved by 2 percentage points in 2009 as 96 percent met standard.

Fifth grade scores remained on pace with 2008 figures. Scores in reading and science remained the same for the second consecutive year, as 99 percent met standard in reading and 95 percent in science. Math scores declined by 1 percentage point, but 96 percent of students still met standard.

Eighth grade scores improved by 10 percentage points in science and 2 percentage points in social studies, while remaining the same, at 88 percent, in math and dropping by 1 percentage point in reading as 99 percent of students met standard in 2009.

Eleventh grade students also did well on the exit level TAKS test, as scores improved in math and science.

Math results were up 2 percentage points compared to 2008 as 93 percent met standard this year, while 96 percent met standard in science, which is a 1 point increase compared to 2008.

English and language arts results dropped from 98 percent in 2008 to 97 percent this year, while 99 percent of students met standard in social studies, which was also a 1 percentage point drop from 2008.

“Our teachers and students really did a fantastic job this year,” said Gina Mannino, BCISD executive director of curriculum and instruction. “Our teachers were determined the storm was not going to be an excuse and allow scores to drop. And they did it. Everyone did.”

Mannino said the principals of each campus did an excellent job in leading teachers and students through such adversity. She also said much of the praise should go to the parents who continued to bring their children to Bridge City schools, even when many people lost everything due to Ike’s storm surge.

Although most of the results are worthy of praise, Mannino said there is still work to be done.

Tenth grade scores, as with most school districts, have left room for improvement in one or more subjects. Such is the case with TAKS math and science.

According to 2009 TAKS results, 65 percent of Bridge City High School sophomores met standard in TAKS math, which is 15 percentage points less than 2008 figures.

Science scores dropped by 9 percentage points this year as 72 percent of tenth-graders met standard.

“We have told these students that tenth grade scores are used as a predictor for what is to come in eleventh grade,” Mannino said. “So they know there is still plenty of work to be done in math and science. We have a lot of good teachers in Bridge City ISD, so we know we can get this corrected for next year.”





Bridge City TAKS Results



Grade Subject 2008 Pass 2009

3rd Reading 99 70 99

3rd Math 94 55 96



4th Reading 94 70 94

4th Math 97 55 94

4th Writing 98 70 95



5th Reading 99 70 99

5th Math 97 55 96

5th Science 95 50 95



6th Reading 94 70 96

6th Math 82 55 76



7th Reading 94 70 93

7th Math 85 55 88

7th Writing 97 70 95



8th Reading 100 70 99

8th Math 88 55 88

8th Science 76 50 86

8th Soc. Studs. 94 70 96



9th Reading 90 70 95

9th Math 65 55 71



10th Eng./LA 99 70 96

10th Math 80 55 65

10th Science 81 50 72

10th Soc. Studs. 99 70 95



11th Eng./LA 98 70 97

11th Math 91 55 93

11th Science 95 50 96

11th Soc. Studs. 100 70 99



Tommy Mann Jr. is a reporter for The Orange Leader. He can be reached at 409-883-3571, Ext. 2619 or tmann@orangeleader.com