Published: June 09, 2009 02:14 am      

Deweyville ISD TAKS results improve significantly

DEWEYVILLE — What a difference one year can make when it comes to the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills.

The students and staff of the Deweyville Independent School District put their words to the test when administrators said this time last year they would make improvements on 2009 TAKS tests. And they did.

Deweyville ISD students not only met standard in every TAKS test subject area, they made great strides in improving scores in most areas, especially students at Deweyville High School.

High school TAKS results showed the largest improvement of any campus as results increased in at least two subjects in each grade level.

Ninth grade math improved by a staggering 21 percentage points as 84 percent of Deweyville freshmen met standard this year, while ninth grade reading scores increased by 6 percentage points as 94 percent of students met standard.

Tenth grade math scores improved by 17 percentage points as 84 percent met standard this year compared to just 67 percent in 2008, and science scores increased by 6 percentage points as 72 percent of sophomores met standard this year.

In eleventh grade, 91 percent of juniors met standard in math on the exit level TAKS test. This is an 11 percentage point increase from 2008. Also, science results improved by 7 percentage points as 95 percent of students met standard this year.

And, for the second year-in-a-row, 100 percent of the eleventh grade students met standard on the exit level social studies test.

“This is exactly why we went to a flex schedule at the high school this year,” said Rick Summers, Deweyville ISD superintendent, on the dramatic increase at the high school level. “We just attacked the TAKS test this year compared to 2008, and it shows. We are very pleased with our gains at the high school.”

Third, fifth and eighth grade students must meet standard in each of the required subject areas for that respective grade in order to be promoted to the next grade level.

Third grade students dropped two percentage points in reading as 84 percent met standard, but TAKS math results improved by 8 percentage points as 81 percent met standard.

Fifth grade results improved in each of the three TAKS test subject areas this year.

Reading increased by 3 percentage points, while math and science both increased by double digits, 11 points and 14 points, respectively in fifth grade.

Eighth grade results improved in three of the four test subject areas, including a perfect 100 percent in reading this year.

Eighth grade math results improved by 9 percentage points, as 91 percent met standard in 2009, while 89 percent of eighth grade students met standard in science compared to 85 percent in 2008.

The largest decreases in the district both occurred at Deweyville Middle School, and both were in math.

Sixth grade math scores dropped by 9 percentage points as 89 percent met standard this year, and seventh grade results decreased by 7 percentage points this year as 82 percent of students met standard.

“There are a couple of areas we have found some gaps and need improvement,” Summers added. “But we have already identified those areas and made plans to address those problem areas for those students.”

Summers said the students and staff have worked very hard on making improvements throughout the school year and have done so successfully.

“We have been very pleased with our gains this year,” Summers said. “And we plan on building off our TAKS success this into the coming school year.”



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



DISD TAKS Results

Grade Subject 2008 Pass 2009



3rd Reading 86 70 84

3rd Math 73 55 81



4th Reading 76 70 83

4th Math 89 55 90

4th Writing 88 70 86



5th Reading 80 70 83

5th Math 83 55 94

5th Science 84 50 92



6th Reading 98 70 96

6th Math 98 55 89



7th Reading 87 70 84

7th Math 89 55 82

7th Writing 90 70 93



8th Reading 98 70 100

8th Math 82 55 91

8th Science 85 50 89

8th Soc. Studs. 96 70 91



9th Reading 88 70 94

9th Math 69 55 81



10th Eng./LA 98 70 88

10th Math 67 55 84

10th Science 66 50 72

10th Soc. Studs. 95 70 89



11th Eng./LA 86 70 84

11th Math 80 55 91

11th Science 88 50 95

11th Soc. Studs. 100 70 100