Published: June 12, 2008 07:17 pm            

Bridge City ISD tames TAKS

By Tommy Mann Jr.

The Orange Leader



BRIDGE CITY — The Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills test is apparently no challenge for Bridge City ISD students.

The Cardinals performed well as a whole and especially in third, fifth, eighth, and eleventh grades, where students are required to master all major subject areas in order to advance to the next grade level or to graduate from high school.

“We are extremely pleased with the progress of our students this year,” said Dr. Jamey Harrison, superintendent. “We saw tremendous gains in student performance, and our kids, faculty, and staff are to be commended for their commitment to excellence.”

Test results either improved or remained at nearly the same score for each grade level from 2007.

According to results released by BCISD, 99 percent of students in third, fifth and eighth grades met standard in reading, while 97 percent of fourth and seventh graders met standard in writing.

The most noticeable increase in TAKS scores was in mathematics. Sixth grade students improved overall results from 2007 by 12 percent, while eighth grade results increased by 18 percentage points.

“Bridge City ISD is very pleased with our preliminary results,” said Gina Mannino, director of curriculum and instruction. “During the 2007-2008 school year our focus was on math, and as a result, our scores improved greatly in secondary math.”

The only two grade levels which did not show any increases in TAKS subject areas were fourth and ninth grade, as scores remained the same or decreased slightly from the previous year. “Our ninth grade math scores did decrease slightly,” Mannino said. “To address these weaknesses our math teachers will continue to focus on the areas where our students have not met standard.”

From Pre-Kindergarten to twelfth grade, Mannino said staff members have provided individualized or small group instruction as needed to students who have not met standard on the areas tested by TAKS.

They have done this while continuing to provide opportunities for students to excel in extra curricular activities as well as enjoy the process of learning.

“The staff and students have worked hard to identify the areas of concern from last year,” Mannino said. “And we will make adjustments to instruction and curriculum to meet those areas of concern.”

Mannino said another area Bridge City students made great gains in was science, as fifth grade through exit level science scores improved this year.

Even with the state required standard increasing from 40 percent to 45 percent in science, scores improved in nearly each grade level, especially the exit TAKS taken by eleventh grade students as 94 percent met standard this year compared to 79 percent in 2007.

Other areas being celebrated by the Bridge City school district include Hispanic scores in all areas, science scores at Bridge City Intermediate and Bridge City High School, and math scores at the middle school.

“The efforts of our teachers and students are to be commended,” Mannino said. “As our results indicate our district is very close to exemplary status, and that is our goal.”



Reach this reporter at 409-883-3571, Ext. 2619 or tmann@orangeleader.com

        

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