August 15, 2019
Granbury ISD and campuses received new A-F ratings under the state accountability system, according to results released by the Texas Education Agency on August 15, 2019.
“We have a lot to be happy with while still having areas for improvement,” commented GISD superintendent Dr. Jeremy Glenn. “With our G2025 strategic plan, we are already addressing academic achievement and setting a strong course for our students.”
The G2025 plan includes a district-wide reading initiative that includes new literacy personnel at elementary campuses. The district is also moving forward with a full-day pre-kindergarten program and dual language academy both set to open for the 2020-21 school year. Other targeted programming includes increased opportunities for students to be college, career, and military ready (CCMR), a focus on struggling students and those with disabilities, and appropriately aligned programs for gifted and talented students.
GISD will continue to expand career and technical education programs that provide a wide variety of opportunities for students in areas such as agriculture, aviation, business and marketing, culinary arts, education, engineering, health science, and law and public safety.
New initiatives also include a push to increase fine arts and athletic programs with a requirement that every student will participate in an extracurricular activity, club, or organization. The G2025 plan also seeks to emphasize character education and builds upon the GISD Day of Service by requiring 20 hours of community service as a local requirement for graduation.
“All of these plans are currently under implementation, and we will focus on helping students to be well-rounded through high-quality instruction and involvement in the school,” Dr. Glenn said. “Engaged students will have higher performance in the classroom.”
According to TEA, the 2019 ratings are based on three domains – Student Achievement, School Progress, and Closing the Gaps – with each heavily reliant on standardized test scores. Elementary and middle school ratings were based primarily on performance on STAAR tests as well as attendance and progress. For high schools, the ratings also consider college, career and military readiness and graduation rates. The new A-F system was mandated by state law passed in 2017.
“The district maintained an overall rating of B,” reported Dr. Glenn. “We are very excited for the distinctions earned by Oak Woods School – which received an A rating along with all six possible distinctions – as well as Acton Elementary School and the STEAM Academy at Mambrino.”
“We understand that our district and each of our campuses need to excel on whatever system the state has in place. Those are the rules under which we must play,” commented Dr. Glenn. “Our principals and teachers are doubling down on strong achievement and forward progress for every student so that we can meet the expectations of not only the state but also of our local community.”
The superintendent continued, “There are obvious areas that must have improvement. I have every confidence that our campuses will move forward with our summer planning to focus on those needs and that next year’s results will show this hard work.”
The ratings and accountability reports are available on the district website at www.granburyisd.org/reports.