Date: August 15, 2006
Contact: Richardson ISD Communications, 469-593-0301

The Texas Education Agency has confirmed that Richardson Independent School District has earned the distinction of being a "Recognized" school district, based on 2005-06 student performance. It marks the first time that RISD has earned the rating under the current accountability system.

"I've never been more proud of, and pleased for, a group of people than I am today," said Interim Superintendent Patti Kieker. "Our outstanding students, teachers and administrators have made this happen. To have been so close, so many times, and with standards being raised each year, to be able to reach this goal is truly extraordinary.

"Our ultimate goal is to produce exceptionally well-prepared graduates and this achievement is recognition of something our community has known for a long time - RISD is an excellent place to receive an enriching, well-rounded education. On behalf of the district, I'd like to specifically express our gratitude to our elected Board of Trustees for their guidance and support, and to outgoing superintendent Jim Nelson, whose leadership was instrumental in our efforts to reach this point."

In addition to the district rating, many RISD campuses improved their ratings. Individual campus ratings for the last three years include:

RISD - State of Texas AEIS Accountability Ratings for 2004-2006
High Schools				2006		2005		2004
Berkner HS				Acceptable		Acceptable		Recognized
Lake Highlands HS				Acceptable		Acceptable		Acceptable
Pearce HS				Acceptable		Recognized		Acceptable
Richardson HS				Acceptable		Acceptable		Recognized
Lake Highlands FC				Acceptable		Acceptable		Acceptable
Junior High Schools				2006		2005		2004
Apollo JH				Recognized		Acceptable		Acceptable
Forest Meadow JH				Acceptable		Acceptable		Acceptable
Lake Highlands JH				Acceptable		Acceptable		Acceptable
Liberty JH				Acceptable		Acceptable		Acceptable
Parkhill JH				Recognized		Recognized		Acceptable
Richardson JH				NA		Acceptable		Acceptable
Richardson North JH				Recognized		Recognized		Acceptable
Richardson West JH				Acceptable		Recognized		Recognized
Westwood JH				Recognized		Recognized		Acceptable
Elementary Schools				2006		2005		2004
Aikin				Recognized		Acceptable		Acceptable
Arapaho Classical				Recognized		Recognized		Recognized
Audelia Creek				Acceptable		Acceptable		Acceptable
Big Springs				Recognized		Recognized		Acceptable
Bowie				Exemplary		Exemplary		Acceptable
Brentfield				Exemplary		Exemplary		Exemplary
Canyon Creek				Exemplary		Exemplary		Exemplary
Carolyn G. Bukhair				Acceptable		Acceptable		NA
Dartmouth				Recognized		Recognized		Acceptable
Dover				Recognized		Acceptable		Acceptable
Forest Lane Academy				Recognized		Acceptable		Acceptable
Forestridge				Recognized		Recognized		Acceptable
Greenwood Hills				Recognized		Recognized		Acceptable
Hamilton Park Magnet				Recognized		Recognized		Acceptable
Jess Harben				Recognized		Recognized		Recognized
Lake Highlands Elem.				Recognized		Acceptable		Acceptable
Mark Twain				Recognized		Recognized		Recognized
Thurgood Marshall				Recognized
Merriman Park				Recognized		Recognized		Recognized
Mohawk				Exemplary		Exemplary		Recognized
Moss Haven				Recognized		Acceptable		Acceptable
MST Magnet				Recognized		Recognized		Recognized
Northlake				Recognized		Acceptable		Recognized
Northrich				Exemplary		Recognized		Recognized
Northwood Hills				Recognized		Recognized		Acceptable
O. Henry				Recognized		Acceptable		Acceptable
Prairie Creek				Exemplary		Exemplary		Exemplary
Prestonwood				Recognized		Recognized		Acceptable
Richardson Heights				Recognized		Recognized		Acceptable
Richardson Terrace				Recognized		Acceptable		Acceptable
Richland				Recognized		Acceptable		Acceptable
RISD Academy				Recognized		Acceptable		Acceptable
Skyview				Recognized		Acceptable		Acceptable
Spring Creek				Exemplary		Recognized		Recognized
Spring Valley				Recognized		Acceptable		Acceptable
Springridge				Recognized		Acceptable		Recognized
Stults Road				Recognized		Recognized		Acceptable
Wallace				Recognized		Acceptable		Recognized
White Rock				Recognized		Recognized		Acceptable
Yale				Exemplary		Acceptable		Recognized

The Texas accountability system provides for districts and individual campuses to receive one of four annual performance ratings, "Academically Unacceptable, Academically Acceptable, Recognized and Exemplary." The ratings are based on student performance on the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS), spread across grade levels, subjects, and demographic groups. In all, there are 24 possible rated categories, and campuses and districts must meet specific standards in all 24 to attain higher ratings. The system is designed such that if any student group doesn't meet a categorical standard, their entire campus (or district) rating will be affected, regardless of the performance of other student groups. Thus, mathematically, campuses and districts with more student groups face a tougher task than their counterparts with fewer student groups.

The Texas accountability system should not be confused with the Federal No Child Left Behind Act, which rates districts and campuses using different methods.