The schools receive one of four primary rating labels -- exemplary, which is the best, recognized, academically acceptable or academically unacceptable.
Never missing a turn at congratulating itself, HISD pulled out all the stops Friday, with the superintendent declaring that vast celebration equals the vast achievement.
"Being an exemplary school in HISD topday is now the norm, not the exception," said HISD Superintendent Abe Saavedra.
With the numbers just released Friday afternoon from the Texas Educaiton Agency, HISD's accountability ratings have improved, meaning low performing schools are getting better.
According to state findings, the number of HISD schools earning an exemplary rating are up 14 percent. The number of school earning recognized status are up 43 percent.
A closer look shows the number of exemplary schools have more than doubled to 38 and the number of recognized schools have nearly doubled to 118.
For the first time in its history, Fonville middle school is listed as recognized. Principal Efrain Olivo took an unusual twist to get attendance up at his north Houston school.
"I had a community partner donate money and kids that had perfect attendance had a chance to win a $100 bill, a $50 bill, a $20 bill and that's one of the ways the kids got excited about going to school," he said.
However, for all the success, there are 15 HISD schools rated as academically unacceptable. They are:
HISD officials say they'll write letters to the TEA to formally protest those 15 schools.
The Cy-Fair school district earned a "recognized" rating, making it the largest district in the state to earn the second highest rating.
Taking a closer look at the troubled North Forest Independent School District, the district as a whole is rated as 'acceptable,' with all of its elementary and middle school campuses rating "acceptable" or better.
But, North Forest's two high schools -- Forest Brook and Smiley -- are still struggling academically, with each school earning "unacceptable" ratings. On Thursday, we learned the Texas Education Commissioner is planning to replace the interim superintendent and the seven-person, publicly elected school board, saying they haven't made significant academic and financial improvements. The district starts this school year with a nearly $12 million deficit.
The ratings are based on TAKS test results, high school completion rates and dropout rates. If you'd like to see what rating your child's school has earned, here's the website.
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