Goal #2 – Central Texas Eliminates Achievement Gaps while Improving Overall Student Performance

Achievement gaps between different ethnic and income groups exist in the early grades and get much worse as students proceed through middle school and high school. Furthermore, there are gaps in many different kinds of student outcomes—achievement, grade promotion, discipline and so on.

  • From 5th grade to 6th grade, the percentage of Central Texas middle school students who receive formal disciplinary actions tripled, and ethnic minorities are greatly over-represented in this group.

  • In 2007-08, 1 out of every 7 Hispanic first-time 9th graders did not go to 10th grade at the end of their first year, compared to 1 in 8 Black first-time 9th graders and 1 in 22 White students.

  • Gaps in 8th grade student achievement between low income and non-low income students are staggering, with an 18 percentage point difference in Mathematics (76% passing rate for low income students versus 94% for non-low income students) and a 33 percentage point difference in Science (58% versus 88%).

Moreover, gaps in 8th grade achievement directly contribute to differences in achievement for 11th grade, high school graduation, and even college enrollment.

 

Objectives:

  • By 2015, each student subpopulation will have increased its performance on state assessments by 60% from its performance in 2007.

  • By, 2015, at least 80% of all 8th graders in every subpopulation meet criteria for passing on state assessments in Reading, Mathematics, Science and Social Studies.

    • Please note: The current objectives use outcomes from the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS). Since TAKS will be replaced by the State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness (STAAR) in 2011-12, there is a collaborative process underway to re-align the objectives for the Blueprint for Education Change by February 2012
Action Strategies*
Indicators*
  1. Identify and share models of getting high quality instruction in high needs schools

  2. Create and promote a regional model for successful student transitions across school levels

  3. Identify and promote programs and instruction that help ensure at-risk students acquire proficiency in academic English language skills

  4. Identify vision-impaired low-income students and provide eyeglasses to low-income students who need them

 

Student Passing Rates               2008           2009           2010          ≥80%     Progress
Black 8th Grade                                                                                                 60% Gain
Mathematics                               69%          71%           77%            @                @
Reading                                        93%           93%           92%            @                @
Science                                        53%           58%           66%            @                @
Hispanic 8th Grade                     2008            2009           2010            ≥80%     60% Gain
Mathematics                               77%           80%           82%            @                @
Reading                                        93%           93%           91%            @                @
Science                                        56%           62%           68%            @                @
White 8th Grade                         2008            2009           2010           ≥80%      60% Gain
Mathematics                               93%          95%            95%            @                @
Reading                                        99%           99%           98%            @                @
Science                                        86%           89%           92%            @                @
Low Income 8th Grade               2008           2009           2010           ≥80%      60% Gain
Mathematics                               73%           76%          79%            @                @
Reading                                        92%           92%           90%            @                @
Science                                        52%           59%           66%            @                @
Measures for High Needs                       2008           2009            2010          Trend
Campuses 
% high needs campuses with                 **               **              45%          NA
high student growth in Mathematics 
% high needs campuses with                 **               **              35%          NA
high student growth in Reading  
and English Language Arts                                                              
Measures for Transition Years               2008           2009            2010         Trend
 – Middle Schools  
% campuses with high student               **               **               60%          NA
growth in 6th grade Reading
% campuses with high student               **               **               61%           NA
growth in 6th grade Mathematics
Middle school attendance rate                **               **               **                 **   
Ratio of disciplinary actions                    **               **               **                 **   
in 6th grade versus  
disciplinary actions in 5th grade                                                                                        
Measures for Transition Years               2008           2009            2010         Trend
– High Schools
% campuses with high student              **                **               57%          NA
growth in 9th grade Reading 
% campuses with high student               **               **               46%          NA
growth in 9th grade Mathematics
% first-time 9th graders that are             X              90%            92%          @
promoted on time to 10th grade

*Objectives and Success Indicators are under development by Blueprint partners. They represent objective measures to evaluate and track our progress over time.

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