Schools get better ratings from state education agency

(11/22/05 - KTRK/HOUSTON) (KTRK) -- Parents and students at several HISD schools have something to cheer about. They won their appeals and earned higher academic ratings.

At first glance, school ratings may not seem like that big of a deal. Not everyone agrees with the criteria, and the ratings have nothing directly to do with school funding. But there's an important element of perception, and from HISD's viewpoint, the latest Texas Education Agency rankings deserved a second look.

The empty hallways at Johnston Middle School say nothing of the pride this school has -- impressive young artists, state acknowledgements for writing and social studies and an award-winning performing arts program. So how could a school that consistently gets acceptable ratings from the TEA, now be unacceptable?

Principal Linda Balkin said, "It was like having a dark cloud over our heads for a while. It was tough on teacher morale."

But on closer examination, it was discovered the TEA had made a mistake. The agency had given Johnston an unacceptable rating, based on false reports of student dropouts.

"We knew that one of those children, for example, had been away from school getting treatment for cancer," Balkin explained.

HISD appealed, and Johnston, along with six other campuses, got improved ratings. Lanier Middle School moved from acceptable to recognized. And T.H. Rogers moved into ''exemplary status." Five others, including Johnston, were removed from the list of unacceptables.

Ratings are about more than moral and pride. There are a whole series of economic issues to consider; issues that have nothing to do with the school.

HISD spokesperson Terry Abbott said, "If parents see that a school was rated as unacceptable, they may not want to buy a house in that neighborhood."

And that's an all too important reality for the parents at Johnston, who knew there was something strange about that the unacceptable rating.

"I knew the test scores at this school were good," said parent Elizabeth Barkley. "I didn't understand why we had fallen to unacceptable."

As it stands, the number of acceptable schools within HISD is by far the greatest. But there are still 31 schools well below par.

Educators agree on the need for accountability, but they say test scores are only a part of a school's success. But for parents like Barbara Busch, the appeal is worth the cost in terms of both time and manpower.

She said, "I was relieved. I thought it was a better reflection of what they're doing here."

Many of the errant ratings were based on incorrect dropout numbers. Currently, 88% of HISD's schools are rated as acceptable and above.
(Copyright © 2005, KTRK-TV)

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