The Dallas Independent School District didn’t fare particularly well in the TEA school ratings released today and chronicled in a Dallas News story. Our neighborhood’s Jon Dahlander, head DISD spokesman, told the News that students’ performance "improved ‘marginally’ this year, but 30 campuses fell from the "recognized" to "acceptable" category, and there were small increases in the numbers of exemplary and unacceptable campuses.
Among the elementary schools faring best in the rankings were Hexter, Lipscomb and Bonham elementaries, all of which were rated "exemplary"; Lakewood, Mt. Auburn and Stonewall received "recognized" rankings. J.L .Long Middle School received an "acceptable" ranking, while Woodrow Wilson High School received an "unacceptable" ranking (both Long and Woodrow maintained their rankings from last year).
Visit the News’ site for a great package showing individual school rankings throughout North Texas, as well as rankings for all districts in the state.
It just so happens that we have a son at Long and a son at Woodrow, and while there are certainly challenges to be faced in terms of brining the ratings up across the board at each school, there’s no question in my mind that any student can get an excellent education at either school with the proper amount of parental involvement in the student’s academic life (in other words, making students do the work they’re assigned).
One lingering problem at the schools, and at many DISD schools for that matter, has been the revolving door for principals; during our three years at Long (spanning two kids), we’ve had three principals; without continuity at the top, I don’t think there’s much hope for the rankings to improve unless the principal merry-go-round stops. Woodrow’s principal, Ruth Vail, begins her third year at the school, and that type of longevity is a great sign.
