BOARDWORKS
A Publication of South Texas Independent School District
May 2010
TAKS scores get closer to 100 percent goal
“We are extremely pleased with the results, but we look to challenge ourselves
and have a 100 percent passing rate in
all subjects. We want every single student at STISD to succeed academically.”
— Marla M. Guerra, Ed.D.,
superintendent
The STISD Board of Directors reviewed the
2010 Texas Assessment of Knowledge and
Skills (TAKS) results at the May 25 meeting.
This year, at least 98 percent of STISD 11th
graders met the TAKS standard in English,
Math and Science while 100 percent met the
standard in Social Studies.
Superintendent Marla M. Guerra, Ed.D. is
extremely pleased with the TAKS results, as
the rate of passing is nearing 100 percent.
“At STISD, we have the best students,
parents and faculty, and their hard work
and dedication clearly shows in our TAKS
scores,” Guerra said. “We are extremely
pleased with the results, but we look to challenge ourselves and have a 100 percent passing rate in all subjects. We want every single
student at STISD to succeed academically.”
Compared to 2009, the number of juniors
that met the standard measure in English
dipped one point to 98 percent. The percentage of them that met the Commended
Performance measure, however, picked up
six points to 53 percent.
In Math, the percentage of juniors that met
Continued on Page 4
STISD
Grade 11
% Met Standard
2007 2008 2009 2010
English
98
98
99
98
Math
94
95
96
98
Soc Stud
98
98 100 100
Science
93
94
97
98
% Commended Performance
2007 2008 2009 2010
English
43
31
47
53
Math
34
43
48
44
Soc Stud
49
39
64
62
Science
26
22
39
28
BETA
% Met Standard
Grade 11
2007 2008 2009 2010
English
100
97
96
97
Math
85
93
92
96
Soc Stud
97
98 100 100
Science
83
91
92
98
% Commended Performance
2007 2008 2009 2010
English
22
24
25
47
Math
26
32
26
32
Soc Stud
37
47
45
63
Science
15
12
21
25
Med High
% Met Standard
2007 2008 2009 2010
Med Tech
% Met Standard
2007 2008 2009 2010
English
94
97 100
97
Math
88
97
95
99
Soc Stud
94
97 100 100
Science
85
83
98
98
% Commended Performance
2007 2008 2009 2010
English
24
19
40
45
Math
9
17
26
26
Soc Stud
29
36
64
52
Science
3
11
27
11
Grade 11
English
98
99
99
98
Math
96
95
96
97
Soc Stud
98
97
99 100
Science
95
94
98
96
% Commended Performance
2007 2008 2009 2010
English
42
26
59
58
Math
21
36
46
41
Soc Stud
40
30
54
54
Science
17
15
31
25
Sci Tech
% Met Standard
Grade 11
2007 2008 2009 2010
English
98
99
99
99
Math
98
95
99 100
Soc Stud
99
99 100 100
Science
97
99 100 100
% Commended Performance
2007 2008 2009 2010
English
58
44
50
59
Math
60
64
70
68
83
77
Soc Stud
70
46
Science
48
41
61
44
Grade 11
STPA
Grade 8
% Met Standard
2007 2008 2009 2010
Reading
98
99
98
97
Math
91
97
92
97
Soc Stud
96
95
97 100
Science
90
90
89
97
% Commended Performance
2007 2008 2009 2010
Reading
63
70
66
64
Math
28
28
41
43
Soc Stud
51
50
67
78
Science
35
36
39
70
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BOARDWorks
Recognition
STISD Valedictorians & Salutatorians: (left to right) Med Tech Valedictorian Santiago Diaz of Hidalgo, Med High Valedictorian Angela Thomas
of Edinburg, Med High Salutatorian Pauline Castro of Edinburg, BETA Valedictorian Jose Chapa, Jr. of McAllen, Med Tech ValedictorianEmilio
Saenz, Jr. of Weslaco, Sci Tech Salutatorian Muhammad Saad Shamim of Brownsville, BETA Salutatorian Triana Montemayor of McAllen and
Sci Tech Valedictorian Nidharshan Anandasivam of Rancho Viejo.
BETA Technology Student Association Winners: (left to right) Front row: Sophomore Elaine Campos of Edinburg, Junior Karina Torres of Edinburg, Junior Cassandra Gonzalez of Edinburg, Junior Elizabeth Scoggin of Edinburg, Sophomore Sharon Thomas of Edinburg and Senior Eduardo
Ortega of Harlingen. Back row: Junior Natalia Rivera of Harlingen, Senior Evan Brough of Edinburg, Senior Amaris Torres of Edinburg, Junior
Keovar Simmons of Alton, Junior Kassandra Granados of Mission and Junior Mark Salinas of Edinburg. Not pictured: Senior Jacklyn Gonzales of
Raymondville, Junior Danika Moran of Mission, Sophomore Maria Saenz of Edinburg and Junior Mariana Villanueva of Edinburg.
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BOARDWorks
Recognition
U.S. Physics Bowl Team: (left to right) The Sci Tech team won first place in its division at the U.S.
Physics Bowl in April. Juniors Jonathan Berg of Brownsville, Alejandro Acero Murillo of Weslaco,
Alejandro Villarreal of Edinburg and Audrey Wright of South Padre Island. Not pictured: Junior
Shubhodeep Mukherji of McAllen.
Santiago “Jim” Quintanilla: Quintanilla, a
BLA custodian, retired from STISD in April
2010. He worked at STISD for 10 years.
National Science Bowl Team: The Sci Tech team won the Divison Team Challenge at the National
Science Bowl in April. (left to right) Patrick Kim of McAllen, Junior Sumit Gogia of Harlingen,
Senior Nidharshan Anandasivam of Rancho Viejo and Senior Muhammad Saad Shamim of
Brownsville. Not pictured: Senior Nolan Eastin of Pharr.
Congratulations, Class of 2010!
-- STISD Board of Directors
Barbara Heater, Ph.D.: Heater, Med High principal, earned her doctorate degree in Educational
Administration from the University of Texas at
Austin in May 2010.
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BOARDWorks
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• STISD Board of Directors Meeting: July
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meetings take place on the fourth Tuesday of
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Editor: Andi Atkinson
(956) 514-4255 or [email protected]
Continued from Page 1
the standard measure rose two points to
98 percent. The number of these students
that reached the Commended Performance
measure fell four points to 44 percent.
In Social Studies, the Met Standard figure
for 11th graders remained the same: 100
percent. The share of them that achieved
Commended Performance slipped two
percentage points to 63.
In Science, the percentage of the junior class
that met the standard measure gained one
point to 98 percent. The portion of these
juniors that achieved Commended Performance dropped 11 points to 28 percent.
In the Met Standard measure for Grade
11, BETA showed the most growth at 97
percent, up one point from last year. In
Math, BETA and Med Tech climbed four
points to reach 96 percent and 99 percent,
100 Med High Dr.
Mercedes, TX 78570
Think Outside the Book!
Phone (956) 565-2454
Fax (956) 565-4639
Website www.stisd.net
respectively. In Science, STPA increased
eight points to 97 percent.
In the Commended Performance measure,
BETA had the highest growth in English,
Math and Social Studies. At 47 percent, 32
percent and 63 percent, BETA jumped 22
points in English, six points in Math and 18
points in Social Studies. In Science, STPA
improved the most at 70 percent, up 31
points from last year.
The TAKS scores predict the Academic
Excellence Indicator System (AEIS) ratings
that are released in the fall. Last year, BETA,
Med High, Med Tech and Sci Tech received
an Exemplary rating while STPA received
a Recognized Rating. Eighth graders must
pass Reading and Math to advance to the
ninth grade while 11th graders must pass all
four subjects to graduate high school.
To see the complete 2010 TAKS report, visit
www.stisd.net and click on Accountability.
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Marla M. Guerra, Ed.D.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Eduardo “Ed” Gonzalez
Homero Garcia, President
Joe “Joey” L. Lopez, Vice-President Octaviano “Tony” Gonzalez
Maria G. Leal
Hector Gonzales, Secretary
Filomena Leo
Ernesto Alvarado
Robert “Bobby” J. Lerma
Douglas “Doug” E. Buchanan
Henry LeVrier
Cain Caceres
Irma Perez-Treviño
Eduardo L. “Larry” Cantu
Joe A. Rodriguez
Yolanda Cuellar
Julio S. Saldaña, Jr.
Robert “Bobby” de la Garza
Romeo M. Villarreal
Adrian Garcia
Sylvia Sanchez Garza
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