NCEA Releases 2011 List of Higher Performing Schools in Texas that are Exceeding Expectations in College and Career Readiness

The National Center for Educational Achievement's annual list released today recognizes Texas public schools that are most successful at preparing students for college and careers.

(Austin, TX--October 25, 2011) The National Center for Educational Achievement (NCEA), a department of ACT,Inc., released its 2011 NCEA Higher Performing Schools List for Texas on its website www.nc4ea.org today. The list identifies those elementary, middle, and high schools in Texas that have consistently outperformed their peers with similar student populations over a three-year period (the 2008-09, 2009-10, and 2010-11 school years).

"The list of Higher Performing Schools is a valuable tool for any district that wants to evaluate areas of performance that might need strengthening. It's also a great way to compare your school or your district to other schools of similar demographics in the state of Texas," says Angela Hall Watkins, Assistant Vice President and Managing Director of NCEA. "The schools that really stand out are those that, over several years, have gone above and beyond their expected achievement levels given their socioeconomic status. Such commitment is truly impressive, and is a testament to the fact that economic obstacles can indeed be overcome with dedication and perseverance."

The list includes several schools whose student population is almost entirely comprised of economically disadvantaged students. Among those that stand out are Arnold Elementary (San Antonio ISD), Homer Drive Elementary (Beaumont ISD), Valley View Elementary (Valley View ISD, Hidalgo) and De Zavala Elementary (Houston ISD). Each of these schools made the list in all subjects.

NCEA identified the Higher Performing Schools based on one or both of two measures: 1) academic growth of students and/or 2) achievement of students on the TAKS Commended standard. The Commended standard is used because the Met Standard (passing) level is too low to measure student preparedness for postsecondary learning. NCEA's identification of Higher Performing Schools is more selective than the Texas Education Agency's Exemplary or Recognized list and comprises just over 10% of public schools in the state.

NCEA (formerly known as Just for the Kids) began identifying Higher Performing Schools in 1998 and continues to annually release these lists as well as College and Career Readiness Charts for every public school in Texas.

To view the 2011 NCEA Higher Performing Schools List for Texas, please visit www.nc4ea.org/HPschoolstx.

To learn more about how NCEA identifies Higher Performing Schools in Texas, please visit www.nc4ea.org/txHPfaq.

About NCEA

The National Center for Educational Achievement (NCEA) is a department of ACT, Inc., a not-for-profit organization committed to helping people achieve education and workplace success. NCEA builds the capacity of educators and leaders to create educational systems of excellence for all students by providing research-based solutions and expertise in higher performing schools, school improvement and best-practice research that lead to increased levels of college and career readiness.