Of the district’s 23 campuses, 15 ranked Exemplary, and six Recognized.

The ratings are based on the number of students passing the state’s standardized test, the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills, and completion and dropout rates.

Statewide, only 239 districts and charter schools -- about 19 percent -- achieved an Exemplary rating this year. Ratings from lowest to highest include Academically Unacceptable, Academically Acceptable, Recognized and Exemplary.

Pearland ISD’s 2009-10 campus ratings are as follows:

Exemplary Campuses
Cockrell Elementary
C.J. Harris Elementary
Challenger Elementary
Lawhon Elementary
Carleston Elementary
Magnolia Elementary
Rustic Oak Elementary
Shadycrest Elementary
Silvercrest Elementary
Silverlake Elementary
Alexander Middle School
Jamison Middle School
Rogers Middle School
Berry Miller Junior High
Pearland Junior High West

Recognized Campuses
Massey Ranch Elementary
Sablatura Middle School
Pearland Junior High East
Pearland Junior High South
Dawson High School
Pearland High School

Academically Acceptable Campuses
Searcy Ninth Grade Center
PACE Center

Exemplary districts and campuses must have at least 90 percent passing rates in all subjects and all five student groups (all students, African American, Hispanic, white and economically disadvantaged). Recognized, on the other hand, must each have at least 80 percent passing.

In addition, Exemplary districts had to achieve a 95 percent completion rate and an annual dropout rate of 1.8 percent or less.

PACE Center, a nontraditional campus, is judged differently from traditional campuses. If it had been evaluated as a regular campus, it would have ranked Exemplary.

For the past two years, the state has used the federally-approved Texas Projection Measure to determine accountability ratings. TPM shows potential growth and decreases the negative impact of using only one test on one day to rate schools and districts.

This year, without TPM, district-wide performance for all students reached the Exemplary level in reading/language arts (96 percent), writing (97 percent), social studies (98 percent), mathematics (91 percent) and science (91 percent).

Pearland ISD TAKS scores show improvement in every subject tested, with the most significant gains in math and science, where some student groups improved as much as six percentage points.

As Pearland ISD celebrates its Exemplary rating, educators, district staff and the community continue to prepare students for success in more areas than state assessment.

For accountability ratings and other testing information, visit the TEA website at www.tea.state.tx.us.