Lubbock Charter School Turns in another Exemplary TAKS Performance

This year they weren’t perfect.  But Rise Academy students still performed exceptionally well on the 2007 TAKS tests.  Well enough to probably earn another “exemplary” rating from the Texas Education Agency.

“We didn’t know if we could pull off another perfect year” stated Richard Baumgartner Rise director referring to Rise’s 2006 TAKS results.  Last year the Lubbock charter school had a 100 percent pass rate in all subjects at all grade levels including special education.

“This year we had three TAKS non-passers in math.  But spread across the grade levels 3rd through 7th we average out to a 94 percent pass rate overall in math” explained Baumgartner “and that keeps us in the ‘exemplary’ range.”

Rise pass rates for the other TAKS subject areas reading writing and science were all at the 100 percent rate.  Texas schools must have a 90 percent or above pass rate in every subject summed across the grade levels to earn the prestigious “exemplary” rating.

A high percentage of Rise students also achieved “commended” scores (92 percent correct or above) on one or more of their tests.  For example 83 percent of Rise 6th graders scored at this elite “commended” level in reading while 75 percent of 4th graders did so in writing.

Rise students in grades 3rd through 7th took the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) tests this year.  The Lubbock charter school currently enrolls students in grades pre-k through 7th.  State testing in Texas begins at the third grade.

Baumgartner also emphasized that Rise’s special education students did exceptionally well on the state’s alternative SDAA tests.  “We don’t have a lot of special ed students but out of 21 SDDA tests taken only one test was non-passing.  That’s a very good showing and we’re just as proud of those students who take the alternative tests.”

All public school children in the state of Texas including those attending charter schools take the state’s TAKS tests beginning in the third grade.  Third graders are tested in reading and math; fourth graders in reading math and writing; fifth graders in reading math and science; sixth graders in reading and math; and seventh graders in reading math and writing.  Rise Academy will add eighth grade next school year.

Rise Academy is an independent public charter school. 

The school has open enrollment and is unable to selectively “cherry-pick” students. 

Over ninety percent of Rise students are low-income minority children residing mostly in east and northeast Lubbock neighborhoods the lowest socioeconomic sections of the west Texas city of 202000 residents.

As a charter school Rise Academy must conform to all Texas Education Agency rules with exceptions for teacher certification requirements and pay-scale. 

Currently the academy serves 166 students in grades pre-k thru 6th with future expansion to 8th grade.