With High Expectations comes TAKS Success!

In Texas all 8th graders must pass the reading and math TAKS exams in order to move on to 9th grade. The state does allow each child to take the reading and math test up to three times if they did not pass on the first administration. As a parent of an 8th grader at Armstrong Middle School, I understand the TAKS requirements all too well.

I’m not a big fan of TAKS testing because I feel there is a tendency to teach to the lowest common denominator, which is to “just pass” the test. However, when a high expectation of academic excellence is a priority, students can push beyond just passing the test. Haggard Middle School is a great example.

Haggard Middle School scored 100% on the reading TAKS exam for 8th grade reading. They were 1 of 2 middles schools out of 12 in PISD to hit 100%. At the time of this blog I do not have the name of the other middle school but I congratulate them also!

The average scale score was a 2472. Students need a 2100 to pass and a 2400 to make commended which means that Haggard students mastered at least 90% of the exam. 72% of Haggard’s 8th grade students passed the commended mark.

“This is a testimony that academic excellence is a priority of ours at Haggard, and our students and teachers are working hard to meet the highest of expectations.” - Haggard eNews

Haggard Middle School has shown that with high expectations, Plano students can go beyond passing the test. Although I believe we need a better measure of how students are learning in the classroom and a better way to measure academic accountability, the TAKS system is the rule in Texas. We have to play by the same rules other districts do and will until the laws are changed. Haggard 8th graders prove that regardless of what the state of Texas uses to measure students, that when we teach beyond “just passing” Plano students will excel.

I personally commend the student, teachers and parents at Haggard on a great job and for setting the bar high for the rest of Plano middle schools.




Political advertising authorized by Steve Navarre