REPORT FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT
Office of Superintendent of Schools
Board of Education Meeting of September 8, 2011
SUBJECT:
BOARD MONITORING SYSTEM–GOAL 1, SECTION A: ELIMINATE
THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP BETWEEN STUDENT GROUPS
At the February 11, 2010 meeting, the Board of Education implemented a revised
Board Monitoring System in order to efficiently maintain and measure achievement
of Houston Independent School District (HISD) goals and adherence to its core
values. The monitoring system was designed to give district administrators clear
direction on how to meet the board’s expectations in these crucial areas.
Board Policy AE(LOCAL) states “[T]he administration shall report to the Board of
Education on each goal and core value using the specific method and timing set out
below, . . .”
In reference to the district’s Goal 1: Increase Student Achievement, the attached
report provides information regarding Section A: Eliminate the Achievement Gap
Between Student Groups. This policy states that “[T]he administration shall provide
the Board of Education with a report reflecting any gap in TAKS passing rates
between white, African-American, Hispanic, and economically disadvantaged
students, and by gender, in each tested topic. The report shall provide cumulative,
districtwide scores, combining all grade levels into one chart.”
The attached reports provide the information requested for the 2010–2011 school
year.
BOARD OF EDUCATION MONITORING SYSTEM: 2011–2012
Board Monitoring System: Indicator A
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Purpose
The Houston Independent School District (HISD) exists to strengthen the social and economic
foundation of Houston by assuring its youth the highest-quality elementary and secondary
education available anywhere. In fulfilling this goal, HISD's Board of Education has designed a
program to systematically monitor achievement of the district’s goals and adherence to core
values. The Board Monitoring System requires the administration to report on each goal and
core value on a routine basis. The indicator currently under review is ELIMINATE THE
ACHIEVEMENT GAP. The objective of this indicator is: “To eliminate any achievement gap
between student groups as measured by the statewide TAKS examination” (Goal 1, Section A).
Note: 2010 Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) data was re-calculated to reflect
the new federal race and ethnicity definition of student groups enacted during the 2010–2011
school year.
Findings
TAKS Achievement Gap (English and Spanish Combined)
•
When examining the percentage passing at the state standard on the Texas Assessment of
Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) in 2010 and in 2011, the differences between White students’
and Hispanic and African American students’ test scores overall decreased from 2010 to
2011. In 2011, the gap between White students’ test scores and Hispanic students’ test
scores decreased in all six subtests reported. The 2011 gap between White students’ test
scores and African American students’ test scores decreased from 2010 on all tests taken,
mathematics, science, and social studies (Figure 1a and Figure 1b).
•
In 2011, the largest gap between White students’ and Hispanic students’ test scores was in
science, with White students reporting 94.8 percent passing compared with 80.0 percent of
Hispanic students. The largest gap between White students’ and African American students’
test scores was in math, with White students reporting 92.3 percent passing compared with
72.7 percent of African American students (Figure 1a and Figure 1b).
•
When considering economic status at the state passing standard on the TAKS in 2010 and
in 2011, there was not a decrease in the gap on any of the subtests reported (Figure 3).
Page 1 of 11
BOARD OF EDUCATION MONITORING SYSTEM: 2011–2012
Figure 1a: HISD TAKS Percent Passing by Subject and Ethnicity: 2010 and 2011
120.0
69.8
96.0
95.7
83.4 84.2
84.1 82.9
91.6
92.3
81.6
79.5
71.4
72.7
70.8
63.5
63.0
White
60.0
African American
Hispanic
40.0
20.0
Math 2011
Math 2010
Reading
2011
Reading
2010
All Tests
2011
All Tests
2010
0.0
Figure 1b: HISD TAKS Percent Passing by Subject and Ethnicity: 2010 and 2011 continued
120.0
100.0
96.6
92.2 91.7
95.4
94.8
94.8
91.1 89.9
78.1
80.0
80.0
74.0
98.3
93.9 91.9
98.4
94.9 92.8
75.7
White
African American
60.0
Hispanic
40.0
20.0
Page 2 of 11
Social Studies 2011
Social Studies 2010
Science 2011
Science 2010
Writing 2011
0.0
Writing 2010
Percent Passing
Percent Passing
80.0
89.1
89.3
100.0
BOARD OF EDUCATION MONITORING SYSTEM: 2011–2012
Figure 2: HISD All Tests Taken Gap by Race/Ethnicity
45
40
Gap in Percent Passing
32.8
35
Target: Annual
decrease by five
percentage points.
42.3
41
38.4 35.1
35.5
34.4
31.8
31.2
33
30
29.1
28.7
24.4
25
19.8
23.6
26.3 25.6
27.3
25
20
14.8
18.7
19.5
17.7
15
13.7
10
5
0
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
TAAS
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
TAKS
White-AfrAm
White-Hisp
Source: TAKS data file spring 2010 and 2011. Note: 2010 and 2011 data calculated using new federal ethnicity
codes.
Data by Gender:
Table 1: HISD TAKS Percent Passing All Tests Taken Gap by Ethnicity by Gender
Ethnicity
2010
2011
Male
Female
Male
Hispanic
68.4
71.3
69.9
African American
60.5
65.4
61.0
White
89.0
89.5
87.9
Page 3 of 11
Female
72.9
66.0
90.4
BOARD OF EDUCATION MONITORING SYSTEM: 2011–2012
Figure 3: HISD TAKS Percent Passing by Subject and Economic Status: 2010 and 2011
82.7
80.0
92.6
82.8
84.5
83.1
87.6
85.9
79.0
91.7
76.9
60.0
67.4
95.9
90.4
76.5
95.8
97.2
93.1
93.9
Social Studies 2011
79.7
89.3
78.2
68.6
40.0
20.0
Page 4 of 11
Science 2011
Non Econ Dis
Science 2010
Writing 2010
Econ Dis
Writing 2011
Math 2011
Math 2010
Reading 2011
Reading 2010
All Tests 2011
0.0
All Tests 2010
Percent Passing
96.0
93.5
100.0
Social Studies 2010
120.0
BOARD OF EDUCATION MONITORING SYSTEM: 2011–2012
Figure 4: HISD All Tests Taken Gap by Economic Status
30
23.9
25
Target: Annual
decrease by three
percentage points.
Gap in Percent Passing
21.3
20
19.3
15
15
14.2
14.1
12.3
10
10.4
5
0
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
Met Standard-Gap
Source: TEA, TAKS data file spring 2004–2011.
Data by Gender:
Table 2: HISD TAKS Percent Passing All Tests Taken Gap by Economic Status by Gender
Economic Status
2010
2011
Male
Female
Male
Female
Econ Dis
65.8
69.0
67.0
70.3
Non-Econ Dis
78.4
81.0
81.1
84.4
Achievement Gap by School Office – For Information Purposes Only
Page 5 of 11
BOARD OF EDUCATION MONITORING SYSTEM: 2011–2012
Figure 4: Elementary School TAKS Percent Passing by Subject and Ethnicity: 2010 and 2011
120.0
80.0
91.9
96.2
96.6
83.5 83.3
84.1 82.9
96.1
95.4
92.8
76.9
70.9
85.6
79.4
71.4
81.6
72.7
63.5
White
60.0
African American
Hispanic
40.0
20.0
Math 2011
Math 2010
Reading
2011
Reading
2010
All Tests
2011
All Tests
2010
0.0
Figure 4 cont'd: Elementary School TAKS Percent Passing by Subject and Ethnicity: 2010 and
2011
100.0
92.6 91.2
98.1
97.2
97.0
120.0
96.6
91.1 89.9
87.0 85.2
96.6
80.0 75.7
97.9
98.4
97.7
94.9 92.8
80.0
White
African American
60.0
Hispanic
40.0
20.0
Page 6 of 11
Social Studies 2011
Social Studies 2010
Science 2011
Science 2010
Writing 2011
0.0
Writing 2010
Percent Passing
Percent Passing
100.0
BOARD OF EDUCATION MONITORING SYSTEM: 2011–2012
Data by Gender:
Table 3: Elementary School TAKS Percent Passing All Tests Taken Gap by Ethnicity by Gender
Ethnicity
2010
2011
Male
Female
Male
Female
Hispanic
75.5
78.3
76.7
79.9
African American
69.1
72.6
69.7
72.9
White
92.4
91.3
91.2
94.3
Figure 5: Elementary School TAKS Percent Passing by Subject and Economic Status: 2010 and 2011
89.5
91.1
80.0
93.9
82.8
60.0
74.5
84.3
92.9
83.5
94.4
96.6
85.1
91.9
96.0
94.1
90.3
86.2
95.5
85.1
99.6
99.5
97.5
97.6
Social Studies 2011
Percent Passing
100.0
95.4
Social Studies 2010
120.0
75.8
40.0
20.0
Science 2011
Non Econ Dis
Science 2010
Writing 2010
Econ Dis
Writing 2011
Math 2011
Math 2010
Reading 2011
Reading 2010
All Tests 2011
All Tests 2010
0.0
Data by Gender:
Table 4: Elementary School TAKS Percent Passing All Tests Taken Gap by Economic Status by
Gender
Economic Status
2010
2011
Male
Female
Male
Female
Econ Dis
73.1
75.8
74.3
77.3
Non-Econ Dis
88.9
90.2
89.8
92.6
Page 7 of 11
BOARD OF EDUCATION MONITORING SYSTEM: 2011–2012
Figure 6: Middle School TAKS Percent Passing by Subject and Ethnicity: 2010 and 2011
120.0
67.8
63.9
69.7
95.2
95.9
80.0 82.6
80.8 81.3
91.9
93.2
80.9
78.0
72.2
69.5
65.2
White
60.0
African American
Hispanic
40.0
20.0
Math 2011
Math 2010
Reading
2011
Reading
2010
All Tests
2011
All Tests
2010
0.0
Figure 6 cont'd: Middle School TAKS Percent Passing by Subject and Ethnicity: 2010 and 2011
120.0
100.0
Percent Passing
98.6
91.6 92.7
97.3
91.1 92.4
94.4
92.7
72.5
80.0
77.0
67.3
98.1
94.4 92.6
98.7
95.0 93.5
71.2
White
African American
60.0
Hispanic
40.0
20.0
Data by Gender:
Page 8 of 11
Social Studies 2011
Social Studies 2010
Science 2011
Science 2010
Writing 2011
0.0
Writing 2010
Percent Passing
80.0
91.1
91.1
100.0
BOARD OF EDUCATION MONITORING SYSTEM: 2011–2012
Table 5: Middle School TAKS Percent Passing All Tests Taken Gap by Ethnicity by Gender
Ethnicity
2010
2011
Male
Female
Male
Female
Hispanic
65.7
69.9
67.8
71.8
African American
61.5
66.1
62.9
67.5
White
90.1
92.1
90.0
92.3
Figure 7: Middle School TAKS Percent Passing by Subject and Economic Status: 2010 and 2011
92.0
85.1
97.9
75.0
93.4
94.3
Social Studies 2011
87.2
97.4
Social Studies 2010
82.9
Percent Passing
96.7
93.3
100.0
Science 2011
120.0
97.3
89.3
84.2
88.1
80.0
79.7
78.0
80.2
75.1
60.0
65.7
91.5
91.0
70.0
67.5
40.0
20.0
Non Econ Dis
Science 2010
Writing 2010
Econ Dis
Writing 2011
Math 2011
Math 2010
Reading 2011
Reading 2010
All Tests 2011
All Tests 2010
0.0
Data by Gender:
Table 6: Middle School TAKS Percent Passing All Tests Taken Gap by Economic Status by
Gender
Economic Status
2010
2011
Male
Female
Male
Female
Econ Dis
63.5
67.8
65.5
69.6
Non-Econ Dis
81.5
84.2
85.3
89.2
Page 9 of 11
BOARD OF EDUCATION MONITORING SYSTEM: 2011–2012
Figure 8: High School TAKS Percent Passing by Subject and Ethnicity: 2010 and 2011
120.0
Percent Passing
100.0
80.0
86.5
85.4
96.4
95.0
86.6 86.4
85.4 83.6
74.4
72.2
64.0
65.6
64.0
62.8
56.9
56.9
87.7
87.5
White
60.0
African American
Hispanic
40.0
20.0
Math 2011
Math 2010
Reading
2011
Reading
2010
All Tests
2011
All Tests
2010
0.0
Figure 8 cont'd: High School TAKS Percent Passing by Subject and Ethnicity: 2010 and 2011
120.0
98.3
94.1
94.4
93.4
Percent Passing
100.0
74.7
80.0
71.2
77.2
91.5
98.3
94.7
92.4
72.4
White
African American
60.0
Hispanic
40.0
20.0
Social Studies 2011
Social Studies 2010
Science 2011
Science 2010
0.0
Note: TAKS Writing is given at grades 4 and 7 only and is not included for High School
Office.
Page 10 of 11
BOARD OF EDUCATION MONITORING SYSTEM: 2011–2012
Data by Gender:
Table 7: High School TAKS Percent Passing All Tests Taken Gap by Ethnicity by Gender
Ethnicity
2010
2011
Male
Female
Male
Female
Hispanic
62.9
65.1
64.4
66.8
African American
53.7
60.0
53.6
60.2
White
86.1
87.0
84.3
86.6
Figure 9: High School TAKS Percent Passing by Subject and Economic Status: 2010 and 2011
120.0
Percent Passing
96.9
91.9
73.2
76.3
80.0
77.4
85.8
81.0
70.8
68.9
61.1
83.3
87.0
92.8
84.1
60.0
40.0
95.1
92.0
100.0
93.6
74.7
72.9
62.1
20.0
Econ Dis
Non Econ Dis
Data by Gender:
Table 8: High School TAKS Percent Passing All Tests Taken Gap by Economic Status by Gender
Economic Status
2010
2011
Male
Female
Male
Female
Econ Dis
59.7
62.6
60.5
63.7
Non-Econ Dis
71.4
74.9
74.4
78.2
Page 11 of 11
Social Studies 2011
Social Studies 2010
Science 2011
Science 2010
Math 2011
Math 2010
Reading 2011
Reading 2010
All Tests 2011
All Tests 2010
0.0