Poor Ratings for Pearce, Garcia?

Two of East Austin's middle schools are expected to receive bad news when the state releases its accountability ratings in July. At the June 20 meeting of the Austin Independent School District board of trustees, Superintendent Meria Carstarphen presented the preliminary TAKS scores for Austin students. Overall, the district saw increases in the number of children passing mathematics, science, and writing, and Hispanic, African-American, and economically disadvantaged kids continued to close the achievement gap in almost all areas. However, Carstarphen said that she expected both Pearce and Garcia middle schools to miss the state accountability standards and be classified as academically unacceptable. She added that if Garcia does receive the state's failing grade, it will be by a narrow enough margin that she will appeal the decision to the Texas Education Agency. Both campuses are being reshaped to fit in with the district's new college prep model. However, in a surprising addition to the conversation, Carstarphen went on to discuss the potential for a boys' school and a second all-girls school in East Austin, potentially using those campuses.