(Credit: Manor ISD)
On Thursday, the Texas Education Agency released its 2019 accountability ratings, showing some sizeable gains made on the part of the Manor Independent School District. In 2018, Manor ISD was one of only two districts in the Austin-area to receive a ‘D’ rating (the other being Del Valle ISD), but for 2019, that rating has shot up to a ‘B’.
“We have made tremendous academic progress, and this score reflects that hard work and dedication put in by our support staff, administrators, and, most importantly, our teachers and students,” said Superintendent Dr. Royce Avery. “We want to make it clear that we still see the state’s accountability system as a narrow view of a school’s success, being primarily based on test scores. However, it is now undeniable that Manor ISD is making our way to greatness.”
Manor ISD also received 22 distinctions, up from 13 the previous year, further demonstrating the drastic advancements the district has made academically. The district saw across-the-board improvements in the areas measured by the Texas Education Agency. One particular highlight is a significant increase in the number of students who leave the district ready for college, career, or the military.
“Preparing our students for their lives after high school is at the heart of what we do as educators,” said Assistant Superintendent Dr. Brian Yearwood. “We know that our students aren’t just graduating, they’re ready for the real world.”
District administrators further emphasize the importance of new academic programs including Fine Arts academies, International Baccalaureate-candidate schools, and additional New Tech campuses.
“There was no silver bullet to improving our student outcomes from two years ago to last year,” said Curriculum & Instruction Executive Director Michael Perkins. “Instead it was about hard work and implementing programs with fidelity and rigor.”
The district will move forward with more new programs starting this year, including a new district-wide Pre-K Center and a pilot program for its two-way dual-language program, officials say.
