Clifton school board reviews 2024 end-of-year testing data

The Clifton Independent School District (CISD) Board of Education convened for its regular meeting Monday, June 17, 2024, to review and discuss the campus end-of-year (EOY) testing data and the preliminary results of the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) and End-of-Course (EOC) exams.

Progress and performance overview

CISD Superintendent Andy Ball kicked off the discussion by highlighting the overall performance of the district. He emphasized that while there were areas for improvement, the district showed significant progress compared to the previous year.

“We were at or above the state average on 15 out of 20 tests,” Ball noted, underscoring a marked improvement from the prior year's 12 out of 20.

The superintendent also provided a detailed breakdown, noting how close Clifton ISD students were to meeting or exceeding state averages in several subjects.

Elementary school insights

Clifton Elementary Principal Wes Brown presented a thorough analysis of the elementary grades. He highlighted the standout performance in fifth grade, where students excelled in both math and science, with 30-percent growth in math and 19-percent growth in reading compared to last year. However, third-grade math emerged as an area needing attention, falling slightly below the state average.

Brown also shared the school's strategic shift towards specialized teaching. Starting in the upcoming school year, fourth grade will adopt a departmentalized structure similar to 5th grade, with dedicated teachers for each core subject. This change aims to replicate the success seen in 5th grade.

Middle school analysis

At the middle school level, CISD Curriculum Director Tiffany Jones presented promising results. Clifton Middle School outperformed the state average in several areas, particularly in 6th-grade math and reading. The 7th and 8th grades showed solid performance, with notable improvements in eighth-grade math and reading.

However, 8th-grade science and social studies were identified as subjects needing targeted interventions. Jones mentioned plans to address these gaps through curriculum adjustments and a stronger focus on data-driven instruction.

High school results

Clifton High School Principal Jimmy Jackson discussed the performance at the high school, emphasizing the remarkable achievements despite challenges. The high school managed to score above the state average in all subjects except for Algebra I in the Masters category. The school’s exceptional performance in biology, with scores 20-percent above the state average, was particularly commendable. Jackson credited the dedication and adaptability of the teachers, especially in navigating long-term substitute situations in key subjects like Biology and English.

Jackson also highlighted the importance of crosscurricular approaches and the integration of writing across all subjects, contributing to the overall academic success.

Board's perspective and future goals Board President Julie New praised the efforts and results but also stressed the need to maintain high expectations and continue striving for improvement.

“We still want to keep the expectation super high and make sure we aim for 20 out of 20,” New stated.

Trustee Josh Ritzman inquired about the strategies used by other schools and suggested investigating their methods for potential adoption.

Superintendent Ball and Principal Jones acknowledged this approach and noted the importance of collaborative learning and benchmarking against similar districts.

Community and classroom support

The meeting also touched on the role of the community and the board in supporting the schools.

Superintendent Ball and the principals emphasized the importance of understanding the data and using it to drive improvements. They discussed the need for continuous professional development and strategic planning to enhance instructional quality and student outcomes.