Vidor ISD not taxed by TAKS

VIDOR — Preliminary scores from the 2008 Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills are in and the Vidor Independent School District looks to be in good shape.

According to information provided by Debbie Gier, testing coordinator for Vidor ISD, scores remained consistent in reading, math and writing from 2007 at Oak Forest, Pine Forest and Vidor Elementary schools.

“We’ve seen some sizable increases in subject areas in many grade levels,” Gier said.

Third grade reading scores remained at 98 percent — meeting standard for the second straight year — while fourth-graders improved in all three subject areas.

Results for fifth and sixth grade children at Vidor Middle School were about the same as a year ago.

“And we are very pleased with those results, especially since districts were required to include special education scores in with the regular education scores,” Gier noted.

Scores at Vidor Junior High were a bit mixed as scores for seventh grade students either remained on par or declined slightly, while eighth grade scores increased in all four subject areas.

TAKS results at Vidor High School were down for the most part as scores declined in eight areas.

Test results for ninth grade students decreased by 9 percent in reading and 11 percentage points in math when compared to 2007 results.

Tenth grade results decreased this year as only 60 percent of sophomores met standard in this subject area. Science and social studies scores remained constant or improved slightly.

The “Exit TAKS” as it is known requires students, beginning in April of their junior year, to meet standard in all four subject areas in order to graduate high school.

Scores either remained at or near the same result from 2007 or increased.