AUSTIN, TX—The Texas Education Agency recently announced its list of Title 1 Reward Schools for the 2013–14 school year, naming three AISD elementary schools—Blackshear, Dawson and Graham—all recognized for high performance and high progress.

“We are very proud of the students and staff at Blackshear, Dawson and Graham elementary schools for continually raising the bar,” Interim Superintendent Paul Cruz said. “The success of these schools was earned by everyone involved, and the district will continue to support all their great work, which goes far beyond testing.”

In 2012, Graham Elementary School was the only school in Central Texas to earn the prestigious honor of being named a National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education.

In 2013, Blackshear, Graham and Dawson all earned distinction designations from TEA in three areas: Top 25 Percent Student Progress, Academic Achievement Reading/ELA and Academic Achievement Math.

To receive the designation for high performance, a Title 1 school must earn academic distinctions in math and reading in the Texas accountability system.

A high progress school is a Title 1 school in the top 25 percent in annual improvement and/or a school in the top 25 percent of those demonstrating the ability to close performance gaps based on system safeguards.

A total of 231 Texas schools were recognized as high performance schools and 363 were recognized as high progress schools.

For more information, visit the TEA’s website at www.tea.state.tx.us/ESEAFlex_Principle2.aspx.