Temple High School is academically one of the best in the state according to new accountability ratings released by the Texas Education Agency (TEA).
In the three year history of the accountability system that rates schools as “met standard,” “met alternative standard,” “improvement required,” or “not rated,” Temple High School has now “met standard” all three years.
Additionally, the high school also earned an impressive six out of seven distinctions, part of 18 distinctions district wide, including eight alone in the three Temple ISD middle schools.
Temple High School
With six out of seven distinctions, Temple High School ranked 2nd out of 40 peer schools in our TEA comparison group, earning distinctions for achievement in math, reading, science, social studies, post-secondary readiness and top 25% for closing the achievement gap.
Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, Dr. Bobby Ott, said, “Among our peer groups, we were the 2nd best high school, and that’s a huge feat.”
To that, Temple High School Principal Dr. Jason Mayo added, “We've got smart kids, hard working teachers, and good systems in place. I look forward to continuing the progress made at THS!”
Six distinctions at the high school, while impressive, continues to reflect the strong tradition of academic excellence at THS including close to 25 years of the International Baccalaureate Programme.
However, at Temple High School, that academic success is achieved through a positive culture promoting an education that goes beyond the core classes. Beginning in the 2015-2016 school year, all Temple High School students will receive their own Chromebook for use in class and at home. This is made possible by our voters, who approved the TRE in 2013 that funds the cutting edge technology improvements in the district. Those improvements have put Temple High School in the state spotlight, with districts around Texas now putting the THS model in place on their high school campuses.
The TRE also allowed Temple ISD to buy new equipment for our science classes, and improved and updated our library collections.
The Career & Technical Education program at THS is leading the state in developing business partnerships and preparing students to meet in-demand local jobs when they graduate from high school. By offering professional certifications and dual college credit, more than 1,600 THS students now take CTE courses.
The Fine Arts Program is a standard bearer across Texas, and has grown with new instruments purchased through funds from the TRE.
Temple High School Athletics are succeeding on the field and court, with football playing in the 2014 State Championship and boys track taking bronze in the 4X200 relay at the state meet. However our athletes are also succeeding in the classroom with over 85% of student athletes on the A-B Honor Roll.
“Simply put, Temple High School is arguably one of the best high schools you can attend in Texas for opportunity and success,” Ott said, “and it’s not just [Temple ISD] saying that. The success of our students and statistics from the state continue to prove it.”
Middle Schools
All three Temple ISD middle schools also “met standard,” and together earned eight distinctions, three each at Lamar Middle School and Travis Science Academy, and two at Bonham Middle School.
This is the most distinctions Temple ISD has received at the middle school level, and is the second year in a row Lamar Middle School has not only met standard, but also earned three distinctions.
At Travis Science Academy, the school not only “met standard” and earned three distinctions, but achieved that while implementing the academically advanced International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme. TSA was approved over the summer as an official IB MYP campus.
Elementary Schools
At the elementary level, Cater Elementary, Hector P. Garcia Elementary, Jefferson Elementary, Kennedy-Powell Elementary, Scott Elementary, and Thornton Elementary all “met standard.”
Additionally, Hector P. Garcia Elementary earned a distinction, and Kennedy-Powell Elementary earned three distinctions. K-P has now earned distinctions all three years.
Raye-Allen Elementary School and Western Hills Elementary School missed the “met standard” designation. On these campuses Ott said, “We took a pro-active approach to continue their academic growth. In June, the district began working with TEA support staff to continue strengthening these campuses, months before TEA support would normally begin in September.”
As we enter a new school year on August 24th, Temple ISD is excited for continued academic growth in all of our schools. We’re thankful for a community that supports our children, and gives our teachers the tools that are helping to make the Temple school district one of the best in the state not only for academics, but also for an all-around education.