Oakhurst Elementary School is one of 39 Fort Worth ISD schools recently rated as Recognized or Exemplary by the Texas Education Agency (TEA).   It is the fourth consecutive year Oakhurst has been listed as a Recognized school.

“The success of Oakhurst is a community effort that our parents, students, neighborhood, and staff make possible,” said Former Principal Karen Molinar.

The 2011 accountability rating is based on student performance on the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS).  To be rated as a Recognized school, all students and each student group must meet the 80 percent state standard in each subject.  Additionally, 15 percent or more of students must be scoring at the Commended level and above in Reading and Mathematics, and 60 percent or more of English Language Learners must be proficient in Reading.

Molinar credits personalized instruction and intervention for Oakhurst’s Recognized rating.

“The faculty and staff look at each student individually and determine what the needs are for that student and develop classroom instruction around those needs,” she said.  “We utilize every instructional minute to meet the needs of our students.”

Oakhurst made double-digit gains in Math over the past two years, with fourth and fifth grade students scoring at the Exemplary level.  In addition, gains were made in Science and Writing, and the school’s Special Education Department worked extremely hard to achieve double-digit gains.

“Our scores show that we are teaching and meeting the needs of all students,” Molinar said.

A closer look at the numbers show:

• 83 percent of all students met the state standard in Reading
• 82 percent of all students met the state standard in Writing
• 87 percent of all students met the state standard in Mathematics
• 85 percent of all students met the state standard in Science

Oakhurst Elementary will switch to a new assessment system, the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR), in the 2011-2012 school year.  The transition will require the school to build and expand on current success to ensure that students meet the standards on the new more rigorous STAAR assessments.

“Every time the state has raised their expectations and accountability rates our campus has stepped up and met the challenge,” Molinar said.  “We feel that if we continue to work together as a team and look at each student as an individual and not just a number then we can conquer the new STAAR assessment as well.”

Molinar says the theme for the 2011-2012 school year is “No Limits for Success.”  Teachers and staff will focus on moving all students to higher levels of academic achievement.

“The campus will be incorporating the theme through Accelerated Reading, math fact competitions, vocabulary building, and student voice,” she said.  “The Oakhurst family steps up to each and every challenge that is presented to us.  We are looking forward to the 2011-2012 school year.”

>> See the accountability rating on the TEA website.