AUSTIN – The Forney Independent School District was recently notified by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) that the district had been awarded more than 50 Gold Performance Acknowledgements (GPA) for academic achievement during the 2008-2009 school year. The district earned a total of 16 more GPAs in 2009 than it did in 2008. In 2008, the district was awarded a total of 38 GPAs.

The TEA Gold Performance Acknowledgements recognize districts and campuses for high academic performance on various indicators, such as commended performance on Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS), college admissions tests and Advanced Placement/International Baccalaureate (AP/IB) examinations. There are a total of 13 different categories in which a GPA can be earned at the district level and 15 different categories at the campus level.

“The academic success our students and staff experienced during the 2008-2009 school year continues to be recognized by state government education agencies and other notable educational organizations,” said Dr. Darrell Brown, Forney ISD Superintendent of Schools. “For the individual schools and the district as a whole to earn 54 Gold Performance Acknowledgements is an incredible achievement and a testament to the dedication of the Forney ISD staff and the outstanding students in our district.”

As a whole, Forney ISD earned GPAs in Commended Reading/English Language Arts (ELA), Commended Writing, Commended Social Studies and in Attendance. Henderson Elementary School earned a Gold Performance Acknowledgement in every category including Commended Reading/LA, Commended Math, Commended Writing, Commended Science, Comparable Improvement in Reading/ELA, Comparable Improvement in Math and in Attendance. Lewis Elementary earned Gold Performance Acknowledgements in every category except Comparable Improvement in Math.

The news of the Gold Performance Acknowledgement recognitions to the district comes on the heels of the TEA upgrading Warren Middle School’s accountability rating from Academically Acceptable to Recognized. The district appealed the TEA’s original rating and after further investigation, the education organization changed the rating of the school.

Forney ISD earned a Recognized District rating from the TEA as a result of the success the district achieved during the 2008-2009 TAKS testing period. All nine elementary schools in the district were rated Exemplary by the TEA.