MWPISD tops in TAKS, second in Lone Star Cup
     --July 24, 2003

Monahans schools finished up the past year tied for second place in the prestigious University Interscholastic League Lone Star Cup rankings.  Joining names like Highland Park, Humble Kingwood, Southlake Carrol, The Woodlands and Canyon.  Monahans earned its first recognition as one of the elite schools in the state since the Lone Star Cup began.

The format includes all althletics, marching band, one-act play and state UIL academic competition.

"I think you have to give some of the credit to the community," said Athletic Director Larry Hanna.  "They expect the best of our youth."

Hanna said every event put on by Monahans is tops, from One-Act Play and UIL Meets to volleyball tournaments.

"It is a competitive community spirit," he said.  "That when we do something it is going to be done right.  Think about all the volunteers we have at powerlifting meets, baseball tournaments, tennis tournaments, everything.  All those parents doing all of the work is what makes it happen."

The coach said school pride and lofty ideals are pervasive at MHS and are contagious.

"Those teachers that do the UIL academics," he said, "and our coaches have all got the state meet attitude.  They expect the goal to be state and our kids have learned to think that way."

And when the TAKS test results were release, there was more good news for the school district, this time in the all-important areas of classroom achievement.

In the first administration of the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills test, Monahans' passing percentage results were head and shoulders above area school and beat the state average in 25 of 26 test areas.

While the Odessa American reported a dismal performance for the Ector County Independent School District (ECISD) and administrators were scrambling for answers, Monahans Interim Supt. Jerry Larned was very positive.

"When you look at the results of our district," he said, "we are very please.  We beat the Odessa and San Angelo schools in all 26 categories on the 2003 TAKS.  We also beat Midland ISD in 24 of the 26 testing areas."

Monahans' passing rate was excellent at all levels, beginning in the third grade, with 100 percent of the students tested passing the reading section of the exam (the state mandates that every third grader must pass reading to be promoted to fourth grade).  The state average was 89 percent passing.  In Grade 4 Writing, 96 percent of Tatom students passed compared to the 86 percent state average.

Fifth graders at Sudderth had a 98 passing percentage in math, and Walker Junior High students averaged 10 points higher than the state average in six sections of the test.

At the high school level where the test is most critical to students, MHS finished well above area schools in eight of 10 categories. The only area below the state level was sophomore science, where the state average was 69 and Monahans' passing rate was 68.

Larned said "This area will be addressed.  We have had very large classes in science at the 10th grade level, which makes lab work very difficult.  We are looking at adding more sections to make smaller classes in this area.

"Overall, administrators were very pleased.  The credit should go to the teachers, principals, students, and parents for an outstanding job," Larned added.

While most West Texas educators don't agree with the TASS, now TAKS, testing system and its importance, there is no avoiding it.   TAKS is now the mandatory accountability test, and it is law.

The important thing, according to Larned is that, like the test or not, teachers and kids are excelling.

One real benefit to the community at large for the schools' successes may be attracting area families.  Many including Economic Development head Gene Brown, believe the town is already reaping the benefit.  He said more people are choosing to put their children in school here and commute to work.

"I don't know how much of that is happening," said the interim superintendent.  "I know it is some.  If we continue along these line, it will be something people will have to consider."