The Ricardo Independent School District received an Exemplary rating from the Texas Education Agency according to the 2010 preliminary accountability report released Friday.

Ricardo ISD is the only district in Kleberg County to receive the highest rating under the state accountability standards.

Kingsville Independent School District received an Academically Acceptable rating up from last year’s Academically Unacceptable rating.

Dr. Vita Canales, Ricardo ISD superintendent, described this TEA exemplary rating as a true school and community effort.

“The principals and I are ecstatic and so very proud of our students and teachers!” she exclaimed. “They deserve all the credit!”

“Ricardo ISD’s district motto is: ‘Commitment today, means success tomorrow” and truly, our tomorrow has arrived with hard work comes results,” she said.

“This accomplishment

Ratings has been a true team effort from our committed school board members who never lost sight of our main goal: our children, to our principals, who are our instructional leaders, to our dedicated and hard working teachers along with every staff member who plays an invaluable role in the success of every child who attends Ricardo schools,” she stated. Both Ricardo Elementary School and Ricardo Middle School were Exemplary campuses. Ricardo ISD had been a Recognized district the past four years.

Emilio Castro, Kingsville Independent School District superintendent said the district missed being rated Recognized by one point.

“I am very excited making the leap from Academically Unacceptable to Academically Acceptable and missed being Recognized by one point and am confident that we are headed in the right direction,” he said Monday.

KISD had four Recognized campuses this year, which were Gillett Intermediate School, Kleberg, Harrel, and Lamar elementary schools. Harvey and Perez elementary schools had been Recognized last year but became Academically Acceptable campuses this year. Other Academically Election Acceptable campuses were H.M. King High School, and Memorial Middle School.

The Santa Gertrudis Independent School District received a Recognized Accountability rating. Both Santa Gertrudis Academy High School and the Santa Gertrudis School were Recognized campuses. This was the second year for a Recognized rating for the Santa Gertrudis ISD. Prior to that, the district had been rated Academically Acceptable. Their superintendent is Mary Springs.

Riviera Independent School District received an Academically Acceptable rating. Kaufer High School was rated an Academically Acceptable campus and Nanny Elementary School received a Recognized rating. Riviera ISD superintendent is Ernest Havner.

Kingsville, Ricardo, Santa Gertrudis, and Riviera are all school districts in Kleberg County.

The Bishop Consolidated Independent School District received an Academically Acceptable rating along with the Bishop High School. Bishop Elementary and Bishop Primary were rated Exemplary campuses. The Lillion E. Luehrs Junior High School and the Petronila Elementary School were rated Recognized. Christina Gutierrez serves as the Bishop CISD superintendent.

The Driscoll Independent School District was rated Exemplary this year for the second year in a row. Both the Driscoll Elementary School and the Driscoll Middle School were rated Exemplary campuses. After the students finish the eighth grade they attend Santa Gertrudis Academy High School in Kingsville.

“I am very pleased with Driscoll’s accountability rating of Exemplary for the 2010 school year,” said Cynthia Garcia, Driscoll ISD superintendent. “I believe we have the best students, staff, parents in our community and our successes are the direct result of their hard work.”

“With the start of the 2010-2011 school year already under our belt, we look forward to continued student success. Our mantra is: ‘we got the repeat, now we’re going for the 3-peat, simply Exemplary,” she said.

“I’m confident we will continue to see great successes from our community of learners in Driscoll ISD,” Garcia said.

Bishop CISD and Driscoll ISD are both in Nueces County.

Another area school district, the Kenedy County-wide Common School District received a Recognized TEA rating. Sarita Elementary School was rated Recognized.

“We were extremely close to being an Exemplary campus,” said Renee Garcia, who is serving a second year as the superintendent and principal.

Renee Garcia, Cynthia Garcia and Dr. Vita Canales, three area superintendents, are H.M. King High School graduate success stories.

Accountability ratings for the state’s public schools are released every year by TEA. These Texas public schools are assessed on several indicators. These indicators include student performance on the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills, TAKS when students are tested the previous spring. Another indicator is completion rates for the class of 2009 and annual drop out rates for seventh and eighth grades.

The four accountability ratings for the school districts and campuses are Exemplary, Recognized, Academically Acceptable and Academically Unacceptable.

At least 90 percent of all students in each group, black, Hispanic, white and economically disadvantaged, must pass all subjects tested in order for a school district or campus to receive the highest Exemplary rating.

To receive a Recognized rating at least 80 percent of all students tested must pass every subject. An Academically Acceptable rating is awarded under the state accountability standards when at least 70 percent of students pass the reading/English language arts, writing and social students tests. Students must also pass at least 60 percent of math and at least 55 percent of the science tests.

Academically Unacceptable is the lowest rating for any school district or campus. This rating means that fewer than 70 percent of students did not meet reading, writing and social standards and fewer than 60 percent met math standards and fewer than 55 percent met science standards.

School districts may appeal accountability ratings to TEA. Ratings are finalized in October. Advisory Commission