It’s the early in the 2009-10 school year, and already, the Lake Travis Independent School District (LTISD) is on a “roll.” Lake Pointe (LPE) and Lakeway (LWE) elementary schools have been named to the Texas Business and Education Coalition (TBEC) Honor Roll for 2009.

According to TBEC, the honor roll recognizes 254 of the state’s most outstanding educational institutions, representing less than four percent of more than 8,000 public schools in Texas. “Being named a TBEC Honor Roll school is the most prestigious award for sustained, academic excellence a Texas public school can achieve,” said TBEC Executive Director Ken Zornes. “It recognizes schools that have demonstrated three years of consistent, high performance in all subjects compared to other schools serving similar student populations. Honor Roll schools have the highest percentage of students performing at the state’s most rigorous standard in every subject.” The 2009 standards were by far the toughest in the 10 year history of the award, added Zornes.
All schools selected for the TBEC Honor Roll were expected to improve their Commended performance from 2008, and every school was required to have a minimum of 20 percent of students tested performing at the Commended level on all tests for 2009.
“We applaud Lake Pointe principal Heidi Gudelman and Lakeway principal Sam Hicks and their respective teachers and staff for their efforts and commitment which have resulted in students performing at the highest of standards,” stated LTISD Superintendent of Schools Dr. Rocky Kirk. “The high levels of student achievement at these schools are indicative of the achievement of students on all eight of our campuses. Furthermore, the District has demonstrated a steady and impressive increase in student academic achievement over time. This reflects the wonderful support and high expectations that parents, teachers, staff, and community have bestowed upon our students, and in an era of pessimism directed at public schools, it is reason to celebrate.”
All Honor Roll schools will be recognized during the Tenth Annual TBEC Honor Roll School seminar, reception, and dinner on Nov. 9 at the Marriott San Antonio Rivercenter Hotel. The event is sponsored by HEB and IBM.