Pearce Middle School set to close

AUSTIN (KXAN) - The State of Texas laid a bombshell on the Austin Independent School District Wednesday, ordering it to close Pearce Middle School just 30 days before the new school year is set to begin.

The middle school is slated for closure for the 2009-2010 school year after four years of low test scores . In eight of the last 10 years, Pearce's TAKS score were either poor or unacceptable.

Some 800 students and 60 teachers will be disbursed to other schools, and the middle school may be repurposed for other missions- much like Johnston High School when it was closed last year for similarly poor test performances.

The closure announcement comes after much discussion from the Texas Education Agency , which considered closing the school or handing it to alternative management in May 2008.

New Austin Independent School District Superintendent Dr. Meria Carstarphen has been on the job for just eight days and said she believes the state's action was unnecessary and late in coming.

"I'm disappointed," said Carstarphen. "Less than 30 working days really puts us behind the eight ball."

Carstarphen said the middle school's test scores in most subjects have been improving and that the school could have achieved state standards if given a little more time. The school did not meet the state standard in science, with only 39-percent of student's passing. The state said two out of every three students did not pass the science portion.

AISD received formal notification from Texas Education Commissioner Robert Scott that he is ordering the closure of Pearce Middle School effective with the new school year after the TEA determined Pearce Middle School would again be rated "Academically Unacceptable" for fifth consecutive year.

"These students need help now, so they're not denied a high school diploma a few years down the road," said Debbie Graves Ratcliffe, TEA's Director of Communications. She said Pearce has had the lowest rating eight out of the last ten years.

Pearce Middle School's student body is 58 percent Hispanic and 40 percent black. Some 95 percent of students come from economically disadvantaged homes, and 38 percent of its students are deemed to have some English language deficiencies.

School activist Brenda Washington put three children through Pearce Middle School and blames AISD for the school's problems.

"You got to know how to read and write," said Washington. "That's a must in this world. AISD is not doing their part. They'd rather close the school, rename it and try again."

AISD is the only school district in the state that has closed a school two years in a row. The state closed Johnston High School in 2008 after five years of academically unacceptable scores.

It has taken one full school year for the new Eastside Memorial High School at Johnston's old campus to fully transition into a new model.

"Surely we have to know our history in order to plan not to repeat that," said Connor Grady, principal at the new Eastside Green Tech school.

The Green Tech school will focus on project based learning around renewable energy, with specific focus on Science, Engineering, Technology and Math. Eastside will also host a Global Tech school focused on Global studies, and an International School for foreign students.

"They'll be able to present themselves better," said Grady. "They'll be basically mor marketable when they get out of high school."

Those at Eastside and the rest of the district will have lots of work ahead. AISD School Board of Trustees Vice President Vincent Torres did not deny problems in the past.

"Have we been successful in the past? Absolutely not," said Torres. "But I know that this board is very committed to ensure the success of every student in the district."

He would like to see changes made to help students early on before they reach troubled middle schools and high schools.

When compared to the state's toughest districts, AISD has underperformed in turning school performance around.

AISD School Board of Trustees President Mark Williams stressed more than once in a May 4 workshop session that AISD had no desire to close Pearce Middle School or Reagan High School.

“I’m having trouble understanding how this decision was in the best interest of our students,” said a shocked Williams after hearing the news.

The school district also said it was hopeful in late May 2009 that House Bill 3 would be adopted and approved by Gov. Rick Perry to allow the middle school to remain open and continue on its current trajectory to success. However, lawmakers left the bill pending in committee July 1.

AISD projects the July 31 report will rate that the middle school meets all standards except science.

There will be a public meeting at Pearce Middle School July 15 at 6:30 p.m. to discuss the future options for students and faculty.

AISD Superintendent Meria Carstarphen speaks about the closure