I wonder what the numbers would look like using the same rating criteria as last year? It sounds like we might be comparing apples to potatoes.

"But even as he lauded the numbers, state Education Commissioner Robert Scott defended the special formulas used to help most campuses boost their ratings a level and claim those titles.

The Texas Projection Measure allows districts to count as passing certain students who fail but are projected to pass within three years. Critics say the system gives a false boost to districts.

"If you look at the data of what we projected in 2009 and what happened in 2010, it proved out, almost to every campus," Scott said Friday. "Many of the districts and campuses that are rated exemplary or recognized this year would have been recognized or exemplary anyway, even without TPM."

But figures released Friday by the Texas Education Agency show that statewide this year, only 33 percent of the 5,777 exemplary and recognized campuses earned those ratings without using exemptions or special measures."

I think that before we have a balloon release and pass around the cigars, we should put it all in perspective. Our district (and many others) "earned" higher ratings by jiggling the numbers and predicting a good outcome. Amazing!

Research and celebrate REAL accomplishments...there are plenty, we don't need to make up POSSIBLE futures.