Huntsville ISD trustees hear benchmark gains and preparation plans ahead of STAAR testing
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Summary
Superintendent Dr. Shepherd and district staff told the board the district’s spring benchmark data suggest likely improvements on STAAR, with elementary campuses showing growth in most measured areas and targeted plans to address weaker subjects at the high school.
HUNTSVILLE — Huntsville Independent School District leaders told the board on Monday that spring benchmark results point to likely gains on the upcoming STAAR state tests, though some subjects will require targeted intervention.
Superintendent Doctor Shepherd opened the meeting by noting recent student achievements across athletics and campus events, then stressed the rigor of the STAAR assessment. “It’s not a basic skills test,” Doctor Shepherd said, arguing that the exam requires more complex knowledge and reasoning than the public often assumes.
At the heart of the meeting was an academic update from Josh Campbell, who reviewed campus-level spring benchmark comparisons and explained how the district uses those interim assessments to predict STAAR outcomes. Campbell said the district examines two main accountability domains: Domain 1 (student achievement, including RLA and math) and Domain 2 (growth). “For domain 2, at the elementary level we have shown growth in 15 out of those 16 areas,” Campbell told trustees, noting that the spring benchmark typically forecasts a bump heading into STAAR.
Campbell highlighted several campus-specific trends: some elementary campuses are outperforming last year’s spring benchmarks and are near last year’s STAAR results; Scott Johnson and Samuel Walker Houston Elementary showed notable improvement compared with their prior benchmarks; and the high school displayed mixed results, with algebra I singled out as an area of concern. Campbell said campus teams have targeted, data-driven plans to support students and avoid regression in weaker subjects.
Board members asked for clarification about how growth areas are counted; Campbell explained his breakdown is by grade level and tested area, which is why elementary measures produced a larger count of growth areas than secondary campuses.
The board also approved the consent agenda earlier in the meeting; the president called the vote and those present voted in favor with none opposed. After the academic presentation and other business, the board entered executive session at 7:17 p.m.
The district’s next regular meeting is scheduled for April 16, with the May meeting moved to May 14 because of school calendar adjustments.
