9-30-04 - The Texas Education Agency's accountability ratings are in. They bring good and bad news to north Texas. Grayson County schools received high marks. Hyde Park, Collinsville, Sherman’s Fairview and Perrin, Pottsboro and Gunter Elementary Schools all receiving exemplary ratings.

In Fannin County, Leonard Elementary received the same mark while in Cooke County, Valley View Elementary was also named exemplary.

The toughest area grade went to Travis Junior High School in Paris, which was rated academically unacceptable.

Statewide, fewer Texas school districts received the two highest ratings in the first year of the state's tougher accountability system.

Figures released today in Austin also show more schools in the lowest category.

About 39 percent of the state's 1,037 school districts were rated exemplary or recognized. That's down from 47 percent in 2002, the last year of the old system.

The number in the lowest category, academically unacceptable, almost doubled to 26 districts and 102 campuses.

Texas Education Commissioner Shirley Neeley says those districts and campuses need to take a comprehensive look at their programs, instructional strategies and curriculum.

Neeley says the next step is to design a plan of action for improvement.

Drops in the rankings were expected because the standards that schools must meet are tougher under the new system.

This year's results are based on the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills.

For a complete listing of the school rankings, click here.