Midland Independent School District in context (2015)

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Midland Independent School District in Context
Special reports:
Exploring MISD's poor academic performance • The fall of MISD's junior high schools

The Midland Independent School District's academic performance has slightly surpassed state averages but has stayed below similar districts in the state, according to statistics from the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and the Texas comptroller. Midland ISD was ranked the third-lowest performing district out of 36 districts in its cohort on the 2014 Financial Allocation Study for Texas (FAST), which measures academic performance and finances for each district in the state. The district placed ahead of state averages on the 2014-2015 Performance Index Summary, but lagged behind similarly sized districts as well as other districts in western Texas. Midland's full-time teaching staff increased by 75 teachers from the 2012-2013 school year to the 2013-2014 school year, while enrollment increased by 241 students during that period.

Midland ISD is often compared to Ector County ISD, which is based in Odessa and is located about 20 miles from Midland. Both districts have been impacted by increased hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, of the Permian Basin. The oil wealth generated in Midland County and Ector County vaulted both cities toward the top of the United States Labor Department's list of cities with the largest job growth from 2012 to 2013.[1] An accompanying growth in population from 2010 to 2014 has contributed to greater demands on local schools. Both districts have hung around state averages on the TEA's annual performance index, but they have lagged behind other districts in the region.[2]

Comparison with Ector County

The infographic below compares the economic and academic performance of Midland and Ector:

Academic performance

See also: Midland Independent School District academic performance, initiatives and issues

TEA accountability report

The Texas Education Agency issues an annual accountability report for each school district in the state. This rating determines if district schools fulfill expectations in four categories of educational achievement during a particular school year.

  • Student Achievement: Measures student performance on the annual Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) test.
  • Student Progress: Measures student performance in reading, math and writing courses at the district level.
  • Closing Performance Gaps: Measures year-to-year performance among students in the lowest-performing demographics.
  • Postsecondary Readiness: Measures student readiness for college, employment or military service after graduation.

Midland ISD received a "Met Standard" designation on the state's 2014 report. District schools met 82 percent of indicators set forth by state education officials in all four assessment categories. The following table details the district's accountability report during the 2014-2015 school year:[3][4]

Performance Index Summary, 2014-2015[5]
Category Points earned Maximum points Index score Target score
Student Achievement 18,249 28,360 64 60
Student Progress 524 1,800 29 20
Closing Performance Gaps 873 3,000 29 28
Postsecondary Readiness 65.2 N/A 65 57

Geographic comparison

Comparison of academic performance among Texas districts in same region as Midland, 2014-2015[6]
District Student Achievement index Student Progress index Closing Performance Gaps index Postsecondary Readiness index
Target scores 60 20 28 57
San Angelo ISD 73 34 37 70
Ector County ISD 61 31 29 68
Midland ISD 64 29 29 65
Lubbock ISD 73 39 34 71
Abilene ISD 75 34 38 67

Enrollment comparison

Comparison of academic performance among Texas districts with commensurate enrollments, 2014-2015[7]
District Student Achievement index Student Progress index Closing Performance Gaps index Postsecondary Readiness index
Target scores 60 20 28 57
Birdville ISD 81 36 43 72
Pflugerville ISD 80 40 43 82
Midland ISD 64 29 29 65
Judson ISD 77 35 41 72
Galena Park ISD 78 35 43 72

Financial Allocation Study for Texas (FAST)

The Texas comptroller publishes the Financial Allocation Study for Texas (FAST) each year. This study uses three years of data on district budgets and school academic performance to determine districts with "strong and cost-effective academic growth."[8] FAST is the outcome of a 2009 bill passed by the Texas State Legislature requiring "an online clearinghouse of information relating to best practices of campuses, school districts, and open-enrollment charter schools."[9]

FAST combines state measurements of reading and math proficiency to create a composite academic progress rating for each school in Texas. The study also assigns a spending index rating for each school based on employee wages, demographic profile and enrollment levels. A district's overall FAST rating is the sum of the composite academic progress rating and the spending index rating. The overall FAST rating is based on a five-star scale, with a five-star district earning an academic score above the 80th percentile and a "Very Low" spending index score, while a one-star district earns an academic score below the 20th percentile and a "Very High" spending index score. The table below shows the possible FAST ratings based on this formula.[8]

FAST rating table.png

Criticisms of FAST

Superintendent
Ryder Warren

Midland ISD officials were quick to downplay FAST's importance to budget and policy planning after its implementation in 2010. The district received overall scores of 1.5 stars on FAST reports in 2010 and 2011. Superintendent Ryder Warren told the Midland Reporter-Telegram in September 2011 that FAST is a "political tool to me, and I don't know of any school district that does its planning to get good ratings on FAST."[10] Chief Financial Officer David Garcia criticized FAST's use of "fiscal peer" districts across the state as part of its comparative analysis. "I don't know why we're thrown in with those groups," said Garcia. "When you look at them sizewise and with demographic differences, you're gleaning huge differences."[10] Garcia also noted that the FAST data can be skewed based on federal funding for some schools and differences in campus sizes.[10]

Regional FAST comparisons

Midland ISD received a two-star rating on the 2014 FAST report covering the 2010-2011, 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 school years. The district received a composite academic progress score in the 26th percentile including placement in the 37th percentile in math and the 20th percentile in reading. FAST concluded that the district spent $7,290 per student in core operating expenditures during the study period. Midland ISD was designated as a district with low academic progress and high spending compared to similar districts.[11]

The map and table below compare Midland's 2014 FAST results with results for "fiscal peer" districts as determined by FAST reviewers. Midland ISD is represented by the black marker on the map.[11]

Note: In the map below, click the box next to the district name to view the map legend.

School-by-school comparisons

The 2014 FAST report determined overall ratings for 32 of the 35 schools in Midland ISD, with the Carver Center, Coleman High School and Midland Alternative Program unranked due to insufficient data. There were 21 schools that were given an "Average Progress," "Strong Relative Progress" or "Strongest Relative Progress" rating, according to academic performance data. Seven schools in the district placed at or below the FAST rating for the entire district, while only two schools received above 3.5 stars. The FAST review team also concluded that 17 schools in Midland ISD had "High" or "Very High" spending index ratings.[11]

The map and table below compare the FAST ratings for each school in Midland ISD for the 2010-2011, 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 school years.

Note: In the map below, click the box next to the district name to view the map legend.

Snapshot comparisons with other Texas districts

Snapshot by enrollment

The following table compares four Texas districts with similar enrollment figures to Midland during the 2013-2014 school year based on a sampling of academic and financial metrics.

Overview of budget and academic performance metrics for Texas districts with commensurate enrollment
District Total enrollment (2013-2014) Four-year graduation rates (2014) Dropout rate, Grades 9-12 (2013-2014) Total budget (2014-2015) Starting teacher salary
Birdville ISD 24,326 88.5% 1.7% $229,959,422 $51,000
Midland ISD 23,560 82.4% 3.3% $245,423,147 $47,000
Pflugerville ISD 23,534 95.0% 0.4% $211,756,498 $43,675
Judson ISD 22,972 85.5% 2.0% $219,133,346 $48,500
Galena Park ISD 22,572 91.1% 2.1% $224,211,784 $50,000
Sources: National Center for Education Statistics • Texas Education Agency • Birdville Independent School District • Galena Park Independent School District • Judson Independent School District • Midland Independent School District • Pflugerville Independent School District • United Educators Association

Snapshot by geography

The following table compares four Texas districts in close proximity to Midland based on a sampling of academic and financial metrics.

Overview of budget and academic performance metrics for Texas districts near Midland
District Total enrollment (2013-2014) Four-year graduation rates (2014) Dropout rate, Grades 9-12 (2013-2014) Total budget (2014-2015) Starting teacher salary
San Angelo ISD 15,009 92.3% 1.2% $121,492,711 $38,500
Ector County ISD 30,857 86.2% 1.9% $224,842,368 $44,500
Midland ISD 23,560 82.4% 3.3% $245,423,147 $47,000
Lubbock ISD 29,287 87.5% 3.0% $207,936,501 $37,499
Abilene ISD 17,329 94.4% 0.9% $145,305,465 $41,000
Sources: National Center for Education Statistics • Texas Education Agency • San Angelo ISD • Ector ISD • Midland Independent School District • Lubbock ISD • Abilene ISD

Budget

Midland ISD and Ector County ISD saw increases in revenues, expenditures and debt from Fiscal Year 2012 to Fiscal Year 2013. Midland's revenues increased by 15.8 percent, while expenditures grew by 16 percent from year to year. Ector's total debt grew the most among the sample districts, with a 152 percent increase.[12]

Midland budget compared to districts
with commensurate enrollments, Fiscal Year 2013
School District State Total revenues (in millions) Total expenditures (in millions) Total debt (in millions)
Pflugerville ISD Texas $224.9 $218.0 $326.7
Ector County ISD Texas $250.0 $238.5 $196.6
Midland ISD Texas $222.5 $204.1 $174.7
Sioux Falls School District South Dakota $207.0 $217.4 $100.7
Judson ISD Texas $209.3 $192.8 $463.8
Manteca Unified School District California $197.5 $202.0 $90.2
Source: United States Census Bureau

Teachers in the district

See also: Midland Independent School District staff

As of the 2013-214 school year, the National Center for Education Statistics showed a total of 2,776 employees at Midland ISD, which included 1,504 teachers. Midland ISD had 2,672 employees during the 2012-2013 school year, including 1,429 teachers. Midland's teaching staff increased by 75 from 2012-2013 to 2013-2014, while Ector County's staff grew by 46 teachers. The tables below compare the district's staffing levels to those in districts with commensurate enrollment across the country:[13]

Midland ISD # of teachers compared to districts
with commensurate enrollments, 2013-2014
School District State # of teachers Year-to-year change
Pflugerville ISD Texas 1,618 62
Ector County ISD Texas 1,761 46
Midland ISD Texas 1,504 75
Sioux Falls School District South Dakota 1,471 108
Judson ISD Texas 1,335 34
Manteca Unified School District California 870 -53
Source: National Center for Education Statistics • Texas Education Agency

Salary structure

Teacher salaries are categorized based on higher education achievement and years of service. The salary schedule accounts for a graduate degree by providing a higher starting salary and a greater potential salary. The tables below compare the district's salaries with starting salaries for districts with commensurate enrollment:[14]

Midland ISD teacher salaries compared to districts
with commensurate enrollments, 2014-2015
School District State Base pay Year-to-year change
Ector County ISD Texas $43,281 $981
Midland ISD Texas $47,000 -
Judson ISD Texas $48,500 $1,500
Manteca Unified School District California $46,534 -
Pflugerville ISD Texas $43,000 -$2,063
Sioux Falls School District South Dakota $33,299 -
Source: Midland Independent School District • Judson Independent School District • Manteca Unified School District • Pflugerville Independent School District • Sioux Falls School District • Texas Education Agency

Enrollment

Midland ISD served 23,560 students during the 2013-2014 school year, while Ector County ISD served 30,857 students. Both saw increases in enrollment from the 2012-2013 school year, with Ector County ISD experiencing larger gains in overall enrollment (1,282) and students per school (32.9) compared to Midland ISD.[15]

Midland ISD schools compared to districts
with commensurate enrollments, 2013-2014
School District State Enrollment (2013-2014) # of schools Students per school
Sioux Falls School District South Dakota 23,384 50 467.7
Ector County ISD Texas 30,857 39 791.2
Midland ISD Texas 23,560 35 673.1
Judson ISD Texas 22,972 32 717.9
Manteca Unified School District California 23,079 30 769.3
Pflugerville ISD Texas 23,543 30 784.8
Source: National Center for Education Statistics

See also

Texas School Board Elections News and Analysis
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Midland Independent School District
2016 • 2014

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Governing, "Job Growth by Area," accessed December 9, 2015
  2. ↑ The New York Times, "In Oil Boom, a Housing Shortage and Other Issues," July 12, 2012
  3. ↑ Texas Education Agency, "Accountability Summary 2013," accessed April 10, 2015
  4. ↑ Texas Education Agency, "2013-14 Texas Academic Performance Report," accessed September 29, 2015
  5. ↑ Texas Education Agency, "2015 Accountability Summary," accessed October 30, 2015
  6. ↑ Texas Education Agency, "2015 Accountability Reports," accessed October 30, 2015
  7. ↑ Texas Education Agency, "2015 Accountability Reports," accessed October 30, 2015
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, "FAST: About the Data," accessed December 7, 2015
  9. ↑ Texas State Legislature, "H.B. No. 3," June 1, 2009
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Midland Reporter-Telegram, "Comptroller's report gives MISD low rating," September 15, 2011
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, "FAST: Midland ISD," accessed December 7, 2015
  12. ↑ United States Census Bureau, "Public School System Finances: Historical Data," accessed December 1, 2015
  13. ↑ National Center for Education Statistics, "Midland Independent School District," accessed July 23, 2015
  14. ↑ Midland Independent School District, "Teacher Salary Schedule," accessed November 24, 2015
  15. ↑ National Center for Education Statistics, "ELSI Table Generator," accessed November 11, 2015
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Midland Independent School District, Texas
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