EL PASO -- More schools in the county are improving on the state's standardized tests, according to preliminary results released by seven school districts Wednesday.

The city's biggest school district, though, seems to have the most to celebrate and the biggest concerns about official ratings from the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills test to be released in July.

The El Paso Independent School District is projecting that Bowie High School, which has consistently been considered a low-performing campus and is on the verge of being taken over by the state, will be ranked as a recognized school this year.

The district is projecting that Austin High School, which also is facing a state takeover, will be rated acceptable and meet federal accountability standards.

But two of the district's schools -- Guillen and Bassett middle schools -- could be rated unacceptable under state standards, according to the preliminary figures. Last year the district had no schools rated unacceptable.

Superintendent Lorenzo Garcia said the district would analyze data to determine whether the state made a mistake in the preliminary results it issued to school districts.

Garcia said the district would work with the state to correct any errors before official accountability ratings are released July 31.

Damon Murphy, the associate superintendent of the priority schools division, which helps struggling campuses, said the preliminary results for Bowie and Austin showed that the two schools were headed in the right direction.

"It's been a long road for Bowie," he said. "They haven't met the standard for several years, and for them to gain recognized status and possibly begin to move out of (federal sanctions) is a great accomplishment."

The state uses criteria that include the TAKS test and graduation rates to place schools and districts in four categories -- exemplary, recognized, acceptable and unacceptable.

To receive an exemplary ranking, about 90 percent of a school's students must pass the state test.

To get a recognized ranking, at least 75 percent of students at the school must pass.

Schools rated acceptable must have at least a 70 percent passing rate in English, writing and social studies exams, a 55 percent passing rate in math and a 50 percent passing rate in science.

The federal government uses parts of the state test, graduation rates and other criteria when it decides whether a school meets or fails standards.

It then places sanctions on schools that could eventually lead to a state takeover.

This year the El Paso Independent School District expects to have 15 exemplary, 46 recognized, 19 acceptable and two unacceptable schools.

Bowie High Principal Jesus Chavez cried when he made the announcement over the intercom that his campus was recognized.

He thanked the staff and students for their work.

"The kids felt the urgency, the staff felt the urgency, the district felt the urgency," he said. "Even my family and friends felt the urgency."

Preliminary results also show that Socorro will be a recognized school district.

The district expects 11 exemplary, 21 recognized and six acceptable schools.

No unacceptable schools were reported in the preliminary results.

Some Socorro district residents questioned whether the district would continue a trend toward higher scores without former Superintendent Sylvia P. Atkinson.

Mary Benham, the district's interim superintendent, said that the results prove that teachers, administrators and students should all receive credit for improving scores.

"We have dedicated hardworking people that are constantly looking to improve what they are doing for students," she said.

Socorro High School Prin cipal Miguel Serrano said his campus was once considered low-performing according to state and federal standards but has made improvements and is now slated to be a recognized campus.

"It has been a long road of taking the campus from that low-performing level to recognized in two years and everyone at the school deserves credit," he said.



Preliminary accountability results
- El Paso: Fifteen exemplary schools, up nine; 46 recognized, up 18; 19 acceptable, down 29; and two unacceptable.
- Socorro: Eleven exemplary campuses, up eight; 21 recognized, up two; and six acceptable, down nine.
- Clint: One exemplary, up one; five recognized, same; six acceptable, down one.
- Canutillo: Two recognized, up two; and seven acceptable.
- Tornillo: One exemplary, same; and three recognized, up one.
- San Elizario: Three recognized, up one; three acceptable.
- Anthony: All three schools are acceptable. No change from last year.
- Yselta: Did not report accountability ratings. Last year, the district had three exemplary schools, 27 recognized schools and 25 acceptable schools.
- Fabens: Did not report accountability ratings. Last year, the district had one exemplary school, one recognized school and three academically acceptable school.