LOCAL UNIVERSITY HONORS POLY’S BANNER YEAR 

Fort Worth, TX –Texas Wesleyan University, one of Polytechnic High School’s key neighborhood partners, presented the school a congratulatory banner today. The banner will hang in the school’s main stairwell, visible from both first and second floors.   

"It was an amazing accomplishment for Poly to achieve Academically Acceptable status,” said TWU Provost Allen Henderson. “But the Spirit of Poly is really no surprise and this show what we can accomplish as partners. 

The District learned that Poly’s completion rate secured its acceptable rating, based largely on Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills scores. Poly posted double-digit percentage-point gains on the TAKS this spring.

Poly was at risk of the state shutting it down after four years of being rated academically unacceptable.

"We were a true underdog story," Principal Gary Braudaway said, referring to the gains needed to avoid closure. "I am very proud of the work our teachers, staff, students, administrators and the community have accomplished to get us here. And I am equally proud of the support of our partner, Texas Wesleyan University."

This is the first year that the completion rate will be used in accountability ratings. At least 75 percent of students — and subgroups — must complete high school in four years or continue in school, or show that they are making required improvements toward that standard.

Poly’s completion rate for 2007 was 65.5 percent.  It rose to 78.4 percent for all students in 2008.

Twelve of Poly’s 2009 graduates will be attending TWU in the fall. Four of those students have GPA's of 4.0.

-FWISD-