BULLARD'S BEST
High school listed recognized in `Texas Monthly'

Bullard Independent School District joins a handful of other Smith County school districts with a campus on the list of "Best Public Schools in Texas," a feature of the December 2007 issue of "Texas Monthly" magazine.

Bullard High School was cited in the Higher Performing Subjects category for Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills results in the area of science.

"Obviously, we are very pleased about this honor," said Superintendent Jim Wright. "But we still know we have room for improvement.

Other Smith County campuses on the list include Troup High School, Brownsboro Elementary, Chapel Hill Middle School and, from the Tyler school system, Caldwell Arts Academy Elementary, Woods Elementary and Hubbard Middle School.

"The success at the high school a team effort among the staff - from the principal

to the teachers to the paraprofessionals, " he said. "Our schools and the district work as a team, and this is clearly a team effort paying off."

And while early indications from the just-released Academic Education Indicator System show a slight drop in the science category, Assistant Superintendent Lynette Hughes feels it's only momentary.

"This year we've developed more success strategies in all aspects of our curriculum, so we hope to see these numbers and hopefully these honors increase."

Wright agreed.

"This is a great honor for our students and teachers," he said. "Our teachers really care about the kids here and do a great job."

This is the fourth time "Texas Monthly" has published a list of the top public schools in the state, and the second consecutive year that the higher performing schools are ranked according to the number of subjects in which they excel.

Fore more information on actions at Bullard's school board meeting, read the Dec. 19 edition of the Bullard Banner News.