With the arrival of fall and the start of the new school year, the hearts of many Texans beat faster with thoughts of high school football games. Each contest includes the team, marching bands, drill teams and cheerleaders. Not counting the student fans in the stands, easily 20 percent of a Texas high school's student body is on the field sometime during a typical Friday night.

Everyone in Northeast Tarrant County knows about the great Trinity High School football program and the outstanding Bell High School marching band. The two HEB ISD high schools currently have two nationally recognized programs - the Bell Band is the current Bands of America Grand National Champion, and the Trinity High School Football Team is the pre-season National Champion pick. But both high schools are so much more than these acclaimed programs.

Most parents and patrons are unaware that both Trinity and Bell High Schools have received "Recognized" ratings from the Texas Education Agency. This ranking is the second highest available for Texas public schools and difficult for a 5A high school to earn.

Each of the district's high schools has more than 2,000 students. In the tenth and eleventh grades, students must take the state developed TAKS tests in various subject areas. To be "Recognized," students in all student groups - Anglo, Hispanic, African American, and low income - must do well on the exams. With so many students and teachers, large high schools have a difficult time "getting their act together." For instance, the following chart shows the results for area high schools that earned an Exemplary or Recognized rating from the TEA, based on performance on the TAKS tests given during the 2007-2008 school year.

 

Short list!  A majority of the area's high schools are not on this list, meaning that the campuses received an "Academically Acceptable" rating from the TEA. This puts the accomplishment of Trinity and Bell in perspective. Not only do the schools have great sports and music programs, but the entire student body benefits from a strong academic program and outstanding teachers.