Orenda Superintendent Newsletter

BELONGING - INDEPENDENCE - MASTERY - GENEROSITY

Orenda Charter School District earned a “B” from the Texas Education Agency (TEA) in the official 2023 Accountability Ratings released last week. Our largest K-12 school, Gateway College Preparatory School, scored a high “B” and 3/7 distinctions. Kingsland School achieved a “B” with 2/7 distinctions while Nolan Creek School received a “C”. Gateway Tech High School received an “A”. We are so proud of the hard work of our teachers, students, leaders, and staff in helping all student grow and achieve academic success!

Texas provides annual academic accountability ratings to its public school districts. The ratings are based on performance on state standardized tests; graduation rates; and college, career, and military readiness outcomes. The ratings examine student achievement, school progress, and closing achievement gaps among various student groups. With the ongoing legal battle preventing public release of last year’s data, this is most recent individual district and campus data available. Much more information, including individual school/district scores can be found at TXschools.gov.

There is just over a month left in this vitally important 89th Legislature session and public school funding is on the front burner! House Bill 2 has passed the House, which includes an increase in basic allotment. It also amends the charter facilities funding formula, providing open enrollment charter schools more money for facilities. Now it's up to the Texas Senate to pass their version. Also, a bill we supported at the grassroots level, HB 2354 (authorizing school crossing guards at charters), was heard at the Public Education committee.

It's not too late to contact your representative/senator and ask them to support public education funding, especially the vital charter school facilities funding! Not sure who represents you? Find out here: https://wrm.capitol.texas.gov/home.

EMERGENT BILINGUAL PARENT ENGAGEMENT

Parent outreach and training provides parents with the skills, activities, and training needed to improve their English language skills and become more active participants in their child's education.

This event was held and recorded in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Arabic, French, Hindi, Telugu, and Urdu.

EMERGENT BILINGUAL FAMILY ENGAGEMENT

Family outreach and training provide parents with the required parent and family literacy services, activities, and trainings needed to improve their English language skills. This event was held and recorded in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Arabic, French, Mandarin Chinese, Gujarati, Telugu, and Urdu.

EMERGENT BILINGUAL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Community participation programs: Participation is the action of taking part in an activity or an event. Under Title III, Part A, “community participation programs” are programs in which English learners, parents, and family members can take part. This event was held and recorded in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Arabic, and French.

Gateway Tech High School, Kingsland School and Nolan Creek School all have seats available for the 2025-26 school year. Encourage your family and friends in your community to call the school for a tour to learn more. Clicking each school name will provide a brief video introduction: Gateway Tech 512.868.5299; Nolan Creek 254.939.4491; Kingsland 325.388.0020.

As we wrap up the school year in sports, our teams flourished! Both our soccer and softball teams had super years, topped off with playoff appearances. Our track & field program won several district events, sending Gators to the area and regional meets. And finally, our swim & dive team made the state podium in three events! Great Job Gators!

Mark your calendars for the dates and locations below for End-of-Course (EOC) accelerated instruction for students who will be retaking the EOC exam in June.

Gateway Tech and Prep Tech instruction will be from 1:30 PM - 4:30 PM at Gateway Tech (Gateway Prep and Tech Students) according to the following schedule:

· English I: June 2 and 3

· Algebra I: June 4 and 5

· English II: June 9 and 10

· Biology: June 11

· US History: June 12

Kingsland instruction will be from 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM at Kingsland School according to the following schedule:

· English I: June 2 and 3

· Algebra I: June 4 and 5

· English II: June 9 and 10

· Biology: June 11

· US History: June 12

Spring EOC scores will be released on May 23 to districts and June 5 for families. EOC acceleration instruction and retesting information will be sent to parents no later than May 29 for students who did not meet the passing standard on one or more EOC exams.

End-of-Course Retests will take place June 16-19 at the Gateway Prep (Gateway Prep and Tech Students) and Kingsland School campuses starting at 8:30 AM. The specific date for each subject test will be communicated after May 23 when scores are received.

Credit by Exam will be offered June 9-12 and July 21-24 at Gateway Tech, Gateway Prep, Nolan Creek, and Kingsland School campuses starting at 9:00 AM.

ELIGIBILITY

Students must be enrolled in the district, and student records must indicate a high probability of success as evidenced by performance on district and state assessments, course grades, and/or prior instruction outside Texas public school.

DATES AND LOCATION

All exams will be online (no paper formats) through district proctoring only. Tests will be given at the student’s enrolled campus. Students have 3 hours to complete each exam. No more than 2 exams may be taken on the same test date. Students may not take tests to accelerate more than one grade level in same testing window. Tests will not be ordered for the second grade level until after passing the first grade level. Students may retake each test one time. Retests are not available during the same testing window. Retests are not available for initial tests taken in Window 2. Each campus will determine the individual testing schedule during the testing week and communicate the dates and times to parents.

Window 1: June 9-12 (recommended for first time testing)

Window 2: July 21-24 (recommended for retesting or accelerating out of a second grade level or subject)

Available tests can be found here. NOTE: For grade advancement in K-grade 8, students must take all four subject area exams (math, science, social studies, and language arts).

*Parent requests for tests dates outside of the district published dates are subject to staff availability and parents assume the cost of the exam. Exams administered during a district published date are provided at no cost to the parent. Exams are ordered at the time registrations are received. All exams are nonreturnable, nonrefundable, and nontransferable. If your child doesn’t take the requested exam(s) or doesn’t take the requested exam(s) on the district date, parents will be responsible for reimbursing Orenda for the cost of each exam.

Orenda Summer 2025 Credit by Exam Registration is due no later than May 2, 2025.

Summer school for Gateway Prep and Tech students grades 9-12 will take place at Gateway Tech High School on June 2 - 19, 2025 from 8 AM - 1 PM Monday - Thursday. All summer school registration forms and fees are due no later than noon on Wednesday, May 28.

Summer school for Kingsland students grades 9-12 will take place at Kingsland School on June 2 - 12, 2025 from 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM Monday - Thursday.

May 5 - 16 - Advanced Placement Exam Days

May 22 - Last Day of Instruction for all campuses
May 22 - Kingsland School Graduation at 6 pm

May 24 - Gateway Tech High School Graduation at 1 pm

May 24 - Gateway College Preparatory School Graduation at 4 pm

Email: carla.silber@orendaeducation.org
Website: www.orendaeducation.org
Location: 2951 Williams Drive, Georgetown, TX, USA
Phone: (512) 869-3020