Gideon Elementary and Tarver-Rendon Elementary were recently recognized by the Texas Education Agency as being Title I, Part A Distinguished Schools. This recognition is based on outstanding academic performance over a three-year period in addition to having a student population of 40% low income students.

According to the Texas Education Agency, the criteria for Distinguished Performance Schools in Texas include:

Title I, Part A campus in 2007-2008, 2008-2009 and 2009-2010;
Maintained a campus residing population of 40% or more low-income in 2009-2010;
Met AYP in 2008 and 2009;
Achieved a campus rating in Spring 2009 of Exemplary;
Achieved a campus rating in Spring 2008 of either Exemplary or Recognized; and
Achieved a campus rating in Spring 2007 of either Exemplary or Recognized.

Gideon Elementary and Tarver-Rendon Elementary are among 720 Distinguished Performance Texas Schools. There are 15 title I schools in the Mansfield ISD. There were no Title I Distinguished schools in the District last year.

The schools will be recognized at the February 23, 2010 School Board Meeting.