The Texas Business & Education Coalition (TBEC) Honor Roll recognizes schools for academic performance, and honors those students, teachers, principals, and superintendents who have won their championships in the classroom.

There are various ways for a school to be recognized for academic performance. In some cases the school must apply for the award, such as the “No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon” award. Others, such as the Texas Education Agency's Gold Performance Acknowledgements and accountability rating system, recognize achievement in a specific subject area or for improvement over the preceding year.

Being named a TBEC Honor Roll school is the most prestigious academic award given in Texas. As TBEC's former Board Chairman, Jack Lowe, puts it, “Schools get on our honor roll the old fashioned way, they earn it.”

TBEC identifies Honor Roll schools by analyzing three years of performance data for ever public school in Texas. A TBEC Honor Roll school must have a high percentage of students meeting state standards on every TAKS test for three consecutive years. That's the easy part; TBEC Honor Roll schools also have the highest percentage of students performing at the state's most rigorous standard -commended- in every subject. The selection criteria also considers the school's demographics, number of subjects tested and grade levels. Compared to other schools with similar demographics, TBEC honor Roll schools have demonstrated the highest levels of academic achievement year after year.

This year, Texas Business and Education Coalition and its generous sponsors are recognizing 298 of Texas' most outstanding schools.

These outstanding schools will be honored at TBEC’s 9th Annual Honor Roll Schools Celebration on November 10, 2008 at the Grand Hyatt San Antonio. Following a half day of seminars for school attendees, the celebration will begin at 6:00 pm with a reception followed by the awards dinner at 7:00 pm. For information on sponsorship availability or tickets contact TBEC at 512-480-8232.