COMMUNITY SURVEY RESULTS
- More than six of every 10 respondents agreed (41 percent) or strongly agreed (20 percent) that FBISD places too much emphasis on passing the TAAS and not enough on basic education. Fourteen percent disagreed, and 1 percent strongly disagreed that too much emphasis is placed on the TAAS.
- Forty-two percent of all respondents agreed that FBISD should expand magnet school programs to include science, engineering and music. Twenty-one percent strongly agreed. Three percent disagreed and 1 percent strongly disagreed that magnet school programs should be expanded.
- About half of the respondents agreed that FBISD does a good job meeting the needs of disadvantaged children. Eleven percent disagreed and 1 percent strongly disagreed.
- Smaller percentages provided positive ratings for FBISD magnet programs and bilingual education.
- About half of all respondents gave positive ratings to FBISD's magnet programs such as fine arts, health professions and languages. About 11 percent rated magnet school programs as excellent and 40 percent rated them as good. Fourteen percent gave a fair rating, and 3 percent rated magnet school programs as poor.
- When asked to rate how well bilingual education prepares students to perform at school, 39 percent gave positive ratings. Eight percent rated bilingual education as excellent and 31 percent rated it as good. Eighteen percent rated bilingual education as fair, and 6 percent gave it a poor rating.
When FBISD specialized services are analyzed by race/ethnicity, Hispanic respondents tend to be slightly more positive about FBISD services than their Anglo counterparts.
- More than three-fourths of all Hispanic respondents agreed (57 percent) or strongly agreed (20 percent) that FBISD places too much emphasis passing the TAAS, and not enough on basic education. Nearly seven of every 10 Anglo respondents agreed (44 percent) or strongly agreed (25 percent), and 62 percent of African American respondents agreed (37 percent) or strongly agreed (25 percent) that too much emphasis is placed on passing the TAAS.
- More than three-fourths of all Hispanic respondents agreed (69 percent) or strongly agreed (8 percent), and 68 percent of African American respondents agreed (56 percent) or strongly agreed (12 percent) that FBISD does a good job meeting the needs of disadvantaged children. About six of every 10 Anglo respondents agreed (54 percent) or strongly agreed (7 percent) that the needs of the disadvantaged are met.
- More than nine of every 10 African American respondents agreed (51 percent) or strongly agreed (42 percent) that FBISD should expand its magnet school programs. Hispanics provided comparable ratings with 67 percent agreeing and 18 percent strongly agreeing. Forty-seven percent of all Anglo respondents agreed that magnet programs should be expanded. Twenty-three percent strongly agreed.
- Views of bilingual education and limited English proficiency programs in FBISD are comparable across racial/ethnic lines. Two-thirds of Anglo respondents provided positive ratings when asked how well FBISD bilingual education programs prepare students to perform in school. About 63 percent of Hispanics and 60 percent of African Americans rate bilingual education programs positively.
- Hispanics rate FBISD magnet school programs such as fine arts, health professions and languages more highly than their Anglo or African-American counterparts. Well over eight in ten (86 percent) Hispanic respondents provide positive ratings, while Anglo and African-Americans hold similar views with positive ratings of 73 percent and 68 percent, respectively.
Although parents of children attending FBISD schools rated some specialized services more highly than respondents who had no children in school, opinions were comparable.
- Nearly two-thirds of respondents with a child or children in FBISD schools rated bilingual education and limited English proficiency programs highly. Comparable views were held by respondents with no children in school, with 62 percent providing positive ratings.
- Ratings regarding FBISD expansion of the magnet program to include science, engineering and music were comparable. About eight of every 10 of parents with children attending FBISD agreed (56 percent) or strongly agreed (25 percent) that magnet school programs should be expanded. Three-fourths of all respondents with no children in school agreed (51 percent) or strongly agreed (25 percent).
- Seven of every 10 respondents with a child or children attending FBISD agreed (64 percent) or strongly agreed (6 percent) that FBISD does a good job meeting the educational needs of disadvantaged children. Fifty-three percent agreed, and 9 percent strongly agreed.
- Parents with a child or children attending FBISD were slightly more likely to believe that too much emphasis is placed the TAAS. Nearly three-fourths of parents with a child or children attending FBISD agreed (44 percent) or strongly agreed (29 percent) that too much emphasis is placed on the TAAS at the expense of total education. About six of every 10 respondents with no children in school agreed (48 percent) or strongly agreed (13 percent) that the TAAS receives too much emphasis.
Perceptions of FBISD's Operations
More than seven of every 10 respondents said that FBISD is operated somewhat efficiently (62 percent) or very efficiently (10 percent). Fourteen percent said it is not operated very efficiently, while 3 percent said it was inefficient.
- Slightly fewer than half of the respondents agreed (48 percent) or strongly agreed (5 percent) that FBISD does a good job managing the tax dollars used to operate the district. Sixteen percent disagreed, and 5 percent strongly disagreed.
- More than six of every 10 respondents agreed (58 percent) or strongly agreed (6 percent) that FBISD does a lot to promote good public relations between the district and the community. Fourteen percent disagreed and 1 percent strongly disagreed that FBISD does a lot to promote public relations.
- Nearly six of every 10 respondents agreed (53 percent) or strongly agreed (5 percent) that communications are good between FBISD administration and the community. Seventeen percent disagreed that communications are good and fewer than one percent strongly disagreed.
Most Critical Issues Facing FBISD
Respondents were asked what they believe to be the most critical issue facing FBISD. The following are responses to that question:
Academic proficiency needs to be raised. Teachers' skills need to be monitored and updated without reliance upon tenure. A better system of accountability; more checks and balances.
Bilingual and special education teachers do not appear as competent as other teachers.
They spend too much time on TAAS. They should concentrate more on science and social studies instead of always practicing for the TAAS.
Stop teaching for the TAAS and start teaching basic skills.
The district uses non-certified teachers and has an inadequate number of teachers.
The schools are not properly educating students. They rely too much on failed programs and the ideas of educators and are not concerned with the input or involvement of parents and the community.
They don't provide students a well-rounded education. They don't notice kids with learning problems.
The disparity in the quality of education facing low income, English as a Second Language, and special education students. Those who are not average or above average have trouble.
Overcrowding. They have not planned for growth as some schools were at capacity when they opened. Some schools are extremely overcrowded, which makes students more invisible.
The district overloads students in the buildings. There are too many "temporary" buildings.
Fort Bend ISD needs to catch up with the population expansion without compromising the quality of education.
Children's safety is my main concern. It's too easy for outsiders to get on the campuses.
Safety really concerns me.
Crime in the schools is a critical concern. Recently we had a problem with kids taking weapons to school.
Demographic Characteristics
Anglos constitute a majority of the Fort Bend population (57 percent); Hispanics make up 18 percent and African Americans make up 16 percent. Asians make up 7 percent of the district's population.
NOTE: GRAPHS
Racial/Ethnic Composition of the Population
Racial/Ethnic Group Percent Anglo, non-Hispanic 55 Hispanic 18 African-American 16 Asian 7 Other 2 Don't know 2
- More than six of every 10 district households reported an income of $25,000 or more. Eleven percent indicated that their total household income is less than $25,000.
- About 2 percent of all households in FBISD indicated that their total household income is less than $5,000 and 40 percent reported an income of $50,000 or more.
Total Household Income
Income Percent Less than $5,000 2 $5,000 to $14,999 3 $15,000 to $24,999 6 $25,000 to $34,999 8 $35,000 to $49,999 15 $50,000 or more 40 Refused 14 Don't know 12
- Thirty-one percent of all respondents indicated that they have a high school education or less education.
- Slightly less than half of the respondents in FBISD indicated they have a college education.
- Twenty-one percent of all respondents indicated that they have had one to three years of college education.
- Two-thirds of all respondents indicated that their age falls between 35 and 64 years old. Ten percent are 65 years old or older.
Age Distribution
Age Interval Percent 18 to 24 7 25 to 34 16 35 to 49 45 50 to 64 21 65 or older 10 Additional Demographic Characteristics
Other demographic characteristics of the 2000 Fort Bend ISD Community Survey respondents include:
- There are three people in the average district household;
- Sixty-eight percent of the respondents indicated that they were either employed full-time (59 percent) or part-time (9 percent);
- Eleven percent of the respondents indicated that they are retired or disabled; and
- Nearly half of the respondents have lived in FBISD for more than 11 years. Nearly eight of every 10 respondents own their current residence.
Community Survey Result
Good (morning/afternoon/evening). This is (FIRST & LAST) with Telesurveys Research Associates, an opinion research firm in Houston, Texas. We are calling people in your area to get your opinions on important issues facing the Fort Bend Independent School District and would like to include you in our study. This study is being conducted for Carole Keeton Rylander's office, the State Comptroller of Public Accounts. Your responses to the survey will be treated with strict confidence and no names will ever be used in the report. There are no right or wrong answers. We just want your honest opinion.
1. Do you live in the Fort Bend Independent School District, or in some other school district?
2. In your opinion, would you rate the quality of public education at Fort Bend ISD schools as...
Excellent 102 25.5% Good 187 46.8% Fair 42 10.5% Poor 13 3.3% RF 2 0.5% DK 54 13.5% Total 400 100.0% 3. Over the past three years, would you say the quality of public education in Fort Bend ISD has...
Improved 121 30.3% Stayed the Same 154 38.5% Gotten Worse 31 7.8% RF 1 0.3% DK 93 23.3% Total 400 100.0% Now, I am going to read a list of different groups of employees in Fort Bend ISD. Please use the grades of A, B, C, D or F to indicate how well you think each group performs their job.
4. First of all, in general, what grade would you give the Fort Bend ISD school board members' knowledge of the educational needs of students within Fort Bend ISD? Would you give the school board a...
Grade A 45 11.3% Grade B 158 39.5% Grade C 68 17.0% Grade D 19 4.8% Grade F 9 2.3% RF 1 0.3% DK 100 25.0% Total 400 100.0% 5. Overall, would you rate the performance of the current board as...
Grade A 46 11.5% Grade B 149 37.3% Grade C 73 18.3% Grade D 15 3.8% Grade F 8 2.0% DK 109 27.3% Total 400 100.0% 6. How would you rate the overall performance of the Superintendent? Would you give him a...
Grade A 53 13.3% Grade B 155 38.8% Grade C 58 14.5% Grade D 17 4.3% Grade F 9 2.3% RF 1 0.3% DK 107 26.8% Total 400 100.0% 7. What about the overall performance of top administrators below the superintendent? Would you give them a...
Grade A 40 10.0% Grade B 143 35.8% Grade C 77 19.3% Grade D 12 3.0% Grade F 10 2.5% RF 1 0.3% DK 117 29.3% Total 400 100.0% 8. Do you have any school age children living in your home?
Yes 192 48.0% No 197 49.3% DK 11 2.8% Total 400 100.0%
