Galena Park Independent School District receives the Texas Honors Circle Awards for Public Education Excellence

        Galena Park ISD is a recipient of the Texas Comptroller's 2011 Texas Honors Circle Award, which recognizes schools and districts that are achieving academic success through cost-effective operations. Award recipients achieve strong academic performance while spending relatively little compared to their peers. Dr. Angi Williams, Galena Park ISD Interim Superintendent noted, "We are honored to receive the Texas Honors Circle Award. Our main goal is to educate our students in a safe environment. But we also strive to be good stewards of all resources that have been entrusted to us. This award is confirmation that we are succeeding in both areas."

        Texas Comptroller Susan Combs has announced that 46 Texas school districts and 313 school campuses received the Texas Honors Circle Award for high rankings received in the 2011 Financial Allocation Study for Texas (FAST). FAST, mandated by the 2009 Texas Legislature, is an annual study that examines both academic performance and financial efficiency to identify school districts, charter operators and campuses that deliver high-quality education at relatively low costs. Combs created the Texas Honors Circle Award program to recognize districts and schools that receive high marks in the FAST analysis.

        "In these challenging times where schools are under pressure to do more with less, it is more important than ever to shine a spotlight on those that are achieving strong student performance with cost-effective spending," Combs said. "Your efforts to help our state and local governments wisely manage educational spending while preparing students for success in college or the work force is crucial to the future of Texas."

        The Texas Honors Circle program awards certificates based on FAST results. Districts and charters receiving the Texas Honors Circle Award have achieved a Five-Star FAST rating. Only 46, or 4 percent of all Texas school districts, earned five stars. Elementary campuses receiving the award achieved a five-star FAST rating, while middle and high-school campuses tapped for the honor achieved at least a 4.5-Star FAST rating.

        To view FAST’s results and to see the list of all Texas Honors Circle award winners, go to www.FASTexas.org.