The Spillane Spartans win a battle against mediocrity every day out in Cypress Fairbanks ISD. Middle school can be a challenge—as it occurs during those transition years between being a child and becoming an adult, which that can feel like a battle for any child.
These Spartans of Spillane Middle School, however, wield their swords with alacrity and have dominated state tests and academic opportunities across the board. According to their 2014 TEA Accountability Summary, Spillane’s student achievement index—a number from 1 to 100 measuring the overall achievement of students attending an institution—far surpassed the state average of 55. Spillane’s index was almost double at 95. In addition to that, the post secondary readiness of all students regardless of grade earned a score of nearly 70!
Spartans really know how to buckle down and put in some hard work and training for their minds. But the Spartans, much like their Greek counterparts, are not only growing into academic warriors: they strive to fulfill their mission statement to “maximize each students’ potential through rigorous learning… [and] preparing students to be 21st century global leaders.” No, Spartans strive for even more than their education.
Spillane is a Positive Behavior Intervention and Support campus—which means they endeavor to treat others fairly and learn to be not just intelligent critical-thinkers, but also conscientious, empathetic and active seekers of fairness and mercy. Naturally, their maxim is Coat of A.R.M.O.R. Each morning during announcements, students are expected to know and mentally “put on” this Coat of A.R.M.O.R. for Achieving success, Respecting one another, Maintaining excellence, taking Ownership of their actions and decisions, and building positive Relationships with each other, the staff and faculty, as well as their parents and the other people in their lives.
It seems natural, then, to learn that Spillane was named for one of Cypress Fairbanks’ most renowned educators—a woman who, when the school decided on its name, had been working in education for more than 40 years when she retired, and 28 of them within the school district. But it is not just Spillane who deserves renown at the school—every Spartan teacher surpasses the TEA’s requirements as adequate educators and are considered “Highly Qualified.”
In recent years, Spillane’s demographics have changed due to rezoning efforts in the district. It is one of the factors that contributed to the rise of student enrollment in 2012, in addition to a rise in the area’s population and a new willingness to accept transfers. Spillane is spilling over with popularity and the Spartan code clearly mints shiny rising stars, ready for the future!
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