By Katherine Leal Unmuth

Realtors wield the power to make or break the reputation of a school district.

Part of their job is shepherding young families toward homes near good schools—and
steering them away from bad ones. But how do they know which schools are the best?

Frustrated that Irving schools suffer from a poor reputation in the eyes of many realtors,
leaders of the Greater Irving-Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce are seeking to fight that
stigma.

“A lot of times the only thing realtors see is TAKS scores,” said chamber vice president
Alysia Bell. “There’s so much more to the school districts.”

The group’s education committee hosted a forum Wednesday at the Four Seasons Resort
focused on showcasing the achievements of the Irving and Carrollton-Farmers Branch
school districts. Carrollton-Farmers Branch spans six cities, but enrolls almost 4,000
students who live in north Irving.

Conspicuously absent was the Coppell school district, whose leaders weren’t invited even
though it spans parts of Valley Ranch. The neighboring district recently received an
“exemplary” rating—the highest possibly from the state accountability system.

Organizers concluded that the district didn’t need any help in improving its reputation
among realtors. In contrast, both Irving and Carrollton-Farmers Branch were recently
rated academically acceptable.

Event organizer Bill Brantley is a realtor who’s well aware the district suffers a poor
reputation.

“The businesses move here but the families don’t,” he said. “The first thing that happens
when Irving schools are mentioned is that realtors deflect the question and go straight to
private schools.”

Although he sent his older daughters to private school, this fall he in kindergarten at the
Irving school district’s Brandenburg Elementary. He wanted him in the dual-language
program, so he can learn Spanish.

At the event, Irving officials mentioned that program, as well as how laptops are provided
to to every high school student, career training programs and the opening next year of a
new environmentally friendly “net zero” middle school.

New superintendent Dana Bedden sold the district as a mini “United Nations.” He also
mentioned he was disappointing that when he was buying a home recently, realtors kept
steering him away from the district. His daughter is now enrolled in kindergarten.
“I realized they didn’t know anything about the school district,” he said.

But many realtors say educated parents demand “exemplary” rated schools. To receive
such a rating 90 percent of students must pass all TAKS subjects—although loopholes in
the ratings system can boost districts that fall just short of that.

“Exemplary schools—that is huge,” said Linda Black, who’s sold many homes in
Coppell.

Both school districts emphasized their ethnic diversity as an asset—both are majority
Latino. They didn’t sugarcoat their challenges, mentioning that the majority of their
students are economically disadvantaged, qualifying for free or reduced price lunches.

Carrollton-Farmers Branch leaders mentioned the addition of a K-12 academically

rigorous international baccalaureate program in its Irving schools, technology such as
iPod usage by students at elementary schools and specialized academy programs at high
schools.

The district also showcased its TAKS scores. By comparison, across every subject CFB
has higher passing rates than Irving. For example, 88 percent of the district’s students
passed the science exam last year.

District officials have sought for years to woo residents of the affluent Hackberry Creek
subdivision, even going to the neighborhood’s country club to hold sessions. Many
parents send their children to private school or the North Hills Preparatory charter school.

Realtor Helen Berthelot asked why the CFB district’s Barbara Bush Middle School was
rated academically unacceptable.

District officials explained that it wasn’t based on test scores but 12 students who didn’t
re-enroll and were considered dropouts. The district said they’ve now found most of
those students and that didn’t drop out, but re-enrolled elsewhere.

Still, Berthelot said the stigma is already attached to the school.

“It’s difficult to overcome,” she said. “People do look at the ratings and I don’t blame
them.”

Realtor Angie Drake is PTA president at the school and offered to counter the failing
rating. She mentioned the new baccalaureate program, which is rare in Texas schools.

“That is a great opportunity you can sell to your clients,” she told them.

2009-10 TAKS scores

CARROLLTON FARMERS BRANCH

Reading – 91%

Writing – 95%

Social Studies – 97%

Math – 86%

Science—88%

IRVING

Reading – 87%

Writing – 93%

Social Studies – 95%

Math – 79%

Science – 78%

COPPELL

Reading – 99%

Writing – 99%

Social Studies – 99%

Math – 96%

Science – 96%