All four Karnes County school districts received high marks when the Texas Education Agency (TEA) released its 2010 Accountability Ratings Friday afternoon.

The Karnes City and Falls City school districts earned the highest rating, “Exemplary,” while Kenedy and Runge ISDs earned the second-highest “Recognized” mark.

Karnes City ISD earned the “Exemplary” designation for the first time in the 16-year history of the TEA’s accountability ratings while Kenedy ISD earned the “Recognized” rating for the first time. Falls City ISD earned its fourth straight “Exemplary” rating and Runge earned its third straight “Recognized” rating. No school district in Karnes County has been rated “Academically Unacceptable” since 2002.

Kenedy High School made major strides in test scores by improving 15 points in Social Studies, 11 points in Math, and 40 points in Science scores. Falls City’s two schools earned no score lower than 95 percent in any subject area tested.

This year marks the first time that all four school districts in Karnes County received one of the two highest Accountability ratings.

“It’s very energizing to start the school year on a positive note,” Kenedy ISD superintendent Jan LaCour said. “The staff, the students, the parents, our board of trustees, they’re all outstanding. The TEA has also been supporting us this year, and have done a lot of good things for us.”