What are secrets to success of local military school districts? (With follow-up column)

Of San Antonio's 17 school districts, three little-noticed ones consistently deliver superior results.

Schools in those districts continue to rack up national and state recognitions for excellence. And their students — who graduate and go to college at higher-than-average rates — are regularly among the city's top performers in state, federal and college entrance exams.

The Lackland, Randolph Field and Fort Sam Houston independent school districts are three of only seven military school districts in the nation. The three are "coterminous," or contained entirely within the boundaries of their namesake military bases. . . .

Though they are entirely on federal land, they are Texas districts held to the state's rules and standards. And the three also have relatively small student bodies, virtually all of whom have at least one parent who is on active duty.

Asked why military district students seemed to do so well, Splitek — who worked for years at the San Antonio Independent School District — said that small schools are one of many advantages. But so is having relatively stable families. That most of their parents are either enrolled in classes or teaching them on the base doesn't hurt, either.

"Here, education is everything," he said, "and it helps that all the parents work at the same place."

At Randolph, Art Cavazos . . . is another veteran of large civilian schools where "real-world experiences" gave him special appreciation for his current district.

"We have 1,069 students at this point," he said, "and it really helps that all of their parents have jobs, and that there is also that military discipline in the families."

But the three districts also share something most other Texas districts would love to have. With no property to tax, they get special state and federal funding.

From Guerro's 25 January 2006 follow-up column: Base-school parents and teachers explain why students do well

Because all are military dependents, the students have some inherent advantages, many said, like tending to come from two-parent families that speak English.
"One parent, and usually both, carry a high school diploma as a minimum, and the majority of noncommissioned officers have some college," wrote Willis E. Jorde, an Air Force retiree. "All officers have a college degree, and a master's is nearly mandatory for career types, so their kids can get help with their algebra, English, history and science homework."
They also all have adequate housing and health care.
Many said that generous Defense Department funding . . .
[. . .]
The military community expects continuing education," he said, "and it is not recommended that you miss parent-teacher conferences, because the installation commander and/or the sergeant major are not going to like it."
Virtually all who wrote also credited discipline at these schools.
One teacher wrote that when he first experienced base-school discipline in action, he thought he had "gone to teacher heaven."
[. . .]
"The student attends a school in a military district by virtue of the parents' residence on the military installation," Savoie continued. "If a student's conduct breaches certain standards, the parents get a letter from the installation commander advising that if it continues, the entitlement to live on the installation will be terminated.
[. . .]
"I know of no other business that calls up a parent because of the children's conduct," agreed Kathleen Jones-Havard.

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