Jillian Schley uses a model to demonstrate different phases of the moon in fourth-grade science teacher Mike Sandle’s classroom at Rebecca Creek Elementary School, which was named one of the state’s top public schools in in “Texas Monthly” magazine’s December issue. Courtesy photo

“Texas Monthly” magazine recently confirmed something Jeannine Marlow already knew.

In its December issue, Rebecca Creek Elementary School was named one of the top public schools in Texas.

“I agree with that 100 percent,” said Marlow, who has two children, first-grader Wade and second-grader Rachel, attending RCES. “It would be hard to imagine my children going anywhere else.”

“Texas Monthly” magazine and the National Center for Educational Accountability teamed up to make the list based on core subjects in which the school excels.

The school made the list based on a three-year average of its student test scores in the subject of science.

RCES, a Texas Education Agency “Recognized” campus, also received six TEA Gold Performance Acknowledge-ment awards in early Nov-ember, more than any other Comal ISD campus.

“It was a very pleasant surprise,” RCES principal Sharon Richardson said. “Your school is only as good as your instructors, and to me this award is all about our teachers. You add great kids and supportive parents to the mix, and there’s the recipe for success we have here.”

When she found out about making the prestigious list, Richardson immediately made a campus-wide announcement.

“It’s very much a source of excitement,” Richardson said. “It’s a time to celebrate.”

RCES fifth-grade science teacher Tamara King said this honor is a great job-performance review.

“Sometimes you don’t know how well you’re doing, but something like this affirms your efforts,” King said. “It makes us feel like we’re doing a good job.”

Fourth-grade science teacher Mike Sandle said the fact that the school departmentalizes, or has teachers teaching only one subject, in the upper grade levels (third through sixth) for core subjects like science, social studies, reading, writing and math, is a key reason RCES excels academically.

“That’s why I took this job at this school, because I wanted to teach science,” Sandle said. “I think making the list is a reflection on what we’re doing campus-wide here at Rebecca Creek.”

Comal ISD superintendent Marc Walker was understandably proud of Rebecca Creek Elementary’s accomplishment.

“To be ranked among the best schools statewide is a tremendous achievement,” Walker said. “Rebecca Creek is consistently one of our top-performing campuses, and this shows what we already knew, that the campus is a model of excellence.”

As far as Marlow is concerned, don’t look for a Realtor’s sign in her yard anytime soon.

“It’s like a family here at Rebecca Creek Elementary, and that makes for a great learning environment,” Marlow said. “We would never consider moving from here because we love the school so much.”