Schools release AYP stats
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on September 6, 2007 1:46 PM
Results are in for the state's testing measure, with 18 of the 32 schools in Wayne County making "expected growth," while eight achieved "high growth."
The N.C. Department of Public Instruction released the report today for the 2006-07 ABCs/AYPs, which determine whether students perform at or above grade level. Findings also showed that Wayne County Public Schools met 90 percent of its total No Child Left Behind target goals and eight schools made Adequate Yearly Progress, or AYP.
It was the second year for the new standards, officials said. In the 2005-06 school year, new growth formulas and higher performance standards were introduced.
School officials expressed pride in the steady gains made over the previous year, especially in light of the changes.
"Because the new ABCs are a totally different measure, schools across the state are still struggling to reach the levels previously attained under the old standards," said Dr. Craig McFadden, assistant superintendent for accountability.
Schools showing the greatest gains from 2005-06 to 2006-07 included Carver Heights Elementary, with a 20-point increase in its performance composite, and School Street Elementary, with a nine-point increase.
Other schools making "high growth" included Belfast Academy, Goldsboro High, Greenwood Middle, Mount Olive Middle, Spring Creek High and Wayne Early/Middle College High.
The list of schools making "expected growth" included Brogden Middle, Brogden Primary, Charles B. Aycock High, Dillard Middle, Eastern Wayne elementary, middle and high schools, Fremont Elementary, Grantham, Meadow Lane Elementary, North Drive Elementary, Northeast Elementary, Northwest Elementary, Norwayne Middle, Rosewood Elementary, Southern Academy, Spring Creek Elementary, and Tommy's Road Elementary.
Those not making expected growth were Carver Elementary, Goldsboro Intermediate, Rosewood High, Rosewood Middle and Southern Wayne High. Edgewood Community Developmental School was not graded for ABCs growth, although the school achieved a performance composite of 97.2.
The performance composite, McFadden explained, is determined by taking results from each test taken by students and averaging the percentage of scores at or above grade level.
Under No Child Left Behind, schools in Wayne County were required to meet a total of 508 target goals. The bulk of the schools met 90 percent of those, with eight meeting 100 percent of the target goals and making AYP. Those included Carver Elementary, Carver Heights, Charles B. Aycock High, Eastern Wayne High, Meadow Lane Elementary, North Drive Elementary, Rosewood High and School Street Elementary.
For educators, one of the biggest hurdles has been reaching student subgroups of the more academically challenged, specifically "exceptional children" and non-English speaking students, also required to take the end of course and end of grade tests.
The district has increased its focus on literary, officials said, recruiting and retaining highly qualified teachers, and worked to pinpoint strengths and weaknesses to better tailor teaching to the students' needs.
"Despite gains in test scores, our schools recognize that there is still much work to be done," said Dr. Steven Taylor, schools superintendent. "As educators, we will not be satisfied until every student is performing at 100 percent.
"There are many challenges our students face, but our schools believe that every student can and will succeed."