27 schools get good marks on state ratings
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on August 7, 2009 1:46 PM
Sixteen of the county's 32 public schools made high growth under the state's ABCs accountability model, while 27 of them made at least expected growth, according to ABC results released Thursday by the N.C. Department of Public Instruction.
Also approved by the state Board of Education were preliminary AYP results, with two positive changes for Wayne County Schools -- Rosewood Elementary and Southern Academy were added to the list of schools that did make Adequate Yearly Progress -- bringing a record of 33 schools making AYP. The district's previous record was 17 schools in 2007-08.
When announced initially, Rosewood fell short and Southern Academy's results had not been determined.
In other highlights, Wayne Early/Middle College High School was named an "Honor School of Excellence," 546 of the 555, or 98.4 percent of the target goals, were met. The cohort graduation rate was 72 percent.
Academic growth is calculated by comparing students' academic performance from year to year, and to typical growth in prior years across the state.
In Wayne County, "high growth" schools included Belfast Academy, Brogden Primary, Dillard Middle, Eastern Wayne Elementary, Greenwood Middle, Meadow Lane Elementary, Mount Olive Middle, North Drive Elementary, Northwest Elementary, Norwayne Middle, Rosewood Elementary, Rosewood Middle, School Street Elementary, Southern Academy, Spring Creek Elementary and Wayne Early/Middle College High.
Categorized as "expected growth" were Brogden Middle, Carver Elementary, Carver Heights Elementary, Charles B. Aycock High, Eastern Wayne High, Eastern Wayne Middle, Fremont STARS, Grantham, Northeast Elementary, Rosewood High and Tommy's Road Elementary.
No ratings were received for Edgewood Community Developmental School, Goldsboro High School, Goldsboro Intermediate, Southern Wayne High, Spring Creek High and Wayne School of Engineering. Goldsboro Intermediate was named a low performing school.
Schools were also ranked based on scores at or above grade level. In addition to the honor school of excellence, the remaining schools fell into two categories, priority and school of progress.
Schools of progress, having a 60-79 percentile, included Brogden Primary, Charles B. Aycock, Dillard Middle, Eastern Wayne Elementary, Eastern Wayne High, Eastern Wayne Middle, Fremont, Grantham, Greenwood Middle, Meadow Lane Elementary, Mount Olive Middle, Northeast Elementary, Northwest Elementary, Norwayne Middle, Rosewood Elementary, Rosewood High, Rosewood Middle, Spring Creek Elementary and Tommy's Road Elementary.
The distinction of being a Priority school can be given for having 50 to 59 percent performance level, or making less than expected growth. These included Belfast, Brogden Middle, Carver Elementary, Carver Heights, Goldsboro High, North Drive Elementary, School Street, Southern Academy and Southern Wayne.
The state's model, the ABCs, is designed to answer the question, "Are students learning at least at the same rate as other students across the state?"
School officials expressed confidence that the district is accomplishing that.
"Wayne County Public Schools completed a remarkably good year as evidenced by student test scores," said Dr. Craig McFadden, assistant superintendent for accountability and student services. "The staff and students have responded well to the more rigorous reading and math standards implemented statewide over the past few years. Our district compares favorably to accountability results across the state."
Superintendent Dr. Steven Taylor said local educators, as well as the Board of Education, are working hard to enhance student learning and academic achievement.
"This year's ABCs report reflects nearly every school making positive gains on their performance composite scores, with a high number of our schools making 'Expected Growth' and 'High Growth.'
"Although there is still more work to be done, the ABCs results for this past school year show that our district is meeting and exceeding state expectations and moving academically in the right direction."