More Than Two-Thirds of Georgia's Public Schools Made Adequate Yearly Progress

More than two-thirds of Georgia's public schools made Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) in 2008, even as the bar was raised across the board.

"Not only did all the academic measures of Adequate Yearly Progress go up this year, but we continued to raise the rigor of the work our students are doing, especially in mathematics," said State Superintendent of Schools Kathy Cox. "But even with the higher bar and the increased rigor, a majority of our schools met the mark."

Superintendent Cox released the state’s annual Adequate Yearly Progress report Friday morning. She also announced that the state's preliminary graduation rate for 2008 is 74.4 percent – up more than two points from last year.

"This two point increase represents 6,000 more students that graduated on time with a full diploma in 2008," Superintendent Cox said. "This is the result of hard work by a lot of students and strong collaboration among principals, teachers, counselors, graduation coaches and parents."

The final graduation rate will be calculated when summer graduates are added. This fall, the AYP report will be updated, as well, to account for summer graduates and summer retest results for students in grades 3, 5 and 8.

HIGHER BAR, MORE RIGOR

In 2008, it was harder for all schools to make AYP for two main reasons.

First, the percentage of students that had to pass state tests in math, reading and English went up for all grade levels (see chart below). Secondly, students were doing more rigorous work and taking more rigorous tests in 2008, especially in mathematics.

Superintendent Cox emphasized that in 2007-2008 the state's more rigorous curriculum and more rigorous tests in mathematics were implemented in all grades considered for AYP in elementary schools.

"It was a lot tougher for elementary schools this year," she said. "Still, more than 3 out of every 4 elementary schools made AYP, the best performance of all grade levels"

However, Superintendent Cox said it was important to embrace more rigorous standards in mathematics and she is confident that elementary schools are prepared.

"It's very important for our elementary school students to get a strong foundation in math," Superintendent Cox said. "I have a tremendous amount of faith in our elementary school principals and teachers. I know they will rise to the challenge in math, just like they have in reading, and we will see much better AYP numbers next year."

About 69 percent of all schools made AYP, including 76 percent of elementary schools. About 65 percent of middle schools and 48 percent of high schools made AYP in 2008.

NEEDS IMPROVEMENT SCHOOLS

There are 340 schools in Georgia that are in Needs Improvement status, meaning these schools have missed AYP for two or more consecutive years. Needs Improvement (NI) schools must offer options to parents – such as tutoring or school choice – and may need to take specific action to improve student performance. The consequence a school faces depends on how long it has been in Needs Improvement.

In 2008, 37 schools made AYP for the second consecutive year and got out of Needs Improvement status -- including six that had been in NI status for five or more years (see attached list).

"Even with the increased rigor and the higher bar, these 37 schools were able to get over the hurdles and shake the Needs Improvement label," Superintendent Cox said. "Congratulations to the staff, parents and students of these schools."

Additionally, nine of the state's 19 "contract-monitored" schools made AYP this year (see attached list). These schools had been in Needs Improvement for 7 or more years.

"These schools entered a contract with the state and promised to get the job done -- and that's just what they did," Superintendent Cox said. "This is a great example of how the state, a district and a school can work together to improve student achievement."

GRADUATION RATE
The state's preliminary graduation rate is 74.4 percent -- the highest it has ever been. This rate is expected to increase once summer graduates are included.

"The graduation rate not only went up overall, but increased among every subgroup," the Superintendent said. "There is still work to be done, but thanks to all the effort and teamwork, we are continuing to move the needle."

Under the state's NCLB plan, the graduation rate represents the percentage of students who received a full diploma in four years and a summer. This figure does not include special education diplomas or certificates of attendance. (See chart below) CHARTS AND LISTS

Graduation Rate (by Subgroup)
2008
2007
All Students
74.4%
72.3%
African American
67.6%
65.5%
Hispanic
64.2%
60.3%
White
79.6%
77.5%
Economically Disadvantaged
65.4%
63.1%
Students w/ Disabilities
36.3%
32.9%
English Language Learners
47.9%
46.4%
Percent of Students that must pass in order to make AYP (AMO)
2008
2007
Reading/ELA – Grades 3-8
73.3%
66.7%
Mathematics – Grades 3-8
59.5%
58.3%
English – Grade 11
87.7%
84.7%
Mathematics – Grade 11
74.9%
68.8%

Schools that came out of Needs Improvement status

Atlanta Public Schools Sutton Middle School
Bartow County South Central Middle School
Ben Hill County Ben Hill County Middle School
Chatham County West Chatham Middle School
Clayton County Kilpatrick Elementary School
Clayton County Babb Middle School
Clinch County Clinch County Elementary
Cobb County Norton Park Elementary School
Cobb County South Cobb High School
Coweta County East Coweta High School
DeKalb County Chapel Hill Middle School
DeKalb County Henderson Middle School
DeKalb County Woodward Elementary School
Dodge County Dodge County Middle School
Early County Early County Middle School
Effingham County Effingham County High School
Fulton County Riverwood High School
Gilmer County Gilmer Middle School
Glynn County Glynn Middle School
Gordon County Ashworth Middle School
Greene County Greene County High School
Gwinnett County Norcross High School
Gwinnett County Shiloh Middle School
Gwinnett County Lilburn Middle School
Gwinnett County Summerour Middle School
Hall County Chestatee Middle School
Hall County Lyman Hall Elementary School
Hall County Myers Elementary School
Houston County Northside Middle School
Houston County Perry High School
Long County Long County High School
Meriwether County George E. Washington Elementary School
Richmond County Hornsby Elementary School
Sumter County Staley Middle School
Tattnall County Tattnall County High School
Taylor County Taylor County Upper Elementary
Whitfield County North Whitfield Middle School

Contract-monitored Schools that made AYP for the first year

(NI-7 and above last year)
Atlanta Public Schools Kennedy Middle School
Dougherty County Merry Acres Middle School
Hall County East Hall Middle School
Mitchell County Mitchell County Middle School
Muscogee County Baker Middle School
Richmond County Morgan Road Middle School
Richmond County Tubman Middle School
Stewart County Stewart-Quitman High School
Thomasville City MacIntyre Park Middle

School Schools that are have made AYP for 10 consecutive years

Atlanta Public Schools Fain Elementary School
Atlanta Public Schools D. H. Stanton Elementary School
Bacon County Bacon County Primary School
Berrien County Berrien Primary School
Bleckley County Bleckley County Primary School
Burke County Waynesboro Primary School
Charlton County Bethune Elementary School
Crisp County Blackshear Trail Elementary School
Crisp County J. S. Pate Elementary School
Dalton City Roan Elementary School
Dublin City Susie Dasher Elementary School
Dublin City Saxon Heights Elementary School
Emanuel County Swainsboro Primary School
Fayette County Robert J. Burch Elementary School
Fayette County North Fayette Elementary School
Fulton County Randolph Elementary School
Gainesville City Enota Multiple Intelligences Academy
Jasper County Jasper County Primary School
McDuffie County Thomson Elementary School
McDuffie County Maxwell Elementary School
Mitchell County Mitchell County Primary School
Monroe County T.G. Scott Elementary School
Monroe County Samuel E. Hubbard Elementary School
Oconee County Oconee County Primary School
Terrell County Cooper Primary School
Thomas County Garrison-Pilcher Elementary School
Washington County Crawford Primary School
Washington County Elder Primary School
White County Jack P Nix Primary
Wilkes County Washington-Wilkes Primary School
Worth County Worth County Primary School

SYSTEMS THAT HAD 100% OF THEIR SCHOOLS MAKE AYP
Bremen City Buford City Cartersville City CCAT Chickamauga City Clay County Commerce City Echols County Evans County Fayette County Franklin County Hancock County Heard County Jefferson City Jefferson County Lee County Long County Miller County Monroe County Morgan County Oconee County Oglethorpe County Pierce County Pike County Quitman County Rabun County Randolph County Stephens County Stewart County Towns County Trion City Union County Wheeler County Wilkes County

About AYP

2008 ADEQUATE YEARLY PROGRESS
The Georgia Department of Education will release the annual Adequate Yearly Progress Report on Friday, July 25.
Before the results are released, here is some information that may be helpful as journalists prepare their stories.

WHAT IS THE ADEQUATE YEARLY PROGRESS REPORT?

The Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) report is released as part of the federal No Child Left Behind Act. It measures schools in three areas: Academic Performance, Test Participation and a "second indicator," such as graduation rate or attendance.

To demonstrate academic performance, a certain percentage of students in a school ‐‐ and in any qualifying subgroup of students ‐‐ must meet or exceed standards on state tests in reading, English language arts and mathematics. This is called the Annual Measurable Objective or AMO.
The results of the Criterion‐Referenced Competency Test (CRCT) are used in elementary and middle schools. The results of the Georgia High School Graduation Test (GHSGT) are used in high school.

WHAT IS A “NEEDS IMPROVEMENT” SCHOOL?

A “Needs Improvement” school is one that has missed AYP for two or more consecutive years. A “Needs Improvement” school faces consequences, depending on the number of years a school has been in Needs Improvement status. To get out of Needs Improvement status, a school must make AYP for two consecutive years.

WHAT HAS CHANGED WITH AYP THIS YEAR?

It is going to be tougher for schools to make AYP this year for two main reasons

1) ALL ANNUAL MEASURABLE OBJECTIVES (AMOs) ARE GOING UP: A greater percentage of students must meet or exceed standards in order for a school to make AYP.
2008 2007
Reading/ELA – Grades 3‐8 73.3% 66.7%
Mathematics – Grades 3‐8 59.5% 58.3%
English – Grade 11 87.7% 84.7%
Mathematics – Grade 11 74.9% 68.8%

2) STUDENTS WERE TAUGHT A MORE RIGOROUS CURRICULUM AND TOOK A MORE RIGOROUS TEST: This is especially true in mathematics. The state’s more rigorous mathematics curriculum – the Georgia Performance Standards – was introduced in grades 3, 4, 5 and 8 this past school year. Grades 3, 4 and 5 are the only grades considered for AYP in traditional K‐5 elementary school

ARE THESE THE FINAL RESULTS?

No. The AYP results will be updated in the fall to account for the results of CRCT retests in grades 3, 5 and 8, as well as summer graduates. Under the state’s No Child Left Behind plan, a graduate is a student who receives a regular diploma in four years and a summer. A regular diploma does not include special education diplomas or certificates of attendance.

WHAT IS “DIFFERENTIATED ACCOUNTABILITY?”

This means that the state won’t treat all schools the same. A school that missed making AYP in one subgroup in one subject shouldn’t be treated exactly the same as a school that missed it across the board.

Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Education announced that Georgia was one of 6 states that would pilot a differentiated accountability plan. To learn more about the state’s differentiated accountability plan, go to http://www.gadoe.org/pea_communications.aspx?ViewMode=1&obj=1648.