Fewer Georgia Schools in Needs Improvement Status

Fewer Georgia schools are in Needs Improvement (NI) status, according to the initial Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) report released July 19. Just over 14% of schools are in NI status this year, compared to 15.4% last year. Thirty-five schools across the state shook the Needs Improvement label by having made AYP for two consecutive years.

"The initial AYP results demonstrate that our schools are more focused than ever and that is translating into fewer schools in Needs Improvement status," said State School Superintendent Brad Bryant. "However, the academic bar and the graduation rate requirement increased this year, leading to a smaller percentage of schools making AYP, which is something we will focus closely on over the next several months.”

More than 71% of Georgia's public schools made AYP, a drop from 79% of schools that made AYP last year. This drop is due in large part to the increase in the academic bar in mathematics that students in elementary and middle school had to meet in order for a school to make AYP. The graduation rate that high schools must meet also increased this year to 80%.

The final AYP report will be released in the fall and will include summer retest scores, summer graduates and appeals.

Compared to initial AYP results last year, the 2010 report shows that:
- The percentage of schools in NI status decreased from 15.4% to 14.1%.
- The number of schools in NI status decreased from 334 to 305.
- The percentage of schools making AYP decreased eight points from 79.1% to 71.1%.

The percentage of high schools making AYP continues to lag behind. In 2010, just over 33% of the state's high schools made AYP, a decrease of almost 14 percentage points from 2009's initial results.

"We know there is a lot of hard work going on in our high schools, but we must provide more focused support for our students and teachers," Superintendent Bryant said. "I am committed to focusing on the needs of our high schools to ensure they are preparing students for the 21st century."

AYP is the formula used to determine if schools are meeting expectations under the federal No Child Left Behind Act. It consists of three parts -- test participation, academic achievement and another statistic, called a "second indicator." The academic goals continue to rise every few years toward a goal of 100% proficiency for all students by 2014. This year, the academic goal for grades 3-8 increased in mathematics and the graduation rate bar went up.

All students at a school, as well as any qualifying subgroup of students, must meet goals in all three categories in order to make AYP. Schools that do not make AYP for two consecutive years in the same subject are placed in Needs Improvement status and face escalating consequences.

35 Schools No Longer in “Needs Improvement”
Initial results show that 35 schools came out of Needs Improvement status by making AYP for the second consecutive year.

"Getting out of NI status isn't easy," Superintendent Bryant said. "These 35 schools should be very proud of their accomplishments, but have to remain focused so they continue making improvements."

There are 305 schools in NI status for the coming school year. These schools must offer parents options, such as public school choice or federally-funded tutoring. Depending on how long these schools have been in NI, some may have to make structural or organizational changes to improve student achievement.
In 2009, there were 334 NI schools after the initial results. That number dropped to 278 after retests, summer graduates and appeals were worked into the formula.

"As we normally do, I believe we will see the number of NI schools drop again when we do our final AYP determinations in the fall," Superintendent Bryant said.

Graduation Rate
The state's initial 2010 graduation rate is 79.9%. That is up from the initial 2009 graduation rate of 77.8% and the final 2009 graduation rate of 78.9%, which included summer graduates.

"Improving the graduation rate is crucial to Georgia being competitive with other states in recruiting and retaining jobs," Superintendent Bryant said. "The more students graduating from high school with a meaningful diploma, the more students we have ready to go to college or enter the workforce. There is still more work to be done, but this year's graduation rate is an encouraging sign."

Graduation rate must be used as a "second indicator" for all high schools and the bar was raised this year.

In order to make AYP, a high school had to have a graduation rate of 80% or higher, up from 75% last year. If a school did not make that goal, they could use a "second look" which means:
- Having a graduation rate that averaged 80% or higher over the past three years OR
- Having a graduation rate of at least 60% the previous year (2009) and showing a 10% improvement in the rate this year.

Reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act
Today's AYP release sheds more light on the need for Congress to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) - No Child Left Behind. Even though both the Spellings administration and the Duncan administration at the U.S. Department of Education have worked to grant administrative flexibility, it has been insufficient to overcome the original accountability benchmarks established by Congress in 2001.

"As a state, we have no problem moving toward a proficiency rate of 100% - to do anything else would underserve a portion of Georgia's students," said Superintendent Bryant. "We are frustrated over the fact that the original authorization of No Child Left Behind came with the promise that it would be reauthorized in five years with increased flexibility in return for increased accountability. Once again we call upon Congress to act in a manner which supports the hundreds of thousands of teachers and school leaders across the nation who are more focused on student learning than ever before."

SCHOOL and DISTRICT HIGHLIGHTS

SCHOOLS THAT CAME OUT OF "NEEDS IMPROVEMENT" STATUS
Pearson Elementary School, Atkinson County
Coretta Scott King Young Womens Leadership Academy, Atlanta Public Schools
The Best Academy at Benjamin S. Carson, Atlanta Public Schools
Eagle Ridge Elementary School, Baldwin County
Jonesville Middle School, Carroll County
Beach High School, Chatham County*
Chattahoochee County Middle School, Chattahoochee County
Barnett Shoals Elementary School, Clarke County
Kendrick Middle School, Clayton County
Mundy's Mill Middle School, Clayton County
Sequoyah Middle School, Clayton County
Swint Elementary School, Clayton County
Cooper Middle School, Cobb County
Griffin Middle School, Cobb County
Smitha Middle School, Cobb County
Arnall Middle School, Coweta County
East Coweta Middle School, Coweta County
Dooly County Elementary School, Dooly County
Glascock County Consolidated School, Glascock County
Risley Early College Academy, Glynn County
Meadowcreek High School, Gwinnett County
Richards Middle School, Gwinnett County
South Hall Middle School, Hall County
Lamar County Elementary School, Lamar County
Marietta 6th Grade School, Marietta City
Herschel Jones Middle School, Paulding County
Cedartown Middle School, Polk County
Van Wert Elementary School, Polk County
Laney High School, Richmond County*
Telfair County Middle School, Telfair County
Carver Elementary School, Terrell County
Terrell Middle School, Terrell County
Southeast Elementary School, Valdosta City
Carver Middle School, Walton County
T.J. Elder Middle School, Washington County

DISTRICTS WHERE ALL SCHOOLS MADE AYP
Bremen City
Buford City
Calhoun City
Calhoun County
Camden County
Chickamauga City
Clay County
Clinch County
Dalton City
Decatur City
Fayette County
Gilmer County
Glascock County
Gordon County
Jeff Davis County
Jefferson City
Lincoln County
Marietta City
Oconee County
Pickens County
Pierce County
Pike County
Rockdale County
Schley County
Seminole County
Towns County
Trion City

SCHOOLS THAT HAVE MADE AYP FOR 12 CONSECUTIVE YEARS
Bacon County Primary School, Bacon County
Berrien Primary School, Berrien County
Bleckley County Primary School, Bleckley County
Waynesboro Primary School, Burke County
Bethune Elementary School, Charlton County
Blackshear Trail Elementary School, Crisp County
J.S. Pate Elementary School, Crisp County
Roan Elementary School, Dalton City
Hightower Elementary School, DeKalb County
Saxon Heights Elementary School, Dublin City
Susie Dasher Elementary School, Dublin City
Swainsboro Primary School, Emanuel County
North Fayette Elementary School, Fayette County
Robert J. Burch Elementary School, Fayette County
Enota Multiple Intelligences Academy, Gainesville City
Jasper County Primary School, Jasper County
Maxwell Elementary School, McDuffie County
Thomson Elementary School, McDuffie County
South Mitchell County Elementary School, Mitchell County
Samuel E. Hubbard Elementary School, Monroe County
T.G. Scott Elementary School, Monroe County
Oconee County Primary School, Oconee County
Cooper Primary School, Terrell County
Ridge Road Primary School, Washington County
Jack P. Nix Primary School, White County
Washington-Wilkes Primary School, Wilkes County
Worth County Primary School, Worth County

SCHOOLS THAT HAVE MADE AYP FOR 11 CONSECUTIVE YEARS
Appling County Primary School, Appling County
Banks County Primary School, Banks County
Ben Hill County Primary School, Ben Hill County
Lanier Primary School, Bryan County
Mill Creek Elementary School, Bulloch County
Cook Elementary School, Cook County
Cook Primary School, Cook County
Oakcliff Elementary School, DeKalb County
Lamar Reese School of the Arts, Dougherty County
Lindsey Elementary School, Houston County
Perry Primary School, Houston County
Louisville Academy, Jefferson County
Morgan County Primary School, Morgan County
Downtown Elementary Magnet Academy, Muscogee County
Pelham Elementary School, Pelham City
Sumter County Primary School, Sumter County
Collins Elementary School, Tattnall County
Unity Elementary School, Troup County
Bacon Elementary School, Wayne County

* This school received a School Improvement Grant. As a result, it is no longer in Needs Improvement status.

-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page
Follow us on Twitter:  @GAFrontPage

FIinal AYP Report: Graduation Rate Rises to 78.9%

The state of Georgia's graduation rate rose to a high of 78.9 percent in 2009 -- an increase of three points over last year.

"A three-point jump in our graduation rate means that nearly 4,500 more students graduated with a full diploma this year than did last year," said State Superintendent of Schools Kathy Cox. "Our high school principals, teachers and students should take a lot of pride in the fact that more students than ever are graduating in Georgia."

Since 2003, the state's graduation rate has risen more than 15 points from 63.3 percent to 78.9 percent.

"In a short period of time, we have increased by thousands the number of students who are graduating with a full diploma," Superintendent Cox said. "We still have a lot of work to do, but we are making steady progress every year."

The state's graduation rate was released as part of Georgia's final Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) report. Preliminary AYP results were released in July. The final AYP report includes summer retest scores and summer graduates.

Highlights of the Final AYP report:

- One-hundred fifty (150) additional schools made AYP after summer retest scores and summer graduates were included. In total, 86 percent of Georgia's public schools made AYP in 2009, an increase of six percentage points from the final AYP report of 2008 (see list below).
- A total of 73 school districts had all schools make AYP in 2009, an increase of 25 districts from 2008 (see list below).
- Sixteen (16) additional schools came out of Needs Improvement (NI) status this year compared to initial AYP results released in July (see list below). That means a total of 74 schools shook the NI label in 2009. Of the 74 schools, 17 were in "state-directed" improvement, the highest consequence level in Georgia.

"It takes a lot of hard work and focus to come out of Needs Improvement, especially for schools that have been in NI for a long period of time," Superintendent Cox said. "Our school improvement team has worked closely with these schools and we know they have done the right things to improve student achievement today and for years to come."

AYP is the formula used to determine if schools are meeting expectations under the federal No Child Left Behind Act. It consists of three parts -- test participation, academic achievement and another statistic, called a "second indicator." The academic goals continue to rise every few years toward a goal of 100 percent proficiency for all students by 2014. This year, all of the academic goals remained the same as 2008, although the graduation rate bar went up.

All students at a school, as well as any qualifying subgroup of students, must meet goals in all three categories in order to "make AYP." Schools that do not make AYP for two consecutive years in the same subject are placed in "Needs Improvement" status and face escalating consequences. For more information on AYP, go to the Frequently Asked Questions about AYP.

Graduation Rate must be used as a "second indicator" for all high schools and the state of Georgia uses one of the federally-approved formulas for calculating the rate. Superintendent Cox said the graduation rate improvement is something to celebrate, but the hard work must continue.

"Improving the graduation rate is the top education priority in the state of Georgia," Superintendent Cox said. "I am proud of the progress we are making but we will not be satisfied until all Georgia students are graduating on-time with a meaningful diploma that prepares them for the 21st century."

To see Georgia's plan for improving the graduation rate, visit our Strategic Plan website.
In order to make AYP in 2009, a high school had to have a graduation rate of 75 percent or higher, up from 70 percent last year. If a school did not make that goal, they could use a "second look" which means:

- Having a graduation rate that averaged 75 percent or higher over the past three years OR
- Having a graduation rate of at least 55 percent the previous year (2008) and showing a 10 percent improvement in the rate this year.

-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page

More than 79% of Schools Make AYP

Big gains in Elementary and Middle Grades
58 Schools Lose "Needs Improvement" Label

More than 79 percent of Georgia's public schools made Adequate Yearly Progress, or AYP, according to initial results released today -- a 10 point jump over 2008.

Additionally, 58 schools across the state shook the "Needs Improvement" label by having made AYP for two consecutive years.

"The initial AYP results demonstrate that our students are continuing to make excellent progress even as we raise expectations," said State Superintendent of Schools Kathy Cox. "Clearly, our teachers and students are working harder than ever and we're seeing the results."

Superintendent Cox released the initial 2009 AYP Report this morning while speaking at the Georgia Association of Educational Leaders (GAEL) conference in Jekyll Island. The final AYP report will be released in the fall and will include summer retest scores and summer graduates.
Compared to initial AYP results last year, the 2009 report shows that:

- The percentage of schools making AYP jumped more than 10 points from 68.8% to 79.1%.
- The percentage of elementary schools making AYP jumped 13.4 points and the percentage of middle schools jumped 10.4 points.
- The percentage of Title 1 schools making AYP increased by more than 13 points, from 64.8% to 78.4% (Title 1 schools have a significant population of economically-disadvantaged students).
Superintendent Cox said the improvements that elementary and middle school students showed in mathematics are a big part of the AYP results. Pass rates on the Criterion-Referenced Competency Test (CRCT) in mathematics improved in all grades across the state (More information: http://www.gadoe.org/pea_communications.aspx?ViewMode=1&obj=1822).

"Mathematics achievement was a key to our improvement in AYP results this year," said Superintendent Cox. "We are asking our students to learn more rigorous mathematics and they are showing us that they can do it!"

The percentage of high schools making AYP continues to lag behind. In 2009, just over 47 percent of the state's high schools made AYP, a slight decrease from 2008's initial results.

"We know there is a lot of hard work going on in our high schools," Superintendent Cox said. "We need to continue to study the data and work together to make sure our high schools are not only meeting AYP goals but are preparing students for the 21st century."

AYP is the formula used to determine if schools are meeting expectations under the federal No Child Left Behind Act. It consists of three parts -- test participation, academic achievement and another statistic, called a "second indicator." The academic goals continue to rise every few years toward a goal of 100 percent proficiency for all students by 2014. This year, all of the academic goals remained the same as 2008, although the graduation rate bar went up.

All students at a school, as well as any qualifying subgroup of students, must meet goals in all three categories in order to "make AYP." Schools that do not make AYP for two consecutive years in the same subject are placed in "Needs Improvement" status and face escalating consequences. For more information on AYP, go to http://tinyurl.com/AYPFAQ2009.

58 Schools No Longer in “Needs Improvement”

Initial results show that 58 schools came out of "Needs Improvement" -- or NI -- status by making AYP for the second consecutive year. Twelve of those schools had been in NI status for five or more years and were facing the highest level of sanctions.

"Getting out of NI status isn't easy," Superintendent Cox said. "These 58 schools should be very proud of their accomplishments, but need to remain focused in order to keep improving."

There are 334 schools in NI status for the coming school year. These schools must offer parents options, such as public school choice or federally-funded tutoring. Depending on how long these schools have been in NI, some may have to make structural or organizational changes to improve student achievement.

In 2008, there were 340 NI schools after the initial results were released. That number dropped to 308 after retests, summer graduates and appeals were worked into the formula.

"I believe we will see the number of NI schools drop again when we do our final AYP determinations in the fall," Superintendent Cox said.

Graduation Rate

The state's initial 2009 graduation rate is 77.8 percent. That is up from the initial 2008 graduation rate of 74.4 percent and the final 2008 graduation rate of 75.4 percent, which included summer graduates.

"Improving the graduation rate continues to be a top priority in the state of Georgia," Superintendent Cox said. "I am proud of the progress we are making, but there is certainly a lot of work left to be done."

Graduation Rate must be used as a "second indicator" for all high schools and the bar was raised this year.

In order to make AYP a high school had to have a graduation rate of 75 percent or higher, up from 70 percent last year. If a school did not make that goal, they could use a "second look" which means:

- Having a graduation rate that averaged 75 percent or higher over the past three years OR
- Having a graduation rate of at least 55 percent the previous year (2008) and showing a 10 percent improvement in the rate this year.

MORE INFORMATION

- AYP Website (spreadsheets with school-level and system-level information): http://www.gadoe.org/ayp2009.aspx
- Guide to using the AYP report website: http://tinyurl.com/2009AYPGuide
- AYP "By the Numbers": http://tinyurl.com/2009AYPNumbers

SCHOOL and DISTRICT HIGHLIGHTS

SCHOOLS THAT CAME OUT OF "NEEDS IMPROVEMENT" STATUS

School Name, School District

Kennedy Middle School , Atlanta Public Schools
Long Middle School, Atlanta Public Schools
South Atlanta School of Health and Medical Science, Atlanta Public Schools
Grady High School, Atlanta Public Schools
Oak Hill Middle School, Baldwin County
Rutland Middle School, Bibb County
Bryan County Middle School, Bryan County
Langston Chapel Middle School, Bulloch County
Henderson Middle School, Butts County
Calhoun Middle School, Calhoun City
Temple Middle School, Carroll County
Spencer Elementary School, Chatham County
Forest Park Middle School, Clayton County
M. D. Roberts Middle School, Clayton County
Floyd Middle School, Cobb County
Commerce Middle School, Commerce City
Crawford County Middle School, Crawford County
Dalton Middle School, Dalton City
Cedar Grove Middle School, DeKalb County
Stephenson Middle School, DeKalb County
Montgomery Elementary School, DeKalb County
Merry Acres Middle School, Dougherty County
Dublin Middle School, Dublin City
Franklin County Middle School, Franklin County
Sandtown Middle School, Fulton County
Ridgeview Charter School, Fulton County
Oakland Meadow School, Gwinnett County
Sweetwater Middle School, Gwinnett County
Louise Radloff Middle School, Gwinnett County
South Habersham Middle School, Habersham County
East Hall Middle School, Hall County
North Hall Middle School, Hall County
White Sulphur Elementary School, Hall County
East Hall High School, Hall County
Hancock Central High School, Hancock County
Stockbridge Middle School, Henry County
Jeff Davis Middle School, Jeff Davis County
Lanier County Middle School, Lanier County
West Laurens Middle School, Laurens County
Midway Middle School, Liberty County
Madison County Middle School, Madison County
McIntosh County Academy, McIntosh County
Mitchell County Middle School, Mitchell County
Walker-Inman Elementary School, Mitchell County
Richards Middle School, Muscogee County
Fort Middle School, Muscogee County
Porterdale Elementary School, Newton County
East Paulding Middle School, Paulding County
Irma C. Austin Middle School, Paulding County
Pelham City Middle School, Pelham City
Hephzibah Middle School, Richmond County
Tutt Middle School, Richmond County
Carver Road Middle School, Spalding County
Taylor Street Middle School, Spalding County
Georgia Academy for the Blind, State Schools
MacIntyre Park Middle School, Thomasville City
Valdosta Middle School, Valdosta City
Wayne County High School, Wayne County

DISTRICTS WHERE ALL SCHOOLS MADE AYP

Banks County
Bleckley County
Buford City
Butts County
Calhoun City
Camden County
Chickamauga City
Clay County
Commerce City
Dalton City
Dawson County
Early County
Echols County
Fayette County
Floyd county
Forsyth County
Gilmer County
Harris County
Heard County
Houston County
Jeff Davis County
Jefferson City
Lee County
Long County
Lumpkin County
Marion County
McIntosh County
Monroe County
Montgomery County
Oconee County
Pickens County
Pierce County
Pike County
Rabun County
Rockdale County
Rome City
Schley County
Social Circle City
Stephens County
Taliaferro County
Telfair County
Towns County
Trion City
Union County
White County
Wilkes County

SCHOOLS THAT HAVE MADE AYP FOR 11 CONSECUTIVE YEARS

School, School District

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

SCHOOLS THAT HAVE MADE AYP FOR 10 CONSECUTIVE YEARS

School, School District
Appling County Primary School, Appling County
Banks County Primary School, Banks County
Ben Hill County Primary School, Ben Hill County
Lanier Primary School, Bryan County
Mill Creek Elementary School, Bulloch County
Cook Elementary School, Cook County
Cook Primary School, Cook County
Idlewood Elementary School, DeKalb County
Oakcliff Elementary School, DeKalb County
Lamar Reese School of the Arts, Dougherty County
Lindsey Elementary School, Houston County
Perry Primary School, Houston County
Louisville Academy, Jefferson County
Morgan County Primary School, Morgan County
Downtown Elementary Magnet Academy, Muscogee County
Pelham Elementary School, Pelham City
Sumter County Primary School, Sumter County
Collins Elementary School, Tattnall County
Unity Elementary School, Troup County
Bacon Elementary School, Wayne County
---
Community News You Can Use
Follow us on Twitter: @gafrontpage
www.FayetteFrontPage.com
www.GeorgiaFrontPage.com
www.PoliticalPotluck.com
www.ArtsAcrossGeorgia.com
---