By Elizabeth Cook
Salisbury Post
Twenty-six of the 35 schools in the Rowan-Salisbury School System met expected growth or high growth in 2008-2009, according to a final state report issued Thursday on the ABCs of Public Education.
The figures mirrored preliminary results the school system released July 21. Nineteen schools ó nine more than a year ago ó met goals for adequate yearly progress. Fifteen did not.
Only one school in Rowan, Hanford-Dole Elementary, was designated as low performing.
The Rowan-Salisbury system as a whole did not reach its AYP target. It met 56 of its 64 targets, or 87.5 percent.
The final results for Kannapolis City Schools also mirrored the preliminary report, with six of the system’s eight schools making AYP.
Kannapolis was among the 11 systems in the state that reached 100 percent of their AYP targets. Others are Avery, Camden, Cherokee, Currituck, Elkin, Mt. Airy, Pender, Perquimans, Polk and Tyrrell.
Rowan-Salisbury officials were happy with the results, according to a press release.
“The Rowan-Salisbury Board of Education members are pleased to see the results reaped from the hard work and efforts made by Superintendent Dr. Judy Grissom, her administrative team, and school staff, students, and parents,” said a press release from Rita Foil, public information officer for the system.
School Board Chair Dr. Jim Emerson said the system is moving in the right direction.
“Like any other organization, we are either getting better or we are getting worse, and this school system is definitely getting better,” Emerson said.
Grissom also commented in the press release:
“There is so much to celebrate from the release of the state accountability results today! Our students are definitely making progress,” Grissom said. “Our focus is and will continue to be on improving academic achievement for all our students.”
Foil said comparisons of 2008-2009 results to previous years were not appropriate because of changes to the testing system:
– Several tests were new in 2007-2008 and standards had not been set. These scores are included in the 2008-2009 calculations.
– Retest scores are used for AYP for the first time.
– The AYP calculation does not include Occupational Course of Study scores.
– Writing was removed from all ABCs accountability calculations.
Schools of Distinction: Bostian and Faith elementary schools were named “School of Distinction” for making expected growth or high growth and achieving between 80-89 percent on their performance composite.
Bostian Elementary met expected growth and scored 81.5 percent on its performance composite.
Faith Elementary met high growth and scored 83.9 percent on its performance composite.
Three other elementary schools ó Cleveland, Enochville and Millbridge ó came within a percentage point of getting the School of Distinction designation.
Schools of Progress: Eighteen schools were designated a “School of Progress” for meeting expected growth and having a performance composite between 60-79 percent. They are:
Elementary: Cleveland, Enochville, Granite Quarry, Hurley, Millbridge, Mt. Ulla, Overton, Rockwell, Shive and Woodleaf.
Middle: China Grove, Corriher-Lipe, Erwin, Southeast and West Rowan.
High schools: Carson, East Rowan and Salisbury.
Priority Schools: Eight schools were named “Priority Schools,” having a performance composite of less than 60 percent. They are:
Elementary: Isenberg, Knollwood, Koontz, Landis and North Rowan.
Middle: Knox and North Rowan middle schools.
High school: North Rowan High School.
No Recognition: Five schools in the district received “No Recognition” ó China Grove and Morgan elementary schools; South Rowan and West Rowan high schools; and Rowan County Early College.
Hanford Dole Elementary scored below a 50 percent performance composite and did not meet expected growth. The school met AYP by reaching 100 percent of its target goals under No Child Left Behind.
Expected growth: Sixteen of 35 schools made expected growth. This number includes 10 elementary schools: Bostian, Cleveland, Granite Quarry, Isenberg, Knollwood, Koontz, Mt. Ulla, North Rowan, Overton and Woodleaf elementary schools; four middle schools: China Grove, Corriher-Lipe, North Rowan and Southeast middle schools; and two high schools; Carson and East Rowan high schools.
High growth: Ten of 35 schools reached an even greater achievement by meeting high growth. This number includes six elementary schools: Enochville, Faith, Hurley, Millbridge, Rockwell and Shive elementary schools; two middle schools: Erwin and West Rowan middle schools; and two high schools: Henderson Independent and Salisbury high schools.
Statewide, 71 percent of schools met standards for adequate yearly progress in 2008-09, compared to 31.2 percent last year, the Associated Press reported. The number of public schools earning the state’s top school designations more than doubled.
Results in school systems in this region:
– Cabarrus County met 66 of 72 targets, 91.7 percent.
– Davie County met 49 of 53 targets, 92.5 percent.
– Davidson County, 56 of 62 targets, 90.3 percent.
– Iredell County met 62 of 65 targets, 95.4 percent.
– Mooresville City met 53 of 54 goals, 98.1 percent.
– Rowan-Salisbury met 56 of 64 targets, 87.5 percent.
– Stanly County met 53 of 58 targets, 91.4 percent
Test results may be viewed on the NCDPI website at: www.ncpublicschools.org.