The Rowan-Salisbury School System’s graduation rate climbed to an all-time high this year with more than 81 percent of students graduating within four years, according to data released this morning by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.
That’s up from a rate of 77 percent last year.
All six of the district’s traditional high schools also saw increases.
Henderson Independent High School, the school system’s alternative school, had a drop from nearly 35 percent last year to about 27 percent.
The graduation rates were released in conjunction with the ABCs of Public Education’s annual accountability report.
This year’s report uses Annual Measurable Objectives (AMO), which replace Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP), which has been dubbed an “all or nothing” accountability model.
The new measure sets proficiency targets for each student subgroup rather than having one target for all subgroups.
The district’s subgroups include all students, Asian, black, Hispanic, multiracial, white, economically disadvantaged, limited English proficient and students with disabilities.
Twenty-one of the district’s 35 schools met expected growth, with 10 of those reaching high growth.
Under the new standards, Knox Middle School will no longer be categorized as a low-performing school. Instead, the school becomes one of the school system’s five priority schools.
Koontz, North Rowan and Isenberg elementary schools as well as North Rowan Middle have also been dubbed priority schools.
Priority schools are schools that have less than 60 percent of their students score at or above achievement level III. Students performing at level III consistently demonstrate mastery of the subject matter and skills and are well prepared for the next grade level.
The Rowan County Early College has achieved the highest level of recognition by being named an Honor School of Excellence. That means the schools met all designated AMO targets and expected growth as well as having at least 90 percent of its student scores at or above achievement level III.
Seven schools including Bostian, Cleveland, Enochville, Faith and Millbridge elementary, as well as Carson and East Rowan high schools have each been dubbed a School of Distinction. They met expected growth and had between 80 and 89 percent of students score at or above achievement level III.
Read the complete story in Friday’s Post.