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Schools post significant improvements in annual test results

All three school systems see gains in Adequate Yearly Progress

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By Sarah Newell Williamson | Hickory Daily Record

Published: July 22, 2009

NEWTON - Catawba County's three school systems all improved their Adequate Yearly Progress results this year, compared to their 2008 results.

Preliminary results for school districts' annual test measurements were released Tuesday. Part of No Child Left Behind, AYP measures the yearly progress of students in schools and districts across the state and country.

Students are tested in reading and math for third through eighth grades, and are graded on participation and proficiency in the subject. Students are tested on participation and proficiency in more advanced math and English and writing assessment tests in high school.

If one subgroup, such as white, Hispanic, economically disadvantaged or limited English proficient, does not meet its targeted proficiency goal, then the entire school does not make AYP. The federal program is designed to have all school systems at 100 percent proficiency by 2014.

With 45 schools in the county, the schools boosted the number that made its AYP goals from 19 in 2008, to 36 in 2009. Hickory Public, Newton-Conover City and Catawba County schools all pointed to their teachers as a large part of the success.

Catawba County Schools

Number of schools: 28

Number of schools that made AYP in 2009: 23 (82 percent)

Number of schools that made AYP in 2008: 10 (35.7 percent)

Change: +13 (46.4 percent)

"We went from 10 to 23 schools, and that's a direct credit to the schools, students, parents and teachers out there," said Tim Markley, superintendent of Catawba County Schools.

The schools that showed the most improvement were the high schools — Bandys, Bunker Hill, Maiden and St. Stephens all failed to make AYP in 2008. Every high school in the system achieved AYP this year.

"We focused on instruction," Markley said. "There was a lot of emphasis on student data. The principals were in the classrooms, and we had learning-centered schools."

This involves principals looking at information on student testing, to see how to best improve classroom operation and how to improve instruction, he said.

In addition to the high schools, six elementary schools and three middle schools also improved to make AYP this year.

Not every school improved, however.

Oxford, Murray and St. Stephens elementary schools have not made AYP for two years in a row.

"Two schools, Murray Elementary and St. Stephens Elementary, were both identified as 'in need of improvement' under Title I School Improvement regulations last year," Markley said. "Murray Elementary met its AYP goals this year and will be removed from the list if it again makes AYP in reading in 2010."

It takes two consecutive years of a school meeting 100 percent of its target goals for a school to exit school improvement.

St Stephens Elementary did not make AYP in math, which means it will remain in School Improvement. Neither Lyle Creek nor Oxford elementaries made AYP in math. They will join St. Stephens Elementary in School Improvement, Markley said.

Arndt Middle School also did not make AYP, missing it by one target. The school has more targets than any other school at 25, because of its diverse student population.

Markley said the schools will do more guided reading, focus more on learning-centered schools and will segregate student data to see how to make improvements at the schools.

Two of the schools — Murray and St. Stephens elementaries — will be accepting new students in the fall with the closing of Sweetwater. Markley said he was not overly concerned about that, affecting the schools' test scores, though.

"They were diverse already," he said. "The schools and the principals were very good about working hard with these communities. I don't anticipate a large problem with redistricting."

Hickory Public Schools

Number of schools: 10

Number of schools that made AYP in 2009: 7 (70 percent)

Number of schools that made AYP in 2008: 4 (40 percent)

Change: + 3 (30 percent)

The school system made considerable gains at Northview Middle School and Longview Elementary, with both making AYP this year. Northview Middle missed AYP by eight targets last year and Longview Elementary missed it by seven. This year, the elementary school had four additional subgroups and still made AYP.

"I'm pleased we only missed (AYP) at three schools," said Lillie Cox, superintendent of Hickory Public Schools. "I plan to speak with the principals at Northview Middle School and Longview Elementary to see what worked."

Cox replaced Ric Vandett as the school system's superintendent on June 30.

Catawba Valley High School missed all three of its target goals, and Hickory High missed AYP by one target.

"Meeting AYP at the high school level is very challenging, because it is based on courses," Cox said. "I know I'll be talking with them about the math sequences."

She said she's already spoken with Catawba Valley High Principal Grover Linebarger, discussing when students enter and leave the school.

"I want to make sure they can do well at their own schools when they go back," Cox said.

Newton-Conover City Schools

Number of schools: 7

Number of schools that made AYP in 2009: 6 (85.7 percent)

Number of schools that made AYP in 2008: 5 (71.4 percent)

Change: +1 (14.3 percent)

Conover School met its targets this year. The only school that did not is Newton-Conover High School. The only target the high school missed — which is the only one the entire school system missed — is its graduation rate, said John Worley, director of accountability.

"They look at the cohort graduation rate, for ninth-graders who started in 2005, to see who graduated in 2009," he said. "In 2008, our rate was 80.2 percent, and this year it was 77.6 percent. We have to start earlier."

Worley said the district has worked to improve student learning with instructional coaches and professional learning communities, which involve a common time for teachers, to meet and discuss best practices, children at risk and what's working in the classroom.

"We're very proud of our accomplishments, but there's always room for improvement," Worley said.