Guilford students surpass test goals

For the first time, Guilford County Schools has outperformed the state in meeting both state and federal testing goals and graduating students from high school within four years.

The good news came Thursday after the N.C. Department of Public Instruction released official results for state ABCs, federal Adequate Yearly Progress and graduation rates.

District officials attribute the improvements during the 2006-07 school year to a smorgasbord of strategies, including attracting teachers to low-performing schools through the year-old "Mission Possible" incentive program, doubling math and reading classes for some students and sending intervention teams to struggling schools in the spring.

Superintendent Terry Grier said he will decide by next week whether to send those teams to schools this fall.

"We have a lot of reason to celebrate," Grier said. "But you can't celebrate long. They're raising the bar in reading again next year."

ABCs

In Guilford, 74.1 percent of schools met or exceeded expectations on state exams this year, compared to 45.9 percent during the 2005-06 school year.

The ABCs accountability model measures school achievement in three ways: the percent of passing students' test scores, academic growth over time, and federal Adequate Yearly Progress results.

These gains came even after the Department of Public Instruction adopted more rigorous standards in math and English for high schools last year.

Statewide, 71.8 percent of schools made ABCs, up 17.5 percentage points from the previous school year.

This means more teachers will receive bonuses ranging from $375 to $1,500 as compensation for the gains.

Just four Guilford Schools were listed as low-performing: Academy at High Point Central, Dudley, Smith and Northeast high schools. That's down from eight schools the previous year.

Adequate Yearly Progress

Not only did Guilford County Schools outperform the state on meeting federal testing targets, it did better than five of the largest school systems in the state: Cumberland, Durham, Forsyth, Mecklenburg, and Wake.

AYP tracks student test scores and graduation rates among different groups, including minorities and students with disabilities. Schools must reach 100 percent proficiency on state exams by 2013-14, a goal some education leaders consider unrealistic.

This year, 55.9 percent of Guilford schools made AYP, up 11.5 percentage points from 2005-06. Statewide, 44.7 percent of schools made AYP.

This means fewer Guilford schools will have to provide tutoring or transfer options for students under federal sanctions this year.

Five "Mission Possible" schools also made AYP for the first time: Aycock Middle, High Point Central High, Middle College at N.C. A&T, Washington Elementary and Welborn Middle.

Garth Hébert, a member of the Guilford County Board of Education, said the drop in schools facing federal sanctions has bought the district "some breathing room." He was ambivalent about the district's gains, believing a focus on exams has led to a sacrifice in arts and music education and rigor among academically gifted students.

"We're making progress on passing a test," Hébert said. "I don't think we've made progress on education."

Graduation rates

All Guilford high schools had a high enough graduation rate this year to meet federal testing goals. Only one school, The Middle College of Entertainment Technology at GTCC, saw a decrease in its rate over the previous year.

Last year, the state released a new graduation rate that tracks the percentage of freshmen who graduate within four years. Guilford had a rate of 79.7 percent this year, compared to 74 percent last year.

Statewide, 69.4 percent of 2003 freshmen graduated on time, compared to 68.3 percent of 2002 freshmen.

Contact Morgan Josey Glover at 373-7078 or [email protected]
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Beginning in 2004 the Guilford County Schools has utilized the expertise of the Haberman Educational Foundation in selecting its teachers and principals. The HEF staff of consultants has trained Guilford County principals, assistant principals, personnel directors and top administrative staff to use the Star Teacher Selection and Star Principal Selection Instruments in hiring teachers and principals. By 2007 there was irrefutable evidence that the teachers and principals selected have effectively taught the children and youth of the district to meet and surpass all state achievement standards.Under the expert leadership of Superintendent Dr.Terry Grier and their school board, the accomplishments of the Guilford County Public Schools is clear testimony to what can be accomplished when sound research is used to select effective teachers and principals.Many districts claim touse data as the basis for making school policy. The Guilford County Public Schools have actually delivered. The children, parents and community are the beneficiaries of the commitment the Guilford County Schools have made to getting the very best educators to work with their children.

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