Each of the schools in the Banks County school made AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress) in all categories with the exception of the high school which missed on the graduation rate which currently is at 60 percent in two areas, the overall subgroup and the economically disadvantaged subgroup.
However, according to school officials, that rate should increase to 70 percent, the state target number, after summer graduates are calculated.
The state raised the bar for the graduation rate this year to 70 percent, and the percentage will continue to rise yearly.
“I am proud of the primary, elementary and middle schools for having made AYP for four consecutive years putting the schools in an elite group in the state,” said superintendent Chris Erwin.
He further commented on what an accomplishment the status is for the students and staff.
Data released Friday by the Georgia Department of Education show just 69 percent of schools made "adequate yearly progress," compared to about 82 percent last year. AYP is measured based on math and reading test scores, attendance and graduation rates among other factors.
The Adequate Yearly Progress requirements are part of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) law requiring states and school systems to meet specific goals based on student achievement.
States are mandated to increase performance for AYP each year in order to meet the NCLB goal of having all students proficient in reading and math by 2013-2014 school year. The law also requires each school system to sort test results by ethnicity, disability, limited English proficiency, and socioeconomic status. Each group with 40 or more students must also meet AYP. Other factors determining AYP status include the graduation rate, student attendance, and school safety.
Summer CRCT and GHSGT retests and summer school scores were not included in this round of AYP determinations. Retests will be included in the second round of AYP determinations, which are usually released in September.
Erwin said he expects the graduation results to increase to meet AYP following the August recounts. He also added that it was more difficult for schools to make AYP because of the state’s tougher math curriculum, more rigorous tests, and heightened requirements for high school students. Considering the higher standards set for meeting AYP this year, Erwin said he is satisfied with the system’s performance.
Banks County Middle School’s eighth grade math scores are among the top 10 in the state. Most middle school subject areas and subgroups are far above that of the state and the region. The students with disabilities subgroup at the middle school scored higher in many areas than the majority of other schools’ overall student subgroups.
Schools that miss AYP two years in a row are put on the needs-improvement list. Those schools must offer extra tutoring for struggling students and give parents the option to send their children to another, higher-performing school. Schools on the needs-improvement list for several years in a row face more severe sanctions, like having to replace teachers and enter into a contract with the state on improving performance.
Regardless of the graduation recalculations, Banks County High School will not face any consequences as it is the first year of not making AYP.
A news release issued Friday by the state Department of Education explained it was hard for all schools to make AYP in 2008 for two reasons. First, the percentage of students who had to pass state tests, such as the Criterion-Referenced Competency Test and Georgia High School Graduation Test, in math, reading and English went up for all grade levels. Also, students were doing more rigorous work and taking more rigorous tests in 2008, particularly in mathematics.
