State tests show the two school districts in Leflore County are moving in opposite directions.
Greenwood made gains in most areas, while the county schools generally fell off, according to results released today by the Mississippi Department of Education.
In Carroll County, the elementary and middle schools showed improvement, but the high school fell due mainly to poor biology scores.
Students throughout Mississippi took language arts and math exams in the spring. High school students took three subject-area tests: Algebra I, biology and English II. Fourth- and seventh- graders completed a writing assessment and fifth- and eighth- graders a science assessment.
The tests are used to assign grades of “A” through “F” to districts and individual schools, but the state won’t release those ratings until later.
Students’ scores fall into four categories:
nMinimal: Student has not mastered the skills required for success at the next grade and is probably failing.
nBasic: Student demonstrates partial mastery of skills and might be failing or barely passing.
nProficient: Student demonstrates solid academic performance.
nAdvanced: Student consistently performs in a manner clearly beyond that required to be successful in the next grade.
The Greenwood district continued steady progress it has made in recent years, with a higher percentage of students scoring proficient and above in both math and language arts in every grade except one.
The situation was nearly flipped in the county school district: Every grade had a lower percentage of students who scored at least proficient except eighth grade.
But graduation rates remain a concern for both districts.
However, the state is using a new way of calculating graduation rate. That makes it difficult to draw comparisons with prior years.
Starting this year, it’s reporting the dropout rates over five years instead of four. So the numbers for this year represent students who began ninth grade in the fall of 2006.
There are three different rates to consider:
Graduation rate: Number of students who received a diploma by the end of summer school 2011 divided by the total number who began ninth grade in 2006 minus transfers and deaths.
Completion rate: In addition to graduates, it also factors in any student who got a Special Education certificate, occupational diploma or in-house GED.
Dropout rate: Percentage of students who dropped out by the end of summer school 2011, not counting students who are still attending school or those whom the district is actively working to help pass one or more subject area tests but have completed all other requirements for graduation.
The dropout rate is 18.8 percent in Greenwood, 21.9 percent in Leflore County and 18.4 percent in Carroll County. The state average is 18.1 percent.
The graduation rate is 66.6 percent in Greenwood, 67.2 percent in Leflore County and 75.3 percent in Carroll County compared to 72.6 percent statewide.
The five-year completion rate is 78.1 percent in Greenwood, 77.8 percent in Leflore County, 81.6 percent in Carroll County and 80.9 percent in Mississippi.
So in Greenwood, two-thirds of ninth graders from 2006 graduated with a degree within five years. Additionally, about 12 percent got some sort of certification less than an actual degree, such as a GED or Special Education certificate. About 3 percent are still working toward a degree, while 18 percent dropped out with nothing.
Here’s a rundown of all three local districts’ performance on the tests, as well as statewide trends:
Greenwood
Threadgill Elementary and Davis Elementary both made substantial gains.
Some of the biggest improvement came among sixth-graders in language arts at Threadgill. When that group of students was in fifth grade in 2010-2011, 69 percent scored basic and above. Last year, when they were in sixth grade, 93 percent reached that level.
Bankston Elementary in North Greenwood remained the district’s best-performing elementary school, exceeding state averages in nearly every regard.
W.C. Williams was the lowest- performing elementary, but it improved somewhat.
Greenwood Middle improved quite a bit, too.
But Greenwood High School struggled. Substantially fewer students scored proficient or advanced on both the Algebra I and English II tests.
In a prepared statement, Superintendent Margie Pulley, who suddenly resigned Tuesday, said she attributes the success of the district to:
nTeachers and students working extremely hard to improve achievement.
nCentral office administrators and principals keeping the focus on academics and constantly analyzing data and making immediate corrections.
nParents and community members supporting the district and its schools.
nOngoing professional development, modeling and coaching at the school sites.
Leflore County
Leflore County High School in Itta Bena proved to be one of the few bright spots in the district. It raised its scores in both Algebra I and English II.
Amanda Elzy High did worse in both areas.
But scores fell nearly across the board in the elementary and junior high grades.
The district has undergone several changes in the past year.
Superintendent Viola Williams McCaskill took over in January after defeating Jean Hall at the polls, so the school year was split between two different administrations.
This year, McCaskill has started a trial pre-kindergarten program for about 20 students at both Amanda Elzy and Leflore County elementary schools. She also realigned some of the schools, making East a middle school.
McCaskill did not respond to a message left with her secretary Tuesday afternoon.
Carroll County
At J.Z. George High School, the effect one teacher can have was vividly displayed. Only 46 percent of students passed the biology test compared to a 75 percent pass rate across the state.
Carroll Superintendent Billy Joe Ferguson said a new biology teacher last year didn’t have control of the classroom. He replaced her at Christmas, but it wasn’t enough to turn things around, he said. Former principal Glen Stevens was also replaced with Joey Carpenter after the school year.
Ferguson said the high school is slated to earn an “F” as a result mostly of the low biology scores, but he said he believes it will return to successful status next year. He said Carpenter is “on fire” and the new biology teacher has a good plan for growth.
Ferguson said George Middle School, which is in its second year, made a marked improvement on exams under the leadership of Principal Coretta Green.
Marshall Elementary in North Carrollton also improved, although not by as much as the middle school.
The district is working to show parents that their children will be safe and well-educated there, and enrollment is up by about 50 students this year, the superintendent said.
“I’m pleased with the direction we’re going,” Ferguson said. “You learn from your mistakes.”
Mississippi
Students improved in every grade from three through eight in both language arts and math, and the statewide graduation rate rose to 73.7 percent.
The state Department of Education attributed the improvement to a more rigorous curriculum, called the Common Core, which has been adopted by 46 states and is intended to create a uniform system throughout the country.
“The increase in student performance as evidenced by these scores is a direct result of increased rigor in the classroom,” James Mason, director of student assessment for the state, said in a prepared statement. “Teachers are becoming more aware and better trained in challenging students by using the Common Core State Standards.”
He predicted continued gains.
At the high school level, results were mixed. English and biology scores rose, but algebra scores fell.
The state will release the A-F school and district ratings on Sept. 14.
• Contact Charlie Smith at 581-7235 or csmith@gwcommonwealth.com.
