The Rockdale County Public Schools system did not make Adequate Yearly Progress this year, after having achieved AYP for five consecutive years previously. Two schools, Rockdale County High School and Salem High School, also did not make AYP.
The two schools fell short in both academic performance and in the second indicator, or the graduation rate.
The economically disadvantaged students subgroup did not make AYP in Math and English-Language Art in the two high schools, according to a released statement from the school system.
The graduation requirment for system-wide AYP this year was 85 percent, and RCPS had 82.2 percent graduation in this initial round, according to the Ga. Department of Education website.
The final AYP report, which includes summer retests, summer graduates and appeals, will be released in the fall.
RCPS Superintendent Dr. Samuel King said in a released statement the system expects to make AYP with the retested scores. "For the first time in six years, we are relying on retest results to make AYP for the sixth consecutive year. Our own analysis of the retest results indicates that both schools and the district should make AYP for the sixth consectutive year. We expect this to be reported by the state when official AYP status is released in the fall."
He said although the economically disadvantaged subgroup had gains in Math and English-Language Arts, the bar for each subject had increased greatly this year.
"These initial results pinpoint a need to focus on closing the achievement gap within our economically disadvantaged subgroup, which will define our work in the upcoming school year," said King.
Throughout the state, fewer schools made AYP this year. About 63 percent of schools made AYP in 2011, compared to 71 percent in 2010. The percentage of schools falling into "Needs Improvement" (NI) status this year is 17.5 percent, compared to 15.4 percent last year.
This year the academic bar was increased in all four categories (Reading/Language Arts CRCT Grades 3-8, Math CRCT Grades 3-8, English/Language Arts Georgia High School Graduation Test, Math Georgia High School Graduation Test). The graduation rate that high schools must meet also increased this year from 84 percent to 85 percent.
"We have many great schools in the state providing a high-quality education to all students," said State School Superintendent Dr. John Barge. "But the rate at which the academic bar and the graduation rate requirement increased this year prevented more schools from making AYP.
"We knew we were up against the proverbial wall because this bar increases each year, and it appears that we have begun to hit it,” Barge said.
No Child Left Behind consists of three parts -- test participation, academic achievement and another statistic, called a "second indicator." The academic goals continue to rise every few years toward a goal of 100 percent proficiency for all students by 2014. All students at a school, as well as any qualifying subgroup of students, must meet goals in all three categories in order for the school to make AYP. Schools that do not make AYP for two consecutive years in the same subject are placed in Needs Improvement status and face escalating consequences.
-------------------------------------------------
Check back to www.rockdalenews.com later for more.
(July 21, 2:42 p.m.) IN BRIEF: The Rockdale County Public Schools system did not make Adequate Yearly Progress this year, after having achieved AYP for five consecutive years previously. Two schools, Rockdale County High School and Salem High School, also did not make AYP.
The two schools fell short in both academic performance and in the second indicator, or the graduation rate. The graduation requirment for system-wide AYP second indicator was 85 percent, and RCPS had 82.2 percent graduation.
