The 2009 Report Card on the DeKalb County School System from the Tennessee Department of Education reveals that three of the five schools are in “Good Standing” for No Child Left Behind AYP (Average Yearly Progress) status and have met the necessary benchmarks, but two schools, Northside Elementary and Smithville Elementary are listed as “Target Schools”
Director of Schools Mark Willoughby says the reason Northside Elementary is a “Target School” is because “one of the sub-groups did not make the gains we would have hoped they would have made. We’re trying to develop strategies to help those children. Smithville Elementary is also a “Target School” but that’s simply because they are a feeder school to Northside Elementary. A “Target School” is one that has not met the benchmarks in certain areas. Northside did not make the benchmark in the sub-group of special education with Reading and Language Arts. There is a certain time limit to turn that around. From “Target” you can go to “School Improvement 1” then to “School Improvement 2″. But after so long, (if you don’t show improvement), the state can come in and take over. But we’re going to be doing a lot of different things to make sure that never happens.”
Willoughby says overall he is pleased with the gains the school system has made and expressed his appreciation to all school staff and students. “Thanks to all of our employees for working hard. Thanks to our students for doing an outstanding job. Again, the areas we need to improve in, we’re working on those, and in areas where we have scored really well, we’re still going to work to make those even better.
This year’s report card demonstrates fundamental changes to the calculations of Value Added and Achievement scores. The method of calculating scores and the scale used to determine letter grades have been revised to allow for a transition to the new standards and assessments required by the Tennessee Diploma Project.
“Because we have been on an aggressive path of improvement with the Tennessee Diploma Project, it was necessary to utilize this transition year to change our calculation methods and more accurately demonstrate student progress in an effort to pursue higher standards,” Education Commissioner Timothy Webb said.
Two major changes have been implemented for calculation of scores on the Report Card. First, the baseline year for comparing student achievement has been reset using 2009 test scores. Second, a new grade scale will be used. The scale used to determine all grades A through F has been dramatically revised, meaning scores considered to be an “A” proficient in years past may now be a “B” or “C”.
“Part of student success means setting the stage,” said Dr. Connie Smith, Assistant Commissioner of Accountability, Teaching and Learning. “With the Tennessee Diploma Project and recalibrating the Report Card, we’re setting the stage for our students to be more competitive and better prepared for career or college after high school.”
In 2007, the Tennessee Department of Education launched the Tennessee Diploma Project. The more rigorous curriculum and graduation requirements the TDP call for become effective this year. For more information on the TDP visit: http://www.tn.gov/tdp
To access Report Card data, please visit http://tn.gov/education/reportcard/index.shtml.
The following is a summary of the DeKalb County School System Report Card for 2009 from the Tennessee Department of Education:
K-8 Non-Academic Indicators:
The school system average attendance for K-8 for 2009 was 95.4%, higher than 94.8% in 2008 and above the state goal of 93%
The promotion rate for 2009 was 99.7%, better than 98.8% in 2008 and above the state goal of 97%
9-12th grade Non-Academic Indicators:
The attendance rate for grades 9-12 was 94.8% in 2009, higher than 93.3% in 2008 and better than the state’s attendance goal of 93%
The graduation rate for DeKalb County High School is 91.3% in 2009, higher than 83.4% in 2008, and above the state graduation goal of 90%
The 2009 event dropout rate is 1%, down from 2.8% in 2008 and significantly below the state goal of 5%.
2009 Academic Achievement Grades for grades 3-8 are as follows:
Math-B
Reading/Language-B
Social Studies-B
Science-A
2009 Value Added Academic Growth Grades for 3-8 are as follows:
Math-D
Reading/Language-C
Social Studies-C
Science-B
For 2009, DeKalb County earned an “A” in 5th and 8th grade writing, the same as 2008 with scores this year of 4.3 in 5th grade writing and 4.4 in 8th grade writing. The eleventh grade writing score improved from a “B” in 2008 (3.9 score) to an “A” (4.0 score) in 2009.
DeKalb County High School improved on three year average ACT scores from 2008 to 2009 but fell slightly behind the state three year average.
The ACT results in grades 9-12 for 2009 (individual year) show that the composite score was 20.8, up from 19.8 last year; 21.2 in English, up from 20.3 in 2008, 19.1 in Math, up from 18.2 last year, 21.2 in Reading, up from 20.0; and 21.0 in Science/Reasoning, up from 20.0 last year. The 2009 state three year averages are 20.6 composite, 20.7 in English, 19.8 in Math, 21.0 in Reading, and 20.4 in Science/Reasoning.
The state set a predicted score of the high school Gateway and End of Course test which compare the school progress with the progress of students across the state.
Math Algebra I: NDD (Not detectably different)
Science Biology: Above Average
English II: NDD
English I: NDD
US History: NDD
The following are the results from each elementary school included in the report card:
DeKalb West:
2009 Grades K-8 Non-Academic Indicators
Attendance Rate- 95.4%, up from 93.7% in 2008. (State Goal- 93%)
Promotion Rate- 100%, up from 98.6% in 2008 (State Goal 97%)
Academic Achievement Grades:
DeKalb West: Math- A (Score 58), State (Score 50)- B
Reading/Language-A (Score 55), State (Score 50)-B
Social Studies-A (Score 57), State (Score 50)-B
Science-A (Score 57), State (Score 50)-B
Academic Growth (Value Added)
DeKalb West:
Math-B
Reading/Language-A
Social Studies-A
Science-A
Writing 5th Grade-A
Writing 8th Grade-A
Northside Elementary:
2009 Grades K-8 Non-Academic Indicators
Attendance Rate- 96%, up from 95.7% in 2008. (State Goal- 93%)
Promotion Rate- 100%, same as 2008 (State Goal 97%)
Academic Achievement Grades:
Northside Elementary:
Math- B (Score 50), State (Score 50)- B
Reading/Language-C (Score 48), State (Score 50)-B
Social Studies-B (Score 52), State (Score 50)-B
Science-B (Score 53), State (Score 50)-B
Academic Growth (Value Added)
Northside Elementary:
Math-D
Reading/Language-B
Social Studies-A
Science-B
Writing 5th Grade-A
DeKalb Middle:
2009 Grades K-8 Non-Academic Indicators
Attendance Rate- 95.5%, up from 94.8% in 2008. (State Goal- 93%)
Promotion Rate- 100%, same as 2008 (State Goal 97%)
Academic Achievement Grades:
DeKalb Middle:
Math- B (Score 50), State (Score 50)- B
Reading/Language-B (Score 50), State (Score 50)-B
Social Studies-C (Score 49), State (Score 50)-B
Science-A (Score 56), State (Score 50)-B
Academic Growth (Value Added)
DeKalb Middle:
Math-C
Reading/Language-D
Social Studies-F
Science-B
Writing 8th Grade-A
Smithville Elementary:
Grades K-8 Non Academic Indicators
Attendance Rate 94.8%, down from 95.2% (State Goal-93%)
Promotion Rate 98.8%, up from 97.4% (State Goal-97%)
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