Report card: Local schools on target with performance
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The Tennessee Value Added Assessment System (TVAAS) scores are a supplement to the state school report card released in November. They reflect gains and losses in student progress within a school system and individual schools. The TVAAS enables districts to view student achievement over time in order to make instructional decisions.
Warren County Schools, as a whole, are right on target. According to TVAAS, the local system received straight C’s. High School Gateway examinations also show some scores above expectations in Algebra I, Biology I, English II and Math Foundations.
Under the grading system, a C means a school has taught its student what is expected. A score of an A or B means that school has taught its students more than has been expected during the year.
Diana Zadeh, director of testing for Warren County Schools said, “We always strive to improve, but we are happy with our scores. With funding and everything, we’re really pleased with maintaining our averages.”
School officials plan to use these scores to determine areas of improvement and will meet with principals to implement plans for improvement. Zadeh added, “We think our students are making good progress,” citing the steady improvement in writing scores at the high school level. “We expect good scores to continue.”
Bonnie Collier, principal of Bobby Ray Elementary said, “The reason I like the gain scores is they are comparing the same group of children from year to year. A grade of C is one year of academic growth, so a C is good. It’s what is expected.”
Bobby Ray Elementary didn’t get any C’s and scored highest among Warren County Schools, posting gains all the way around. “We don’t have any minuses. We have an A in math and science and B’s in reading and social studies,” said Collier. “It’s fabulous!”
Zadeh said it is beneficial to look at the entire report card, but the state releases the information piecemeal.
“If you just look at one part of the test it would be sort of misleading,” Zadeh said. “To get a balanced picture, you need to look at everything combined.”
Some elementary schools posted losses in several categories. Faring the worst was Eastside Elementary, with losses in reading, math, science and social studies.
Tennessee began tracking student performance in 1992 on variables such as English and math proficiency, drop out rates, and attendance. Because of this we are able to see all of the strengths and weaknesses of the schools in each district as well as statewide.
Changes in the grade levels of a school and the socioeconomic situations of its students has no effect on the report card.
“The interesting thing about Value Added is that each child serves as their own control group,” said Dr. Mary Reel of the Tennessee School Board. “So it’s not hindering a school to have a change in demographics.”