Warren schools not leaving children behind
The Tennessee Department of Education announced this week that 85 percent of its schools have met federal No Child Left Behind standards — including every public school in Warren County.
“We are very pleased with what we saw this time,” said Director of Schools Dr. Jerry Hale.
The results, for the 2004-05 school year, showed every local school met federal academic benchmarks that were established in January, 2002 when President Bush signed the No Child Left Behind Act into law.
The big news is that Warren County High School is no longer listed as a target school. The high school was the only school in the system which didn’t comply with No Child Left Behind for the 2003-04 school year. A low graduation rate and problems with math scores for special education students were the reasons why.
During this round of testing, the high school improved its graduation rate from 67 percent to 85 percent and worked on new methods to teach special ed math. Improving the graduation rate by nearly 20 percent was clearly the most eye-catching statistic.
Bobby Cox, director of instruction, said the emphasis on borderline students was one reason for the higher graduation rate. If students were thinking about dropping out, the options available at the adult high school were made readily available.
“The flexibility allowed at the adult high school allows them to hold down a job, do other things and still graduate,” said Cox. “We’ve always had the adult high school but students didn’t know it was an option. And they get to walk the same night and graduate with the rest of their class.”
Students over 17 are eligible to attend the adult high school and are required to be there 20 hours a week, or about four hours a day. The adult high school is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Previous high school graduation numbers were also hampered by the fact special ed diplomas are not considered regular diplomas. That means a student receiving a special ed diploma is counted the same as a dropout. To help this figure, special ed students were exposed to more regular school curriculum so they could receive a regular diploma.
Cox was also pleased to tout the high school had a 93 percent attendance rate and less than a 1 percent dropout rate.
As for the state’s overall No Child Left Behind compliance rate of 85 percent, that’s a 4 percent jump from the previous year.
“I want to congratulate the students, parents, teachers and communities who are truly meeting the challenge and moving our state forward,” said Gov. Phil Bredesen. “I am pleased we are seeing positive results and I am committed to keeping education as our state’s highest priority. Education is not only the key to success for our young people, it is the key to the future success of our state.”
The improvement came despite the fact the bar was raised for schools to meet No Child Left Behind standards. This year, 83 percent of elementary students had to measure at least proficient in reading/language arts, and 79 percent were required for math, up from 77 percent and 72 percent, respectively.
High schools had to meet the 90 percent mark for reading/language arts and 75 percent for math, as compared to 86 percent and 65 percent, respectively, in previous years.
No Child Left Behind
school-by-school results
Warren County High School
Dropout: 0.6%
Algebra Algebra English English
proficient tested proficient tested
94% 100% 97% 100%
Bobby Ray Elementary
Attendance: 95%
Math Math Reading Reading
proficient tested proficient tested
85% 99% 89% 99%
Centertown Elementary
Attendance: 95%
Math Math Reading Reading
proficient tested proficient tested
97% 100% 97% 100%
Dibrell Elementary
Attendance: 94.8%
Math Math Reading Reading
proficient tested proficient tested
90% 100% 93% 100%
Eastside Elementary
Attendance: 94.3%
Math Math Reading Reading
proficient tested proficient tested
90% 100% 92% 100%
Hickory Creek Elementary
Attendance: 94.9%
Math Math Reading Reading
proficient tested proficient tested
83% 100% 88% 100%
Irving College Elementary
Attendance: 94.6%
Math Math Reading Reading
proficient tested proficient tested
85% 100% 86% 100%
Morrison Elementary
Attendance: 94.8%
Math Math Reading Reading
proficient tested proficient tested
85% 100% 90% 100%
Warren County Middle School
Attendance: 94.7%
Math Math Reading Reading
proficient tested proficient tested
90% 100% 91% 100%
West Elementary
Attendance: 95%
Math Math Reading Reading
proficient tested proficient tested
92% 100% 93% 100%