DURHAM—Seventeen schools in the Durham Public Schools system made High Growth for the 2007-08 school year under the ABCs of Accountability testing program. Another 15 schools reported Expected Growth, meaning that 32 of 48 DPS schools, or 67 percent, reported either Expected or High Growth in student achievement.
A record number of schools made High Growth in 2007-08, since the new ABC model was introduced in 2005-06. Only five schools achieved High Growth status last year, and no schools achieved this status in 2005-06.
The results were released today by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. They were based on math scores alone, as reading scores have been re-normed and won’t be released until later in the fall.
ABCs of Accountability results for the 2007-08 school year indicate that 28 of 37 elementary and middle schools showed growth when considering math scores for grades 3 through 8. There were 15 elementary schools and one middle school reporting High Growth, and eight elementary schools and four middle schools reporting Expected Growth.
For high schools, Durham School of the Arts (grades 6-8), reported High Growth. Three high schools – Jordan, Riverside and Hillside New Tech reported Expected Growth.
The ABCs ratings are based on end-of-grade and end-of-course test scores. Those scores are applied to a formula that ultimately indicates relative achievement levels over the course of the year, taking a number of student performance factors into account. A school that makes expected growth has shown growth that would be reasonably expected over one year’s time, based on previous performance. A high growth school must have at least 60 percent of their students achieving the expected growth standard.
Highlights among the 2007-08 ABCs results include:
- A record number of schools made High Growth since the new ABC model was introduced in 2005-06.
- More than half of elementary schools reported High Growth.
- More than half of middle schools (five of nine) reported either Expected or High Growth.
- Elementary schools making the High Growth standard were Bethesda, Club Boulevard, Creekside, Eastway, Glenn, Harris, Hillandale, Lakewood, Little River, Mangum, Merrick-Moore, Morehead, Smith, Southwest, and Watts.
- Eastway Elementary School made High Growth for the first time.
- Elementary schools making expected growth in 2007-08 were Burton, Eno Valley, Fayetteville Street, Forest View, Hope Valley, Oak Grove, Pearsontown and Powe.
- Brogden Middle School made High Growth.
- Middle schools making Expected Growth were Carrington, Githens, Shepard and Rogers-Herr.
Durham Public Schools officials say that while much progress has been made in middle and high school reform, there is nonetheless much work to be done to ensure that those schools that did not meet growth goals receive the attention they need to ensure that all students are achieving at their highest levels.
“While we are pleased with the fact that a large majority of our schools have achieved Expected or High Growth, we nonetheless will continue our efforts in our schools that have challenges,” said Superintendent Carl Harris. “Our teachers, principals, Central Services professionals, parents and partners are concerned about these schools, and we will immediately begin to place a greater focus on addressing their needs.”
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Attachments:
2007-08 Durham Public Schools Preliminary ABC Elementary School Growth Status
2007-08 Durham Public Schools Preliminary ABC Middle School Growth Status
2007-08 Durham Public Schools Preliminary ABC High School Growth Status
