ABCs Results: 88% of elementary and middle schools met either “Expected Growth” or “High Growth”
August 4, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DURHAM—Durham Public Schools showed an increase in the graduation rate and great progress in schools that made “Expected Growth” or “High Growth” according to official testing data released Aug. 4 by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. The scores are the result of the 2010-11End-of-Grade and End-of-Course assessments. These results are aligned with the preliminary results released by DPS on July 20.
Eighty-eight percent of elementary and middle schools met either expected growth or high growth. The district’s graduation rate is now 74%, an increase of 4% from 2009-10. In addition, more middle school students are demonstrating proficiency in Algebra, bringing the total rate to 92%, a 6% increase from 2009-10.
In the “Elementary South” area, 100% of schools met expected or high growth. In the “Elementary North” area, 79% of the schools met expected or high growth. Additionally, 26 schools recorded an overall gain in their composite scores.
“We are moving in the right direction,” said Superintendent Becoats. “I believe the initiatives in our strategic plan and our focus on reading in grades 3 through 8 will help to increase academic achievement.”
Highlights from the 2010-11 ABCs results include:
- 88% of elementary and middle schools met either expected growth or high growth
- 26 made positive gains on their preliminary proficiency composites: 15 elementary, 5 middle and 6 high schools
- 9 schools exceeded a five-point gain in proficiency
- Spring Valley Elementary exceeded a 10-point gain in proficiency
- 92% percent of middle school students taking Algebra demonstrated proficiency. This is a 6 % increase from the previous year
- Graduation rates: City of Medicine Academy—97%, JD Clement Early College—95%, Hillside New Tech—100%, Middle College—96%, Southern School of Engineering—90%
- The district graduation rate increased by 4%
The scores were based on mathematics, reading and science scores on End-of-Grade tests in elementary and middle schools, and End-of-Course tests and writing assessments in high school.
The 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.
For more information on the ABCs Accountability Model, visit www.ncpublicschools.org.
###
Tahira Stalberte
Chief Communications Officer
P. 919.560.9112
C. 919.358.8876
tahira.stalberte@dpsnc.net
Jeff Nash
Communications Coordinator
P. 919.560.2602
C. 919.412.7947
jeff.nash@dpsnc.net
