DPS has record number of Schools of Excellence, Distinction

September 10, 2003 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Dr. Bert L’Homme, Associate Superintendent, Instructional Services, 560-3716 DURHAM—Durham Public Schools boasts a record number of Schools of Excellence and Distinction in the 2002-03 school year, according to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction’s annual ABC designations, released today. According to the report, there are now seven Schools of Excellence in Durham Public Schools, more than doubling last year’s record of three. Schools of Excellence are those that have reported at least 90 percent of students achieving at or above grade level, while Schools of Distinction are those reporting from 80 through 89 percent of students proficient. Results for the 2002-03 school year indicate that 35 of the system’s 41 schools that are rated by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction’s ABCs of Accountability assessment attained their highest percentage of students performing at or above grade level since the ABCs of Accountability assessment began seven years ago. In addition, all 27 elementary schools and half of the system’s eight middle schools have been deemed “High Growth” schools, meaning that they exceeded their growth goals by at least 10 percent. According to the state report: Seven elementary schools have at least 90 percent of students at or above grade level and have met or exceeded expected growth/gain goals, which make them Schools of Excellence, shattering last year’s record of three. They are: Easley, Eno Valley, Hillandale, Little River, Mangum, Morehead and Southwest Elementary Schools. Eleven schools reported between 80 and 89 percent of students at or above grade level and have met or exceeded their expected growth/gain goals, giving them School of Distinction recognition, over last year’s record of 10. They are Club Boulevard, R.N. Harris, Holt, Hope Valley, Oak Grove, Parkwood and Pearsontown Elementary Schools, Carrington, Rogers-Herr and Shepard Middle Schools, and Durham School of the Arts. Nineteen schools were designated Schools of Progress, reporting from 60 to 79 percent of students at or above grade level and meeting expected growth/gain goals: Bethesda, Burton, Eastway, Fayetteville Street, Forest View, Glenn, Lakewood, Merrick-Moore, Pearson, Powe, Smith, Spaulding and Watts Elementary; Brogden, Githens and Lowe’s Grove Middle; and Jordan, Northern and Riverside High Schools. There were seven more Schools of Progress last year than the previous year’s total of 12. Two schools were named Priority Schools, down from three the previous year. These schools report either 50 to 59 percent of students at or above grade level regardless of whether they meet expected growth, or they report fewer than 50 percent of students at or above grade level, yet have achieved expected growth. They are Hillside and Southern High Schools. It is important to note, however, that Hillside did make expected growth, while Southern reported high growth. It is also important to note that Eastway Elementary made the jump from Priority to School of Progress designation in one year. Only two schools received the No Recognition designation in 2002-03, down from the previous year’s total of 13. These were schools that did not meet expected growth/gain but have at least 60 percent of students at or above grade level. They are Chewning and Neal Middle Schools. For the second consecutive year time since the ABCs’ inception, there were no “Low-Performing” schools in the Durham Public Schools system. The ABC 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/gain has shown growth that would be reasonably expected over one year’s time, based on previous performance. A high growth/gain school shows growth that is at least 10 percent higher than expected. “Once again, the students, teachers, parents, principals, Central Services professionals and the entire Durham community have proven that a clear focus backed by solid commitment will accomplish increased achievement levels for all students,” said Superintendent Ann T. Denlinger. “The evidence is clearly mounting that we will meet our goals of 95 percent of third-graders reading proficiently and closing the Achievement Gap by 2007!” ### Attachment: ABCs Outcomes for Durham Public Schools: 1996-97 Through 2002-03