Preliminary EOG results indicate continued upward trend

June 3, 2004 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Dr. Carl Harris, Associate Superintendent Instructional Services, 560-3716 Preliminary EOG results indicate continued upward trend DURHAM—Durham Public Schools students in grades 3 through 8 have made 2003-04 the seventh consecutive year for growth in achievement levels in reading and mathematics, according to initial assessments. Preliminary end-of-grade test score performance composites for grades 3 through 8 indicate that 27 of 36 elementary and middle schools reached their highest overall scores since composite scores were first mandated by the State of North Carolina eight years ago, Superintendent Ann Denlinger announced today. This includes all four schools previously deemed “High Priority” schools. A performance composite is a school’s overall percentage of students tested who are at or above grade level in reading and mathematics. “Our students, teachers, principals, Central Services professionals, parents and community supporters have much to celebrate with this year’s preliminary performance composite results, because these outcomes reflect their hard work and dedication,” said Superintendent Ann T. Denlinger. “We are focused on achieving our dual goals of at least 95 percent of third-graders reading proficiently and closing the Achievement Gap by 2007, and this report reaffirms that our strategies are working.” ? A record 19 of 27 elementary schools have reached or surpassed the 80-percent proficiency threshold, eight of which have reached or surpassed the 90-percent mark. No elementary or middle school had reached these milestones eight years ago. ? A record five of nine middle schools have surpassed the 80-percent proficiency mark. ? Only eight of 36 schools reported slight decreases, and of those only two reported decreases of more than two percentage points. Five of these eight reported their second highest composite scores ever. -more- ? Over the past eight years, five elementary schools – Eastway, Fayetteville Street, R.N. Harris, Morehead and Pearson have increased their overall composite scores by at least 40 percentage points. ? Eastway Elementary School shows the greatest one-year increase when comparing this year’s preliminary EOG performance composite with last year’s ABCs: the school reports an increase of 17.2 percentage points in one year, from 65.3 to 82.5 percentage points, placing it in contention to be named a School of Distinction when ABCs outcomes are announced in late summer. ? The four schools deemed High Priority schools – Eastway, Lakewood, Pearson, and Watts – have all reported their highest composite scores ever. The combined composite score for these schools is 78.8 percent. Denlinger and the Durham Public Schools Board of Education have set a course for increasing achievement levels for all students, with the dual goal of having at least 95 percent of third-graders reading proficiently and closing the Achievement Gap by the end of the 2006-07 school year. The district has bolstered its efforts around literacy initiatives, especially in the early grades, establishing a seven-year upward trend in student achievement results. The test score data released by Durham Public Schools provide a first look at districtwide performance. A more detailed analysis of the data (e.g., by ethnicity and gender) will be available for release this summer. The state of North Carolina will utilize the data from these scores—along with the results of end-of-course test scores administered at the high school level—in developing its ABCs accountability designations, which also will be available for release later this year. ###