Cordele Dispatch, Cordele, GA

Local news

July 21, 2010

Department of Education gives AYP results

Cordele — No high school in the three-county area achieved AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress) for the 2009-2010 school year, according to information released this week by the state Department of Education.

In addition, Wilcox Elementary and Middle Schools and Dooly County Middle School did not meet the necessary standards for AYP in Georgia.

On the bright side, however, Crisp County’s four elementary schools are in a group of “distinguished” schools that have made AYP for multiple years.

Even though Crisp County Middle School made AYP for the most recent school year, it remains in the “needs improvement” status because two consecutive years of AYP are required before a school is removed from that status.

Both Blackshear Trail and J. S. Pate have met AYP for 12 consecutive years. They have been categorized as “distinguished” schools for the past 10 years. A. S. Clark and Southwestern have met AYP for 8 years, and have been “distinguished” schools for 6 years.

Crisp County High School kept that county’s record less than perfect by failing to have high enough Georgia high school graduation test scores and by falling below the required standard for high school graduation numbers.

This is Dooly County Elementary’s second year of making AYP which places it in the “adequate” category. Dooly County Middle School made AYP last year, so this is the first year that it has fallen into “needs improvement” status.

Dooly’s high school has failed to make AYP for five years, and has been targeted for assistance. In fact, that school recently was awarded a school improvement grant which will provide some $3 million over a three-year period in an effort to turn things around.

Wilcox County High already has two years and the middle school, one year in “needs improvement” status. The elementary school made AYP last year.

AYP requires schools to meet academic standards in three areas: 95% test participation in math and English/language arts for all groups and sub-groups with 40 or more students; meeting or exceeding the state’s Annual Measurable Objectives (AMO) on those tests and a second indicator.

Georgia uses the Criterion-Referenced Competency tests as its AYP assessment tool at the elementary and middle school level. The Georgia High School Graduation tests are used for high schools, and the Georgia Alternate Assessment (GAA) is used for severely cognitively impaired students, according to the Department of Education website.

Failure to meet AYP does not mean a school is failing, the website says. The data that is produced simply helps schools identify areas in which they need improvement.

“When student performance results on tests are analyzed by various student groupings, gaps in student performance become self-evident. The closing of these gaps is the mission of the Governor's Office of Student Achievement and the Georgia Department of Education and becomes the focus of school improvement initiatives at the school and school district levels,” the website further explains.

When schools or districts are identified for Needs Improvement, School Improvement teams are assigned to assist the schools or districts in implementing consequences and to focus on the school's (or district's) strengths to overcome its weaknesses.

Students in schools that “need improvement” have the option of requesting a transfer to another school in the system or receiving supplemental services.

 

Text Only
Local news
  • Sharing a coconut Sharing a coconut

    Wes Gibbs, a second grade student in Mrs. Sheila Henderson's homeroom, turned a homework assignment into an exciting class project.

    February 3, 2012 1 Photo

  • Teen Maze returning

    For the third time in the last four years, Teen Maze is returning to Crisp County High School this spring.

    February 3, 2012

  • Pecan producers invited to meeting

    All area pecan producers are invited to a production meeting Wednesday, Feb. 15 at 12 noon in the Crisp County Ag Assembly Room.

    February 3, 2012

  • Take your favorite girl(s) to a dance

    Fathers, grandfathers, godfathers, uncles and other father figures have an opportunity to make some young girl feel really special this Friday.

    February 3, 2012

  • Police make four arrests on Thursday

    City police officers reported making four assorted arrests on what otherwise was a quite Thursday.

    February 3, 2012

  • Police responded to 1,191 calls for service in January

    A spokesman for the Cordele Police Department’s criminal interdiction and traffic enforcement unit has released a January activity report that shows officers answered 1,191 calls for service and arrested 32 wanted persons.

    February 2, 2012

  • Local resident faces drug, traffic charges

    A driver’s license and sobriety checkpoint conducted Tuesday by Cordele Police Department officers resulted in the arrest of a 29-year-old local resident on dual charges.

    February 2, 2012

  • DCUTS ceasing operation

    Council members here met in a called meeting Tuesday to grant permission for the DCUTS director to ask Dooly County to take over operation of the transit system.

    February 1, 2012

  • G-P Chemical plant closing

    Employees of the Georgia-Pacific Chemical plant here were informed Wednesday that their facility will be closing, and 24 employees will be terminated.

    February 1, 2012

  • Pate tadpoles Examining live tadpoles

    Second grade students at J. S. Pate Elementary have been studying the life cycle of a frog.

    February 1, 2012 1 Photo

Business Marquee
AP Video
Killer of Fla. Girl Found in Landfill Gets Life Army Orders Bradley Manning Court-martial Cancer Charity Revives Breast-screening Grants Heavy Snowstorm Hits Colorado On Its Way East 2nd Teacher From LA School Arrested on Sex Claim Prosecutors Close Armstrong Inquiry, No Charges Sights and Sounds: Football Fans Pour Into Indy Unemployment Rate Down to 8.3% Obama: Still Far Too Many Americans Need Jobs GOP: Jobs Numbers Welcome, Can Do Better Fla. Man Adopts Girlfriend in Legal Battle More Deaths As Egypt Clashes Continue Raw Video: Prince William in Falklands Egpyt Protesters Blame Police for Soccer Deaths 'Lucky' 9-Year-Old Receives 6-Organ Transplant Raw Video: Michelle Vs. Ellen in Pushup Contest First Person: Will Peyton Manning Stay in Indy? Egypt Shaken After Deadly Soccer Riot New Suits, New Starts for New York's Unemployed Hall of Famer Dorsett Speaks Out on NFL Injuries
House Ads
More
Weather Radar
Video Gallery
Hyperlocal Search
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide
Popular Searches
Powered by Local.com
Community Calendar
Loading…
Events by eviesays.com
Seasonal Content
Poll

Will Newt Gingrich be the candidate to challenge Barack Obama?

A. Yes
B. No
     View Results