Smith, Dudley miss judge's mark
Guilford officials haven't released test score data yet (still waiting on AYP, too, although that is supposed to be released Tuesday morning, we've been told).
But this afternoon, the state sent me information on Dudley and Smith high schools, which were among originally 19 schools targeted by Superior Court Judge Howard Manning Jr. for a history of poor performance on state tests. He called it "academic genocide."
Here's a five-year look at their scores, based on state data. The 2005-06 scores are preliminary.
Year | Dudley | Smith
2001-02 | 37.2 | 43.8
2002-03 | 48.5 | 41.4
2003-04 | 45.6 | 44.1
2004-05 | 50.9 | 45.5
2005-06 | 51.0 | 47.4
2005-06* | 54.1 | 51.2
The 2005-06* information is if you take out the tests added to the composite that year: Civics and Economics, U.S. History and Grade 10 writing. Those tests were not included in the 2004-05 composite score.
So if you adjust the composite scores to measure the same group of tests from year-to-year, then Dudley and Smith did improve.
Nevertheless, both schools remain below the judge's 55 percent cutoff point and Gov. Easley's 60 percent cutoff. Both want these high schools to make major changes - from training to replacing principals - in order to see major improvements in student achievement. And they're seeking these changes as early as this coming school year.
Smith has broken off part of its enrollment into an off-site career academy for 2006-07. High Point Central - one of the schools on the judge's larger list of consistently poor-performing schools - has done the same with the former Tomlinson Elementary building, which is on the same site as the high school. One of the high school reforms touted by the governor and judge is breaking down large high schools into smaller, more personal, units.
The judge has called a hearing for Aug. 18, where state officials will have to outline their plans to help these schools. Here are links to some stories about this issue.
Is high school reform being pushed too fast, or not fast enough?
Comments (12)
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Six years ago Smith was FAILING 56% of its children Now SIX years later (EMPHASIZE) it is FAILING 49%. There are almost 1600 kids in that school. This is a tragedy for Guilford County and for the USA!
It’s nothing short of disgusting. Incompetence!
This is not a third world country (you would think).
How long will this complacent society of Guilford County put up with this!
NOT ACCEPTABLE!
NOT ACCEPTABLE!
Grier went to Charlotte and stated publicly that his specialty was turning around failing High Schools.
Fire his backside NOW!!
Send DD with him. She is a disgrace to those children!
Posted on July 24, 2006 7:33 PM
I agree!!
Grier doesn't know how to turn these schools around. In his entire career as a superintendent, he has NEVER turned a school around, anywhere!
HE DOESN'T KNOW HOW!!
Posted on July 24, 2006 9:02 PM
Enough is enough.
Lord hear our prayers.
Posted on July 24, 2006 10:32 PM
High school reform needs to start faster. Reform needs to start long before high school. You can't make a "silk purse out of a sow's ear". By that time it is too late in most cases.
It's easier to educate children earlier. By high school the hormones are raging; children are driving; they have more ways to get into more trouble. They are bigger than most of their parents. Many are older than high school age and do not want to be there.
Posted on July 24, 2006 11:43 PM
Terry Mediocre is my name.
Posted on July 25, 2006 7:50 AM
Considering it's after 10:00 and GCS still has NOT released the AYP results - Jennifer and Morgan - do you know what the latest excuse is? Is it because it might rain today?
Posted on July 25, 2006 10:18 AM
The news conference took place. Just saw Dr. Grief on the TV.
He said many results better than last year. Some schools missed AYP just because of 1 student in some cases.
The Fox 8 guy that we will be suprised by some of the schools that didnt make it!
Posted on July 25, 2006 12:16 PM
ncomplete, preliminary results show that 56 percent of Guilford County Schools passed federal testing benchmarks in 2005-06.
That's up slightly from 54 percent the year before, district data for Adequate Yearly Progress shows. The number of schools passing rose from 57 out of 106 to 61 out of 109 during that time.
"We're very pleased at the progress we've made," Superintendent Terry Grier said today, adding that more work needs to be done.
Good (Dr.) Grief!! 57 up to 61, and that in 3 more schools? What would he say if we really had made some progress, ectatic? Yeah more work needs to be done, HARD WORK. Now, the only remaining question is how much an improvement of 4 schools passing is worth for a pay raise for Dr. Grief, forgetting that a 56% in school districts that actully educate its students would be a failing score. Let me see, wasn't next-door neighbor Rockingham County Schools in excess of 70%?
Posted on July 25, 2006 12:45 PM
give that man a raise.
Posted on July 25, 2006 1:37 PM
One of the schools listed as passing is the High Point SCALES school. There isn't a SCALES school in High Point.
I don't think the number of "buildings" that passed AYP is an indication of success. I am only interested in the number of "kids" that passed.
Posted on July 26, 2006 10:24 AM
Here's my prediction:
At tonight's GCS Board meeting, you will NOT hear that only 51% of Smith students passed the AYP tests.
You WILL hear that 82% of the Smith subgroups passed AYP.
An Amazing Spin!
Posted on July 27, 2006 10:48 AM
Its the Terry Grier Mix and match show.
Numbers, you are a wise man and you are correct.In the bitter end only 50% of Smiths children are on or above grade level with little or no improvemnt for the past five years.
I dont think that the School Board are smart enough to pick this up though, or, maybe they dont want to. Its easier to ignore than to take the high road which is a culture of NON ACCEPTANCE.
I bet the SB will be congratulating and planning a big raise for Terry (mix n match) Grier.
Posted on July 27, 2006 12:12 PM