Most Hamilton County schools continued to make academic achievement gains as measured by the 2009 Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) results released by the state today, but some schools’ achievement slipped, county school officials said Wednesday. Of the 80 school configurations measured, 54 (67.5%) are in Good Standing with East Side Elementary coming off the High Priority List for the first time in about four years. Roughly 25 schools (31.25%) did not make AYP this year.

“We have seen a slight dip in our achievement and while most of our schools continue to make progress, we know we can do better,” Supt. Dr. Jim Scales said. “We are committed to helping all schools improve this year, and our staff is already hard at work on action plans to emphasize individual student success.”

Overall, academic achievement in elementary and middle schools in math and reading both slipped 1 percentage point. However, the high schools made solid gains, increasing the percentage of students scoring proficient or advanced in Math by 4 percentage points and by 3 percentage points in reading, it was stated.

Fifty-five (68.8%) of the 80 measured school configurations met improvement benchmarks. Of these, 54 (67.5%) are in Good Standing, while one, Ooltewah High School is now in Improving status. Another 15 schools (18.8%) are listed in Target status, indicating they did not make adequate progress in at least one testing area this year. Eleven other schools (13.8%) did not make adequate progress for at least two years and so they are on the state’s High Priority List.

Officials said, "But that 13.8% is not really an accurate picture of our challenges. Of those schools on the state’s High Priority List, Ooltewah High School made AYP this year (based on the 2008 graduation rate), but remains on the list until it makes another year of progress. Also, Twenty-First Century, listed in Target status, closed this year.

"So in essence, Hamilton County has 14 schools (17.5%) in Target status and 11 schools on the High Priority List, with Ooltewah High School poised to come off next year."

To make AYP in grades K through 8, schools must show a 95% participation rate for TCAP Achievement tests and the TCAP Writing Assessment, with 86% of students scoring proficient or advanced in math, 89% scoring proficient or advanced in reading/language arts plus writing and 93% or better for attendance. In grades 9-12, the goals are 95% participation for Gateway exams and writing assessments and 90% or better for graduation rate. If a school is above 90%, it must continue to improve its graduation rate to make AYP. The academic goals are 83% proficient or advanced for Math and 93% of students scoring proficient or advanced for Reading.

Hamilton County boasts one school on the State’s Celebration List, East Side Elementary. This list is for formerly High Priority schools that are now in “Good Standing.”

“We are so proud of the hard work that the entire staff has done at East Side Elementary,” Dr. Scales said. “We will keep on working with this staff to ensure that East Side students continue to learn and make progress.”

Two schools moved from Target status to Good Standing, which is completely off the “On Notice List.” These are Center for Creative Arts (HS) and Lookout Valley Elementary.

“While these results are not what we had hoped to achieve, we are still very proud of the hard work that our teachers and principals do every day with all students,” Dr. Scales said. “We remain committed to improving student achievement and our folks are making plans for how we can improve these scores this year.”

Officials said the information released today is focused on the 2009 Adequate Yearly Progress status for the District and 80 school configurations. The latest AYP is based on results of the 2009 TCAP Achievement tests for grades 3-8, TCAP writing assessments in grades 5, 8 and 11 and Gateway exams in English and Algebra at the high school level. Schools are also measured based on how many students take the tests and graduation rates (from the 2007-2008 school year) for high schools.

Below are quick facts about the 2009 AYP results for Hamilton County Schools: 1) The District is in Good Standing 2) 55 out of 80 schools (68.8%) made AYP 3) 54 out of 80 schools (67.3%) are in Good Standing 4) 15 out of 80 schools (18.8%) are in Target Status 5) 11 out of 80 schools (13.8%) are on the High Priority List 6) The percentage of K-8 students scoring proficient or advanced in Math dipped from 90% to 89% 7) The percentage of K-8 students scoring proficient or advanced in Reading dipped from 91% to 90% 8) The percentage of 9-12 students scoring proficient or advanced in Math increased from 85% to 89% 9) The percentage of 9-12 students scoring proficient or advanced in Reading increased from 93% to 96% 10)The following school moved from High Priority to Good Standing: • East Side Elementary

The following schools moved from Target status to Good Standing: • Center for Creative Arts (HS) • Lookout Valley Elementary 12)The following schools made AYP for the first time in several years but remain on the list in improving status (one more year of progress and they come off the High Priority List): • Ooltewah High School (based on 2007-2008 graduation rate) 13)The following schools did not make AYP in 2009: • Battle Academy (from Good Standing to Target) • Bess T. Shepherd Elementary (from Good Standing to Target) • Brown Middle School (from Good Standing to Target) • Calvin Donaldson (from Target to School Improvement 1) • Central High School (from Target to School Improvement 1) • Clifton Hills Elementary (from Target to School Improvement 1) • Dalewood Middle School (from Good Standing to Target) • East Lake Elementary (from Good Standing to Target) • East Lake Academy of Fine Arts (from Good Standing to Target) • East Ridge Middle School (from Target to School Improvement I) • Hamilton County High School (from Small School to Target) • Hardy Elementary (from Good Standing to Target) • Hillcrest Elementary (from Good Standing to Target) • Howard High School (from Restructuring 2 to State/LEA Reconstitution) • Lookout Valley Middle/High School (from School Improvement 1 to School Improvement 2) • Orchard Knob Elementary (from Good Standing to Target) • Orchard Knob Middle School (from Target to School Improvement 1) • Red Bank High School (from Target to School Improvement 1) • Red Bank Middle School (from Good Standing to Target) • Rivermont Elementary (from Good Standing to Target) • Sequoyah High School (from Target to School Improvement 1) • Soddy Daisy High School (from School Improvement 1 to School Improvement 2) • Twenty First Academy (from Good Standing to Target – closed 2009) • Tyner Academy (from Good Standing to Target) • Tyner Middle Academy (Remains in Target Status) 14)11 out of 80 schools are on the High Priority List: • Calvin Donaldson Elementary • Central High School • Clifton Hills Elementary • East Ridge Middle School • Howard School of Academics and Technology • Lookout Valley High School • Orchard Knob Middle School • Ooltewah High School (made AYP - in improving status) • Red Bank High School • Sequoyah High School

• Soddy-Daisy High School 15)Overall, the majority of the District continues to make progress but certain schools and areas need attention and improvement 16)District administration is working closely with each school to identify areas of need while enhancing instruction in each classroom and overall achievement. 17)Hamilton County Schools remains dedicated to improving student achievement at all levels and is focused on doing whatever is necessary to help all students succeed.

68.8% of all schools made AYP73% of K-8 Schools made AYP52.9% of High Schools made AYP2009

High Priority Schools Calvin Donaldson Elementary Central High School Clifton Hills Elementary East Ridge Middle School Howard School of Academics and Technology Lookout Valley High School Orchard Knob Middle School Ooltewah High School*Red Bank High School Sequoyah High School Soddy-Daisy High School

Schools Not Making AYPMath Tyner Middle School Math/Reading Hillcrest Elementary Math Battle Academy Graduation Rate/Math Howard School Math Bess T. Shepherd Graduation Rate Lookout Valley Middle/High School Math Brown Middle School Graduation Rate Red Bank High School Math/Reading Calvin Donaldson Math Red Bank Middle Sc hoolGraduation Rate Central High School Math Rivermont Elementary Math/Reading Clifton Hills Elementary Math/Reading Orchard Knob Elementary Math/Reading Dalewood Middle School Math/Reading Orchard Knob Middle School Reading East Lake Elementary Graduation Rate Sequoyah High School Math/Reading East Lake Academy Graduation Rate Soddy-Daisy High School Math East Ridge Middle School Math Twenty First Academy (closed 2009 )Graduation Rate Hamilton County High School Math Tyner Academy Math Hardy Elementary