Twelve additional schools were announced as making adequate yearly progress, according to updated results released by the Georgia Department of Education. Adequate yearly progress is the annual federal measure of school performance under No Child Left Behind legislation.
Tuesday's results reflect the improved performance pupils made on retakes of the Criterion-Referenced Competency Tests, summer school graduates and school appeals.
This is the first year the federal government has allowed retest results to be factored in, state department spokesman Dana Tofig said. The new results, however, won't affect the consequences for schools that have failed to make progress.
In July, 29 of Richmond County's 57 schools made adequate yearly progress, but the latest results now show 41 met the standard.
The improvement is particularly significant because the bar for making adequate yearly progress was raised and most of the children in Richmond County schools are considered low income, Dr. Bedden said during a news conference.
"The results indicate that there can be successes in spite of socioeconomic challenges, and that our children can learn and will learn and will be successful if given the appropriate opportunities, if given the appropriate resources and the appropriate time to work on the work they need to be successful in," the superintendent said.
Tuesday's numbers show 71.9 percent of schools made adequate yearly progress, an improvement on last year's 70.2 percent, but Dr. Bedden warned against judging a school solely on making the benchmark. A school must meet every measure for every category of pupil to meet the standard.
"I think it's important to note that as we continue to judge and talk about education in Richmond County, that we not only look at the AYP status but that we also consider the academic measures that these schools are asked to meet," he said.
Richmond County met 826 of its 881 measures, he said.
"What it says is that we've still got work to do, but the sky is not falling," Dr. Bedden said.
The retest results had no affect on the adequate yearly progress status of any Columbia County school, but they did affect the system as a whole.
Columbia County improved as a school system in its math scores for pupils with disabilities. The score improved enough to help the system meet adequate yearly progress standards in that category.
Statewide, the updated results showed 241 schools made adequate yearly progress that hadn't initially.
The state also recorded its highest graduation rate since the number has been calculated, Mr. Tofig said.
The rate increased by more than three points to 75.4 percent for 2008.
Columbia County Bureau Chief Donnie Fetter contributed to this story.
Reach Greg Gelpi at (706) 828-3851 or greg.gelpi@augustachronicle.com.
MEETING THE MARK
New schools making adequate yearly progress Tuesday:
- Barton Chapel Elementary
- Bayvale Elementary
- Blythe Elementary
- East Augusta Middle
- Meadowbrook Elementary
- National Hills Elementary
- Rollins Elementary
- Sego Middle
- Sue Reynolds Elementary
- Tobacco Road Elementary
- Wilkinson Gardens Elementary
- Windsor Spring Elementary
CHANGE IN STATUS
Now off needs improvement list (made adequate yearly progress two years in a row)
- East Augusta Middle
- Sego Middle
Source: Georgia Department of Education
UPDATED GRADUATION RATES
| SCHOOL | 2007 | 2008 |
| Academy of Richmond County | 65.1% | 65.4% |
| A.R. Johnson Health Science | 98.8% | 100% |
| and Engineering Magnet High School | ||
| Butler High School | 62.4% | 60.4% |
| Cross Creek High School | 60.8% | 69.2% |
| John S. Davidson | 100% | 100% |
| Fine Arts Magnet School | ||
| Glenn Hills High School | 77.5% | 59.9% |
| Hephzibah High School | 65.2% | 66.3% |
| T.W. Josey High School | 57.8% | 46.2% |
| Lucy C. Laney High School | 45.7% | 30.9% |
| Westside High School | 71.2% | 70.8% |
Source: Georgia Department of Education
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