Staff Writer
Schools in Aiken and Edgefield counties kept average ratings for the second year on school report cards released by the state today.
The state Education Department released its annual report cards for school districts and individual schools across South Carolina. The 1.6 million reports going home contain information from the past school year, including how schools of similar size and demographic makeup compared on tests and other performance measures.
The report cards show how school districts are moving toward the goal of having all students perform on a B-plus, or proficient, level by 2014.
Statewide, 84 percent of schools maintained or improved their ratings, but Aiken County saw more schools fall into the average, below average and at-risk categories this year.
County administrators aren't too surprised because last year's PACT scores determined much of the outcome. The need to have more pupils achieving higher test scores each year puts schools at risk for not meeting state and federal standards.
"It's really a race to the bottom," A.L. Corbett Middle Principal Deborah Bass said.
Dr. Bass has led her school in community-wide initiatives to keep students from falling behind, but test scores labeled the school at-risk on this year's report card. Though the label could have a negative connotation, she said, the community knows enough about the staff and its efforts to realize that they are working to improve the way pupils learn.
"We're digging down with the data, and we even have a flow chart at the school so teachers can immediately see where their students are (on grade-level) when they walk in the room."
Dr. Kevin O'Gorman, Aiken County's associate superintendent of instruction and accountability, recommends that parents look at the details the report card offers if they doubt what's happening at a school. The eight-page report compares each school and school district to similar ones across the state. Test scores in Aiken and Edgefield counties are in line with those in other similar districts.
Reach Julia Sellers at (706) 823-3424 or julia.sellers@augustachronicle.com
HOW RATINGS ARE DETERMINED
The state scores each district and school on two ratings. The overall rating is based on how pupils perform on the Palmetto Achievement Challenge Test in elementary and middle school and on the High School Assessment Program exit exam. The improvement rating measures the difference of the absolute rating from the current year to the previous year.
Source: South Carolina Department of Education
Statewide results
The percentage of schools in each category for absolute ratings is:
| Schools |
2008 |
2007 |
2006 |
2005 |
2004 |
| Excellent |
8.4% |
6.6% |
11.6% |
15.2% |
20.4% |
| Good |
15.9% |
19.5% |
21.8% |
27.4% |
33.9% |
| Average |
35.1% |
33.0% |
32.0% |
31.5% |
28.5% |
| Below Average |
24.5% |
26.1% |
22.3% |
20.0% |
14.6% |
| At risk |
16.1% |
14.9% |
12.1% |
5.9% |
2.6% |
The percentage of districts in each category for absolute ratings is:
| School districts |
2008 |
2007 |
2006 |
2005 |
2004 |
| Excellent |
1.2% |
0% |
3.5% |
5.9% |
10.6% |
| Good |
5.9% |
8.2% |
4.7% |
32.9% |
43.5% |
| Average |
37.6% |
45.9% |
49% |
38.8% |
30.6% |
| Below Average |
41.1% |
25.9% |
29% |
17.6% |
14.1% |
| At risk |
14.1% |
20% |
13% |
4.7% |
1.2% |
REPORT CARD SCORES
AIKEN COUNTY
Absolute rating: Average
Growth rating: Below average
SCHOOLS:
Excellent: Aiken County Career and Technology Center
Good: Ridge Spring-Monetta High, Aiken Elementary, Chukker Creek Elementary
Average: Silver Bluff High, Aiken High, South Aiken High, Jefferson Elementary, Midland Valley High, North Augusta Middle, North Augusta High, Kennedy Middle, Belvedere Elementary, Byrd Elementary, Clearwater Elementary, Schofield Middle, Gloverville Elementary, Hammond Hill Elementary, Millbrook Elementary, North Augusta Elementary, Oakwood-Windsor Elementary, Mossy Creek Elementary, Midland Valley Preparatory Academy
Below average: Paul Knox Middle, Langley-Bath-Clearwater Middle, Leavelle-McCampbell Middle, New Ellenton Middle, J.D. Lever Elementary, East Aiken Elementary, Greendale Elementary, Jackson Middle, North Aiken Elementary/Pinecrest, Busbee Elementary, Warrenville Elementary, Redcliffe Elementary, Aiken Middle, Aiken Performing Arts Academy, Wagener-Salley High School
At risk: A.L. Corbett Middle, Ridge Spring-Monetta Elementary/Middle, Lloyd-Kennedy Charter School
EDGEFIELD COUNTY
Absolute rating: Average
Growth rating: Average
SCHOOLS:
Excellent: Fox Creek High, Strom Thurmond Career Center
Average: Strom Thurmond High, W.E. Parker Elementary, Merriwether Elementary, Merriwether Middle
Below average: Douglas Elementary, Johnston Elementary, Johnston-Edgefield-Trenton Middle
For a complete listing of school report cards, visit: http://ed.sc.gov/topics/researchandstats/schoolreportcard/2008/
