Local schools score

high on state ABCs standards
By Scott Nicholson

Seven Watauga County schools were distinctly commemorated and county students exceeded the statewide average under 2008-2009 ABCs of Education testing.

Bethel, Blowing Rock, Cove Creek, Green Valley, Hardin Park, Parkway, and Valle Crucis elementary schools were rated “Schools of Distinction” for the last school year, meaning 80 percent of their students tested at or above grade level proficiency and academic growth at the school met or exceeded state standards.

About a fourth of all North Carolina public schools achieved “School of Distinction” status.

In mathematics tests for grades 3-8, 88.9 percent of Watauga County Schools students met or exceeded expected proficiency compared to 79.9 percent statewide. In reading tests for grades 3-8, 81.1 percent of WCS students met or exceeded proficiency compared to 67.5 percent statewide. WCS students also exceeded average statewide proficiency on the 5th and 8th grade science tests, with 82.7 percent of local results meeting or exceeding proficiency compared to 64 percent statewide.

In 2008-2009, retest results counted for the first time on the end-of-grade tests in grades 3-8. Students who initially scored at Level II, one step below the Level III required to meet state proficiency standards, were retested and their results counted as proficient if they achieved Level III or IV on the retest. This change boosted end-of-grade proficiency results by an average of 8-to-10 percent across the state.

The combined test results for reading, math, science, and eighth grade computer skills are used to determine the “performance composite” score of elementary and middle schools under the state’s “ABC’s” accountability system. The performance composite score and academic growth results are then used to assign each school an ABC’s recognition status.

Mabel Elementary missed “Distinction” status by two-tenths of one percent on its performance composite score. Watauga High School achieved the proficiency results needed for a School of Distinction but fell short of the standard for expected growth. Watauga failed to register “Adequate Yearly Progress” under a formula that tracks year-to-year performance on the test scores because one subgroup didn’t have a high-enough percentage of students participating in the tests.

Because of budget cuts, teachers and faculty didn’t receive state-paid performance bonuses. In the 13 years of the program, teachers had earned up to $1,500 at high-performing schools.

In 2007-2008, Bethel, Blowing Rock, Green Valley, Mabel, Parkway and Valle Crucis were recognized as Schools of Distinction, the second-highest status category under the ABCs system, and the other two elementary schools missed School of Distinction status by fewer than 3 percent on proficiency test results.

Hardin Park Elementary School and Watauga High School did not register “Adequate Yearly Progress” that year.

Tables summarizing state test results for the Watauga County Schools will be available on the news and data page of the school system Web site at www.watauga.k12.nc.us.