North Carolina Releases ABCs Results for the 2010-2011 School Year

Date: Thu, 4 Aug 2011 10:53:21 -0400 (GMT-04:00)
From: Mia Munn
Subject: State Releases ABCs Results for the 2010-2011 School Year

The State Board of Education released results from its ABCs testing and accountability model on Thursday, August 4.

The ABCs of Public Education is the state school improvement program.  It began in the 1996-1997 school year and has three primary goals: 1) strengthen local school accountability; 2) emphasize mastery of basic subjects; and 3) provide as much local decision-making as possible.

State standardized tests judge proficiency on a scale of one to four (I-IV)..  Students must achieve III or IV in order to be considered proficient. The levels of state recognition are:

• Honor School of Excellence = 90-100% of students at/above Level III, making expected/high  
  growth and meeting federal Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP).
• School of Distinction = 80-89% of students at/above Level III, making expected/high growth.
• School of Progress = 60-79% of students at/above Level III, making expected/high growth.
• Priority School = less than 60% of students at/above Level III and achieving expected/high
  growth.

In the 2010-2011 school year, all Chatham County schools achieved growth based on the ABCs model.  All schools achieved expected growth while eight schools also obtained high growth status.  The seven schools that earned School of Distinction status were:  Bennett, Bonlee, Chatham Central High School, Margaret B. Pollard, Northwood High School, Perry Harrison, and Silk Hope.  The nine schools that earned School of Progress status were:  Chatham Middle, Horton, J.S. Waters, Jordan-Matthews High School, Moncure, North Chatham, Pittsboro Elementary, Siler City Elementary, and Virginia Cross Elementary.  It should also be noted that SAGE Academy, the district’s alternative school, is judged on a different model than traditional schools, but achieved expected growth.

“We are excited to report that for the first time in the 14-year history of the North Carolina ABCs of Public Education all of our schools made expected growth or high growth.  This achievement is a credit to the excellent teachers, administrators, and staff who work with our students every day.  It should be noted that this accomplishment has occurred in a climate of state budget cuts and diminishing resources. The Board of Education and administration are committed to providing the highest educational opportunities possible for the students of Chatham County.  Congratulations to staff and students,†said Superintendent Robert Logan.

The federal accountability measure, Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, is different from the North Carolina ABCs program, but uses some of the same testing data in determining AYP status.  As previously reported, five schools met AYP for the 2010-11 school year.

Additional ABCs information is available on the Chatham County Schools website and on the state ABCs site at http://abcs.ncpublicschools.org/abcs/.

Submitted by:  Beth S. McCullough, Public Information Officer, Chatham County Schools
    (919) 542-3626

School  – Composite  – ABC Status   – Growth  – AYP  – Goals Met
BENNETT  – 84.7% composite – School of Distinction  – High Growth  – AYP  Met  – 13/13 goals = 100%
BONLEE  – 82.9% composite – School of Distinction  – High Growth  – AYP  Met  – 13/13 goals = 100%
CHATHAM MIDDLE  – 60.9% composite – School of Progress  – High Growth  – AYP  Not Met  – 21/29 goals = 72.4%
HORTON  – 77.4% composite – School of Progress  – Expected Growth  – AYP  Not Met  – 18/25 goals = 72.0%
JS WATERS  – 74.3% composite – School of Progress  – Expected Growth  – AYP  Not Met  – 10/13 goals = 76.9%
MB POLLARD  – 81.9% composite – School of Distinction  – Expected Growth  – AYP  Not Met  – 17/25 goals = 68.0%
MONCURE  – 78.6% composite – School of Progress  – High Growth  – AYP  Not Met  – 10/13 goals = 76.9%
NORTH CHATHAM  – 78.4% composite – School of Progress  – High Growth  – AYP  Not Met  – 18/25 goals = 72.0%
PERRY HARRISON  – 81.9% composite – School of Distinction  – Expected Growth  – AYP  Not Met  – 10/13 goals = 76.9%
PITTSBORO ELEM  – 74.4% composite – School of Progress  – Expected Growth  – AYP  Not Met  – 13/15 goals = 86.7%
SILER CITY ELEM  – 69.3% composite – School of Progress  – Expected Growth  – AYP  Not Met  – 22/25 goals = 88.0%
SILK HOPE  – 82.4% composite – School of Distinction  – High Growth  – AYP  Not Met  – 12/13 goals = 92.3%
VIRGINIA CROSS  – 63.3% composite – School of Progress  – Expected Growth  – AYP  Met  – 17/17 goals = 100%
CHATHAM CENTRAL  – 82.4% composite – School of Distinction  – High Growth  – AYP  Met  – 13/13 goals = 100%
JORDAN-MATTHEWS  – 77.9% composite – School of Progress  – Expected Growth  – AYP  Not Met  – 19/21 goals = 90.5%
NORTHWOOD  – 84.3% composite – School of Distinction  – High Growth  – AYP  Met  – 17/17 goals = 100%
SAGE**  – 27.1% composite –  – Expected Growth  – AYP  Not Met  – 0/0 goals = 0.0%
Chatham Charter  – 84.5% composite – School of Distinction  – High Growth  – AYP  Met  – 13/13 goals = 100%
Woods Charter  – 94.5% composite – Honor School of Excellence  – High Growth  – AYP  Yes  – 17/17 goals = 100%
**Growth based on alternative school goals.