by Judy Frank
posted November 3, 2009
Twelve Hamilton County schools scored straight F's in academic achievement in 2009, and another five had no score higher than a D, officials reported on Tuesday.
The report also showed that the number of students proficient in math is far smaller than those proficient in other subjects.
The stark figures were unveiled during a press conference on the 2009 state report card, which was compiled by the Tennessee Department of Education.
The report card is the first since the state implemented stringent new grading and reporting policies that officials have known for more than a year would result in plummeting student proficiency ratings.
Overall, Superintendent Jim Scales said, the Hamilton County school system received straight Cs - the grade the state considers average - on the report card.
Individually, however, some schools did far better than average and others did far worse.
"While the results of the 2009 report card are not what the district had hoped for, they are promising in some respects," officials noted in an official press release. "Students continue to achieve and grow in their learning...Hamilton County schools also continues to implement programs designed to help the district achieve the goals outlined in the (2011 strategic plan)."
On the bright side, officials said, academic achievement here kept up with the state average with math scores slightly higher than last year. Further:
-13 schools scored straight A's in academic achievement and another three straight A's in one-year academic growth grades.
-Six high schools increased scores on two out of three Gateway Exams.
-Students in grades three through eight maintained their progress in math, with the percentage scoring "proficient" or "advanced" climbing from 89.9 percent to 90.1 percent.
However, Superintendent Scales said frankly, there remains a lot of room for improvement -- particularly among the schools where students scored lowest.
Elementary schools that scored straight F's on the state report card include 21st Century Academy, Calvin Donaldson, Clifton Hills, East Lake, Hardy, Hillcrest, Orchard Knob, Rivermont and Woodmore.
The three failing middle schools are Dalewood, East Lake Academy and Orchard Knob.
Schools with no score higher than a D include Battle Elementary, Brown Academy, Dupont Elementary, East Side Elementary, Harrison Elementary, Lookout Valley Elementary, East Ridge Middle and Tyner Middle.
Here is the press release and data from the county schools:
Academic Achievement in Hamilton County kept up with the state average even as reading scores dipped. Elementary and middle school math scores increased slightly as did scores across the board on the Algebra, Biology and English Gateway exams. Thirteen schools scored straight As in Academic Achievement and another three schools scored straight As in one-year academic growth grades. Six high schools increased scores on two out of three Gateway Exams in 2009. The Tennessee Department of Education released the 2009 Report Card for the Hamilton County Department of Education today with the District receiving Cs in Academic Achievement and Cs in student academic progress. The way the scores were calibrated changed dramatically in 2009 as the state prepared for higher standards next year. As such, Report Card letter grades in 2009 cannot be compared to those from 2008.“This was a tough year around the district,” said Superintendent Dr. Jim Scales. “We had successes this year in attendance and high school scores, but we still face many challenges including our graduation rate, ACT scores, dropout rates and higher state standards.” The 2009 Report Card is based on student performance in the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program in Spring 2009. Students in grades 3-8 are measured based on reading and math scores from the state standardized test while high school achievement is based on the Gateway Exams in English, Algebra and Biology. The Report Card also details information about student demographics, attendance, promotion rates, graduation rates, drop-out rates, test scores, writing assessments, ACT results and No Child Left Behind (NCLB) standards.
Key results in the 2009 Report Card include: • Hamilton County Schools TVAAS (value added) scores for Grades 3-8 were all Cs. • Student achievement in the district was all Cs in 2009 (avg. year’s growth) • ACT composite scores dipped to 19.5. • The District K-8 attendance rose to 95.38% with the high schools climbing to 91.8%.• Promotion rates dipped slightly to 97.5% this year in grades K-8. • The percentage of 3-8 students scoring proficient and advanced increased in math to 90.1%, but dipped almost 2 percentage points in reading to 90.1%. • The percentage of 3-8 students scoring advanced in math fell from 44.8% in 2008 to 40.3% in 2009. • The percentage of 3-8 students scoring advanced in reading dropped from 43.9% in 2008 to 40.3%in 2009. • Gateway Algebra proficient and advanced scores jumped almost 5 percentage points to 76.4%.• Gateway Algebra advanced scores rose from 31.8% in 2008 to 38% in 2009. • Gateway English proficient and advanced scores increased almost 1 percentage point to 96.3%. • Gateway English advanced scores increased from 72.1% in 2008 to 72.2% in 2009. • Gateway Biology proficient and advanced scores increased ½ a percentage point to 94.6% • Gateway Biology advanced scores rose from 56.3% in 2008 to 58.2% in 2009 • Students continued to demonstrate strong writing skills scoring 4.1 to 4.2 out of 6 over a 3-year average
“We have slipped a bit at the elementary and middle schools, but our high schools are making great improvements,” Board of Education Chairman Kenny Smith said. “I am really proud of the work ourstudents and teachers are doing in every school in Hamilton County.”
Value Added Scores show consistent academic growth
Each year, the Report Card includes a grade, from A-F, for both academic achievement and student improvement (Value Added). Academic achievement is based on scores on the standardized test. Value Added scores measure student progress within each grade (3-8) and subject from one year to the next. The state’s average for Value Added growth is represented with a “C” grade.The way Value Added grades were calibrated changed dramatically in 2009. From 2003 to 2008, grades were based on student achievement in 1998. This year, the state removed the 1998 baseline and made 2009 the new baseline. As such, no comparison can be made between 2008 and 2009 grades. Hamilton County Schools scored the following in terms of Value Added: • All Cs for the District (matching the average rate of growth expected in a year) • 3 elementary schools (4.8%) boast straight As in Value Added • 10 elementary and middle schools (16.1%) had As and Bs in TVAAS Elementary school scores slipStudents in grades 3-8 maintained their progress in math this year, with the percentage of students scoring proficient or advanced climbing from 89.9% to 90.1%.
Several subgroups of students also maintained strides this year. Economically Disadvantaged students increased their math proficient and advanced scores from 84.5% to 84.7% this year. However, the percentageof African American students scoring proficient or advanced decreased from 82.6% to 82.1% with Hispanics dipping from 85.7% to 85.1%.
Reading scores dipped from 92% to 90.1 % proficient and advanced this year. Hispanic students’ scores dipped from 86.2% to 85.1% proficient and advanced with 82.1% of African American students scoring proficient or advanced in reading. Economically Disadvantaged students also slipped, dipping from 87.4% to 84.7% proficient and advanced in reading. Graduation Rate Falls
Hamilton County’s four-year on-time graduation rate fell to 70.9%. The district was anticipating this dip, asmore than 700 students had dropped out since starting ninth grade in 2005. To address this growing concern, Hamilton County Schools is hosting a community-wide visioning summit this month to address the issue of dropouts and graduation rate. This summit will engage all stakeholders in creating an action plan to reverse the trend and protect Hamilton County’s future. The district’s four-year cohort drop-out rate also rose. Again, the large number of students who dropped out between 2005 and 2009 factored into this rate. The good news is that in 2009, the district only had 4.9% of its students drop out, which meets the state target of 5%. This creates an optimistic view of future graduation rates.
“Increasing the graduation rate and reducing dropouts is our top challenge,” Dr. Scales said. “We know thisis a complex issue that begins before students even get to school. That is why we are engaging the entire community in coming up with solutions to this issue. Dropouts must be everyone’s business. They impact our community not only socially but economically as well.” Conclusion
While the results of the 2009 Report Card are not what the district had hoped for, they are promising in some respects. Students continue to achieve and grow in their learning while schools continue to focus on individualized student success. Hamilton County Schools also continues to implement programs designed to help the district achieve the goals outlined in the Strategic Plan 2011. Test score data is a tool the district uses to help refine curriculum and instruction at the building level to enable all schools and students to achieve.
“We know we have our challenges, and we are putting programs and processes in place to address them. The new standards are harder, but they are good for kids. We are making sure our curriculum is aligned with the state and making sure that the work is paced appropriately,” Dr. Scales said. “We need to get kids from point A to point B on time and with the skill set that enables them to be successful. We need to do a better job educating our economically disadvantaged and minority students in this district. We must also increase graduates and reduce dropouts. We accept these challenges, and we will get it done.”
Report Card 2009 Recalibration of Scores 1) The way the Tennessee Report Card is figured has changed2) Scores that were As or Bs in years past may now be Cs 3) These changes DO NOT REFLECT A LOSS IN LEARNING BUT RATHER A CHANGE IN THE SCALE4) There is no ability to compare previous years with 2009 data5) 2009 will become the baseline for future years Academic Achievement 1) Hamilton County students slipped in academic achievement in 2009 a. Many elementary schools continue to improve academic achievement b. Most middle schools slipped in academic achievement c. High school students performed very well on the Gateway Exams d. 13 (20.9%) elementary and middle schools boasted straight As in Academic Achievement. e. 3 (4.8%) elementary schools boasted straight As in Value Added (TVAAS) f. 10 (16.1%) elementary and middle schools had As and Bs in Value Added (TVAAS)g. 10 (16.1%) elementary and middle schools scored Bs or better in Academic Achievement h. 9 (14.5%) elementary schools and one middle school maintained straight As in Academic Achievement for the last 3 years i. One elementary school maintained straight As in Academic Achievement for the last 2 years
Grades 3-8SubjectDistrict 2009State 2009Math C B Reading C B Social Studies C B Science C B 2) In grades 3-8, proficiency in math increased slightly while reading took a small dip for all students and significant subgroups. Grades 3-8: Percentage of students scoring proficient or advanced Math Reading Group2008200920082009All Students 89.9 90.1 92.0 90.1 Hispanic 85.7 85.1 86.2 85.1 African American 82.6 82.1 85.5 82.1 Economically Disadvantaged 84.5 84.7 87.4 84.7 Limited English 77.1 60.0 70.6 60.0 Grades 3-8: Percentage of students scoring advancedMath Reading Group2008200920082009All Students 44.8 40.3 43.9 40.3 Hispanic 35.8 28.5 30.7 28.5 African American 23.5 18.5 21.0 18.5 Economically Disadvantaged 29.6 24.8 27.1 24.8 Limited English 20.4 3.4 9.3 3.4 3) In Grades 9-12, students showed improvement on English, Biology and Algebra exams. o 6 schools (37.5%) increased the percentage of students scoring proficient and advanced on all three Gateway exams. o 6 schools (37.5%) increased the percentage of students scoring proficient and advanced on two out of three Gateway exams. o 5 schools (31.3%) increased the percentage of students scoring advanced on all three Gateway exams. o 7 (43.8%) increased the percentage of students scoring advanced on two out of three Gateway exams. Grades 9-12: Percentage of students scoring proficient or advanced Subject200720082009Algebra 68.8 71.8 76.4 Biology 92.1 94.1 94.6 English II 94.1 95.7 96.3
Grades 9-12: Percentage of students scoring advancedSubject200720082009Algebra 25.9 31.8 38.0 Biology 49.5 56.3 58.2 English II 66.1 72.1 72.2 4) The average ACT composite scores dipped across the board with nearly all high schools posting lower composite scores in 2009. ACT 3-year averages Subject200720082009Composite 19.8 19.8 19.5 English 19.7 19.7 19.3 Math 19.3 19.2 18.9 Reading 20.0 20.1 19.7 Science 19.8 19.8 19.5 5) For the sixth year consecutive year, Hamilton County students scored all As on writing assessments Writing Assessment Scores 3-year average Grade 2008 Score 2008 Grade 2009 Score 2009 Grade 5thGrade 4.2 A 4.2 A 8thGrade 4.2 A 4.2 A 11thGrade 4.1 A 4.1 A 6) Promotion attendance rates continued to climb. However, the four-year on-time graduation rate declined and the dropout rate increased. o 7 high schools (43.75%) increased their graduation rate in 2009. o 6 high schools (37.5%) decreased their four-year cohort dropout rate in 2009 o 11 high schools (68.75%) decreased their one-year event dropout rate in 2009 200720082009Attendance Rate (K-8) 94.5 94.8 95.3 Promotion Rate (K-8) 97.4 97.9 97.5 Attendance Rate (9-12) 89.9 91.2 91.8 Graduation Rate (4-year on time75.1 72.6 70.9 Cohort Dropout Rate (4 yr)13.3 16.8 19.1 Event Dropout Rate (1 yr)6.3 6.4 4.9* * The one-year dropout rate for the system was the lowest in three years at 4.9%, meeting the state goal of 5%. This rate will factor into future 4-year on-time graduation rates.
VALUE ADDED Recalibration of Scores 1) The way the Tennessee Report Card is figured has changed 2) Scores that were As or Bs in years past may now be Cs 3) These changes DO NOT REFLECT A LOSS IN LEARNING BUT RATHER A CHANGE IN THE SCALE 4) There is no ability to compare previous years with 2009 data5) 2009 will become the baseline for future years TVAAS Achievement 1) Hamilton County students showed average improvement as the District received a C score in all subjects. This means that students in Hamilton County made an average years’ growth o 3 schools (4.8%) had straight As in Value Added scores (TVAAS) o 10 schools (16.1%) had As and Bs in Value Added scores
| Dining Out | Business | Movies | Focus | About Us |
| Church | Living Well | Memories | Outdoors | Real Estate | Student Scene | Travel |