Editorial - September 2003

ABC tests show impressive gains

Published September 24, 2003

ABC scores for Lincoln County schools showed impressive gains this year.  All schools in the system achieved high growth under the accountability model except Asbury.  High growth means a student has performed better than expected after a year’s work. Of course, improvement is just that. The “growth” does not mean a child is performing above grade level, only that he is showing progress.

More importantly, all of the county’s middle schools, as well as nine elementary schools were named “schools of distinction,” having met their expected growth, and reporting 80 to 89 percent of their test scores above grade level. That achievement may be the biggest achievement because of the number of schools involved.

One elementary school, Rock Springs, achieved expected growth rate and also had 90 percent or more of their test scores above grade level, earning a  “school of excellence” designation. Last year, North Brook Elementary became the county’s first school of excellence since the ABCs program began in 1996.

The staff at Rock Springs credit close analysis and follow-up for their success. When students took the Lincoln County nine-weeks tests, staff at the school would check for weaknesses.

“We worked together as a team to develop a plan to target the needs of students, and we stuck to the plan,” said Glenda Walker, the school’s principal.

 Student’s weaknesses became the focal point in group work, one-on-one tutoring and active learning.

There’s no secret to that kind of approach. It’s a lot of work on skills that need improvement. That’s what academic success is all about.

 Dr. Jim Watson and his administration deserves a lot of credit for this achievement, but the real workers are the teachers who labor under these constant test regimens, and then succeed.

We must keep raising the bar. Our goal should be to have everyone performing well above grade level.

© 2001 Lincoln Times-News  

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