When I wrote about the long-term results of Charlotte-Mecklenburg's strategic staffing program and the first-year scores from new preK-8 schools earlier this week, there was supposed to be an online box breaking down those results for several schools (no room in print). After a reader question, I just realized that box didn't get posted.
The CMS board will get a report on test scores at strategic staffing and preK-8 schools at tonight's board meeting, with a more detailed report on the preK-8s and the Waddell/Harding merger in late September. For those who want more details, here's the roundup I put together:
Here’s what the 2012 test scores show about the seven schools that launched the CMS strategic staffing plan in 2008, as well as five other former elementaries that became neighborhood K-8 schools this year. Performance composites are based on students who passed reading and math tests given in grades 3-8 and science tests given in grades 5 and 8. Most N.C. schools have seen gains since 2008 because the state started requiring students who fail to retake the exams; they are counted as successful if they pass the second time. Growth targets indicate whether students met, exceeded or fell below performance predicted by their previous scores.
Strategic staffing pilots
- Devonshire Elementary has been the most stable and consistently successful of the seven pilot schools, with Principal Suzanne Gimenez at the helm since 2008. It logged a 71 percent pass rate in 2012, down from 75 percent the prior year but up from 43 percent in 2008. Devonshire earned a high growth rating.
- Sterling Elementary had a 62 percent proficiency rate, down from 79 percent the prior year but up from 44 percent in 2008. It did not make expected growth. The original strategic staffing principal left in 2011.
- Ranson Middle had a 60 percent proficiency rating and did not make expected growth. That’s down from 62 percent last year but up from 39 percent in 2008. The original strategic staffing principal left in 2011.
- Westerly Hills Academy, which became a K-8 school last year, logged a 50 percent pass rate and did not make expected growth. That’s down from 59 percent last year but up from 38 in 2008. The original strategic staffing principal left in 2011.
- Briarwood Elementary logged a 50 percent pass rate and did not make expected growth. Brenda Steadman has been the principal since 2008, when the school had a 38 percent pass rate. Briarwood peaked at 60 percent last year.
- Bruns Academy, which became a K-8 school last year, had a 47 percent pass rate and made expected growth. That’s up from 32 percent in 2008 but down from 55 percent last year. The original strategic staffing principal left in 2011.
- Reid Park Academy, which became a K-8 school last year, had a 44 percent pass rate and did not make expected growth. The school had a 28 percent pass rate in 2008 and peaked at 50.5 percent last year. Principal Mary Sturge has been in charge since 2008.
K-8 schools
- Berryhill was the highest-scoring of the new K-8 schools, with a 75 percent pass rate and expected growth. Paul Pratt has been principal since 2003; he remained in place when CMS made Berryhill a strategic staffing school and added middle school grades in 2011.
- Ashley Park became a strategic staffing school in 2009, with Principal Tonya Kales remaining as leader. It had a 65 percent pass rate with a high growth rating.
- Thomasboro had a 57 percent pass rate and made high growth. It became a strategic staffing school in 2009 and got a new principal in 2011.
- Byers had a 55 percent pass rate and made expected growth. It became a strategic staffing school when it added middle school grades in 2011.
- Druid Hills had a 45 percent pass rate and made expected growth. It became a strategic staffing school in 2009, and the principal who was brought in for that effort was replaced in 2010.
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I guess I need to post this again. 2008 was the year the test level was supposively increased thus making it more difficult. Secondly, as Ann has pointed out, the retakes were allowed to be substituted. Bottom line, most of majority minority schools had the same poor showing in 2008 and then the big improvement to the next year. Can we say teaching to the test?
Devonshire's score the year before the change in test difficulty was 74.6%.
The fact that for the past number of years we've been regurgitating this same issue proves CMS and other LEAs don't have a clue as to what they are doing.
This is not rocket science people.
What's utterly ridiculous is looking at test scores (which in turn translate into the all wonderful "achievement gap" numbers)and seeing rates with and without retests.
Either they pass or they don't. Do away with retests or if you're going to insist on keeping them, only report the final number.
A kid's history travels with them and when you combine schools or grades, you have an entirely different data set from a school standpoint but the grade data remains.
Just be done with it and change the name from Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools to Do Over Central or We Don't Have a Clue Education System.
Wiley, as you may recall, Pete Gorman wanted to ditch the retesting but the state didn't agree. For a couple of years we tracked scores with and without retesting, but now it's pretty much the norm statewide. But when we go back further than 2009, you have to look at no-retest numbers because they weren't retesting.
If a child makes all A's during the year and doesn't pass EOG, what do you do?
Is the child one of a number who just don't test well or did the child learn nothing during the year but got high marks anyway?
Having worked at one of the focus schools, I found that those who earned A's would also score a level 4. Likewise, Those who did poorly in class also did so on the EOC.
THE GORMANATOR rises again. SS terrible idea. Teaching memory to a test = not learning anything. Take the baby programs away and hold students/parents accountable for work. Yes I said it work. As we all know in life we do not get to re-take being laid off. Nor do we get to re-take being fired for a dumb action. These kids are not fit for society if we continue to nuture them like babies. Hold them accountable its not hard folks. The result we just saw yesterday with a child killed from a shooting. Thats a wake up call for LIFT zone I hope its used to keep kids in school.
Wiley,
If one really wanted to compare k-8 structures, throw Waddell Language Academy into the comparison. That is what happens on the other end of the spectrum. Helicopter parents to title one and homeless. Yet, if we look at test scores................. Again and forever it still depends on the level of support from the parent and the vision of accomplishment and success expected from home. You've been down that road, eh?
Anon 5:56....
I carved a rut in that road.
Boring. Certain pockets of CMS are so used to "straying from the truth" it has become normal and expected practice in their ranks. Some in leadership think of themselves as good BSer's but more simply they are just comfortable telling lies.
WAKE UP LATARZA
Where is the data and the lost principal?
Most educators in the trenches know that regardless of the school positive differences only happen with quality principal, quality teachers and involved parents. If any of those are missing then REAL progress will not be made. Alternative ED programs need to be expanded. Teachers cannot get great results with large class sizes.
Project LIFT will solve all these issues what a great idea. Proficency rates will rise to 32% in some of these schools and graduation rates will skyrocket to 42%. Core Values folks get a clue.
Remember this…“The Broad Virus in full effect…1.) This pattern of discriminatory firings (Chicago) and school closings. 2.) In Seattle, Broad Superintendent closed five schools to allegedly save $3.5 million a year only to announce seven months later reopening of five schools at a cost of $48 million… Was fired by school board (CMS Board member pointed out how the cost to convert has already exceeded the savings). 3.)Hiring of both a chief academic officer and a testing and evaluation specialist are right out of the Broad Superintendents Academy playbook. …” Surely the community nor the school board has forgotten how they supported these measures. Pete Gorman removed the quality teachers out of these schools and hired teachers for cheaper pay. He demoralized educators causing morale to plummet to a level that still exist today. Now all we have left are inflated scores throughout the district and blame.
Ann Clark is trying ever which way to take all of that data and make CMS look like it has acheived great things. BULL S__ __ __!!!! She is the real PROBLEM in CMS and someone needs to address it. Why do you suppose she was NOT selected as the new superintendent. Now, it seems Dr. Morrison is letting her run the schools. She needs to GO GO GO!!! She has caused many of the schools to regress because she got rid of principals she did not like and replaced them. Just like at Ransom. The principal there created some of the biggest blunders in education and before she could destroy the school completely, Ann moved her to Mallard Creek. Now the test results show she is bringing that school down too. She needs to go. With her strategic staffing bonuses and all she is making over $140,000. She will destroy Mallard Creek also==mark my word. Ann was the cause of the suicide of the great principal at Northwest School of the Arts with all of her nagging and insults to him.
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