Dylan Marshall, English chair at Northwest School of the Arts, just sent me a link to SchoolDigger, a website that lets people search the 2012 N.C. testing results and get schools in ranked order.
Marshall is understandably proud that Northwest landed at the top in his subject, with more than 95 percent of students passing the English I exam. Granted, there are so many schools tied for first on that list that you have to scroll through several pages of alphabetical listings to get to Northwest, but there's something about rankings that's hard to resist.
If you want to go into more depth on any given school, the N.C. Department of Public Instruction has posted detailed breakdowns, by school and race, of 2012 test data. And the state report cards, which display an even wider range of data, will be updated for 2012 later this month.
I had to laugh at myself on another count. For two months, I've been trying to get Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools to release results of the ACT, a college readiness exam given to all N.C. 11th-graders for the first time last year. Turns out the state had released the data on Sept. 7, while I was in a Democratic National Convention haze (for details on districts and schools, click the link at the end of the news release).
Meanwhile, state education officials are working on a system to give all schools letter grades at the end of the current school year, as mandated by state legislators. Expect some fireworks when those come out next fall.
Thursday, October 18, 2012
School ratings: Numbers rolling in
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How accurate is that website? It still lists Waddell as a high school and shows none of the k-8 changes. The data may come from some authentic source but.....
Adjust all the school letter grades on a 50-100 point scale so this way no school scores below a C average.
A little behind the 8 ball on the ACT's, Ann. I'm curious to find out how those 90 minute block classes and Urban Education Academy professional development courses about diversity are working. You know, on a GLO-bal scale.
School grades combined with standardized test scores are the best predictor of academic success in college. Therefore, one way to ensure CMS students are making the grade in college is to adjust everyone's GPA on a 3.00 - 5.00 scale while making sure "urban" students only apply to ACT/SAT test optional colleges like Wake Forest and Bowdoin that are striving to "diversify" their homogeneous campuses.
Is it possible to cut out the word "urban" and use the word we ALL know it means?
Black Education Academy not Urban Education Academy. Let's be honest and truthful, for once.
The Broad Foundation Award for Black education. Blacks send their kids to West Charlotte. African-Americans send their kids to Providence. Am I wrong?
Cont.
Let the fireworks begin....
OK Heath. Perhaps we can actually have a civil and courageous conversation about race here today.
I'm white. I still stumble over the words black and African-American in fear of saying the wrong thing. Blacks/AA's use three words to describe themselves - Black, African-American and N-gg-r. I'm smart enough not to use the N word but I don't understand why it's OK for Blacks/AA's to use the word in music and amongst themselves.
"Granted, there are so many schools tied for first on that list that you have to scroll through several pages of alphabetical listings to get to Northwest...."
______
That's because the ranking stops at greater than 95%. If they had shown the schools at the full decimal point ranking, and Northwest was still "at the top", then it might be worth crowing about. For all we can tell, there may be 118 schools ahead of Northwest on English.
It's curious to me why college level "Cultural Understanding" courses never address the words "black", "African-American" and "n-gg-r" used interchangeably in "urban" communities.
Is this how long we normally have to wait to see scores of tests that were taken over 4 months ago?
While we're at it why not cut out the word "Academy" and use what we usually mean:
Reform School
Anon 8:06 says
"I'm white. I still stumble over the words black and African-American in fear of saying the wrong thing."
Well, that's just the beginning.
Once you've been properly indoctrinated through more "courageous conversations" about race you will fully acknowledge white guilt and accept the fact that white racism (especially from white teachers in the classroom) are the primary cause of black failure.
Then you will feel a strong desire to pay reparations for the sins of your forefathers and give until you can give no more.
Thank you for your cooperation in our dialogue.
Your "healing" can begin.
My Black son graduated from Providence and later Chapel Hill. Another graduated from NorthWest and the NC School of the Arts. Thank you both are doing very well. I'm still trying to figure out what race has to do with any of this?
Yes, the word "academy". How many CMS "academies" are performing up to snuff?
9:00
Huh? Race has everything to do with everything in CMS as well as everything to do with everything at the national and state standardized testing level and the college admissions level.
Did you check off the "black" or "African-American" box on your son's Chapel Hill application? Be honest. Seriously, be honest.
TO: 7:49AM…..URBAN MEANS WHAT?
“URBAN” is one of the most interesting words in the current vocabulary. It can mean educated, sophisticated, not rural or illiterate; prosperity or poverty; hope or hopeless.
In the music world “urban” is synonymous with Black. In city planning it is a mix of cultures. In the world of advertising it is Paris, London and New York City.
Last Tuesday the Board of Education held a workshop on its vision for 2017. Two of the board members felt that Mecklenburg 2017 could look like Charlotte. Did that mean the county would be “urban” as in sophisticated; “urban” as in mixed culture or “urban” as in Black?
I kind of doubt those two board members were thinking new sophistications in 2017….and I don’t think they were thinking the bad connotations. They were saying more urban less suburban but did mean more Black.
So back to the 7:49am post. If a person uses “urban,” no one really can tell what is being said. If you mean Black, then say it. It keeps folks from whispering.
Bolyn McClung
Pineville.
9:00
If race had nothing to do with anything than you would have left the "black" box empty on your children's college applications.
Providence and NWSA are good schools. Would you send your children to a more "urban" school in CMS? Why not?
9:00
Are you anymore or any less racist than I am for avoiding West Charlotte High?
Did you check off the "special" box on the Chapel Hill application? Yes or No?
Bolyn,
Well, thanks for clearing up the definition of the word "urban" as related to education.
The Broad Foundation Award for Sophisticated Education?
Thoughts on "academy"?
9:00
Are you courageous enough to share your son's ACT scores that helped him secure a coveted seat at Chapel Hill? My son scored a 28 composite with plenty of extracurricular activities, volunteer work, leadership experiences, a well-written college essay, and so on. He didn't get into Chapel Hill.
So, back to my question since race has nothing to do with anything. Did you check off the "black" box on your son's application?
Bolyn, we may be recalling different comments from that work session. But when I heard members (including Rhonda Lennon) talk about CMS looking more like Mecklenburg County, I thought they were talking about getting more white/non-poor families back.
On "academy:" For many years and administrations, CMS has tried to boost schools' reputations by giving them new and fancier names, often including "academy." I tend not to use those labels in print ("Whitewater Academy" just makes me think, "Is that the middle school or the elementary?"). But I do make an exception for the multi-level schools like Smith/Waddell Language Academy or the new K-8s, because the traditional labels don't fit.
Christine , Yes that is how long it takes to get data out. Its actually quicker now that Scott Murri is gone. My thought thats most likely the same as yours is how does a teacher teach a child with that type of delay. Teachers dont have the data they need to actually help alot of kids. Granted most teachers do know what the kids can achieve by being with them in the classroom. Keith W. Hurley
All of the data is bogus.
That's all you need to know.
Next?
6:49 a.m., I wondered that too when I saw Villa Heights at the top on elementary rankings after it closed last year. I suspect when that program moved to Irwin it kept the same ID code and that's what SchoolDigger uses. National sites like that are always weak on keeping up with local changes, but I give them credit for getting a lot of data into an easy-to-use format quickly.
Keith, I disagree. Right now, CMS is slower than I've seen it in 10+ years at releasing basic data. If that's the new normal, that's a problem. But I'm hopeful that it's a temporary function of a new accountability crew trying to get its feet on the ground (with a lot of caution stemming from errors of their predecessors).
Not afraid to admit it. Im white and we moved so my son & daughter would not have to attend Northridge middle and Rocky River. So far a great choice as they love there new schools and are A,B students. Its a parents duty to set there kids up for success.
When I see the word "academy" attached to a CMS school I usually assume it's a primarily black/hispanic school that's loaded with economically disadvantaged kids who aren't performing well. Smith/Waddell Language Academy is the one and only exception.
In New England, I associate the word "academy" with fancy boarding schools like Andover and Choate that traditionally feed students into places like Harvard and Yale.
ACT = A Complete Travesty
But it's not about ACT scores. Its about graduation rates. Right?
Good morning Wiley and Bolyn.
I thought my 1980 circa SAT's were a complete travesty. It stinks being average.
(With the exception of Smith/Waddell)
CMS "Academy"; Avoid like the plague.
All of the high school student/teacher ratios I looked at were in the mid 20's or lower.
Ann , Its about who you ask and how you ask. I am not surprised that they would "hold data" from you as you have had to correct them in the past. CMS is trying to build some sense of trust in its new model going forward. I wish them luck in that. I agree the old "data finders" were suspect int he first place and you have proved that multiple times. Keith W. Hurley
9:49 anon- You are correct and great to see parents supporting rather than making excuses for their children. Its tough and I know as a parent to support 3 kids in different grades. My parents did it for 6 and I know it was never easy. More parents need to have your view on the "support" system and students will achieve. Keith W. Hurley
Check out Northwest School of the Arts' ACT composite--8.5% (compared to Providence at 40.5%--so what do the NC testing results really show us?
Putting Lipstick on a Pig
"Courageous Conversation" CMS Educational Euphemisms:
Urban = Black
White = Rich
Academy = Poor and low performing
Diversity = Black/Hispanic
English Language Learners = Illegal Spanish
speaking Immigrants
Home School Zone = Neighborhood school or Gerry-mandered school designed to create more student diversity (see; diversity)
Achievement Zone = Failing Schools
ACADEMY……IT’S ACADEMIC?
I can remember Trent Merchant in a board meeting starting to comment on naming schools by saying of the word “academy;” “I know why we do it.” That says a lot.
When a school is named it does say a lot. Ms. Lennon would like the new elementary school to be named after a rather large tree at the front of the school. It’s a great idea. It ties to strength and longevity.
AG, Alexander Graham Middle School, has carried that name through two locations and as a high school and middle school. Almost the same for Garinger and Marie G. Davis. Names carry history and imagery. I don’t like the imagery that belongs to “Academy.”
So here’s what “Academy” means to me. It’s a facade. If your parents are sending you to an academy it’s probably because they are unhappy and you are uncontrollable.
In can live with Turning Point or TAPS. But Academy? No!
Bolyn McClung
Pineville
"My name is Raymond J. Johnson, Jr. Now you can call me Ray, or you can call me J, or you can call me Johnny, or you can call me Sonny, or you can call me Junie, or you can call me Junior; now you can call me Ray J, or you can call me RJ, or you can call me RJJ, or you can call me RJJ Jr."...."but you doesn't hasta call me Johnson!"
Yeah, what you decide to call a school is really going to make a difference in test scores.
Turning Point sounds like a rehab center before adding the stigmatizing word Academy.
I'm confused: The "Holy Trinity" (Myers Park, Providence and Ardrey Kell) were the highest performing CMS schools on the ACT as well as the state EOG's. No surprise here. NWSA scored near the top on state EOG's but near the bottom on the national ACT. Why the discrepancy?
Correction: NWSA scored smack in the middle on the ACT.
The results are defintely skewed. Kids took the ACT in school and had no choice. Many kids skipped since it is a 4 hour test and they had to take it. Many had already taken the SAT. Some students bubbled in anything just to get through it. Really a big waste of money to make all kids, even non college bound kids, take it. Don't read much into these results.
ACT scores suggest most students at Olympic "Renaissance" High might have a hard time spelling the name of their school although Renaissance sure sounds all high-folutent and fancy. Perhaps the problem was not adding the name "Academy"? Olympic Renaissance Academy. That ought to do it.
11:52
So high school students attending CMS' Holy Trinity schools didn't do this? What does this say?
The problem is that it isnt a grade for anything. Because of this, students don't take it seriously. Many rush through and go to sleep or don't come to school at all that day.
11:52
OK, so a higher percentage of kids go to college from the Holy Trinities? Where does a student work with nothing more than a high school diploma and a concentration in modern dance? BTW, I'm a huge fan of NWSA but I'm perplexed at the discrepancy in rankings between NC state EOG's and the national ACT. The Holy Trinities were consistent in their rankings.
12:12
So, students at Providence High didn't sleep through the test and didn't skip school? Is this what you're saying?
Bolyn,
I think you are confusing "urban" with "urbane".
Big difference.
Anon 9:00am.
I think you know what "race" has to do with all this.
Several people have implied that your children probably benefited from lower standards at Chapel Hill for black students.
A similar bias exists AGAINST high scoring Asian students, just so you know how the "race" card is played in education.
This is a reality. Blacks DO get special treatment even if they are only marginally qualified.
I saw it in graduate school as well.
We had a black guy in my top-20 MBA program at another university in another state who was semi-literate at best.
The average GMAT score of my class of around 500 students was 680.
If you look that up, you will see that it is approximately the top 5% of college graduates.
But for some reason, we had a black student in our class who couldn't write a coherent paragraph.
And, unfortunately, he was assigned to my study group.
He pretty much flew under the radar for most of the semester because he just didn't do anything in our group.
We found out how deficient he was when he "volunteered" (after a whole semester of contributing absolutely nothing to our study group) to do research for a group paper on increasing "diversity" in graduate schools as part of an Organizational Behavior class.
When we saw the "notes" he had prepared the day we were supposed to turn in our paper (after refusing to show them to us for weeks, saying he had it under control and would just write the whole paper), WE WERE STUNNED.
We (the white MBA students) had to do a rush re-write of the paper in less than an hour (since he showed up late for our group meeting, as well).
Then we all presented it to the professor, told him what a skunk this guy was and apologized for not spotting his weaknesses earlier and letting this happen.
We didn't see him around much at all after that.
You can call it an Academy
You can call it a Prison
Who cares as long as you teach the person a job skill or trade. Otherwise it is a waste of money down a black hole. Other coutries are taking their limited resources and have now surpased the US. We will never return to the top 10 much less number 1 if we do not make some hard choices. Instead we have a door to door educrat looking for the next PR opportunity.
Go sell Amway Barney if you cannot do the job.
"Urban" simply became a politically correect term for ghetto. That is all. Nothing more. Nothing less.
The Westside need the money and support because there is NO MONEY in the families over there. Annstay off the TV and stick to the CO.
Bolyn , Its urban and you reside in the country. So butt out of our schools and our childrens educational lives. Go hug Rhonda and Tim. Stand by Ericka I mean Kojo. Trent is also another loser you continue to hang onto. Dismissed
"Urban" - Poor BLACK & Hispanic.
Abysmal test scores.
"Rural" - Poor white.
Abysmal test scores.
"Suburban" - middle class & affluent white, AFRICAN-AMERICAN & Hispanic.
Acceptable test scores, higher home tax values, and lower per-pupil spending to prove it.
Equity Plus Schools = Achievement Zone = Failing Schools.
Anyone who wants to know what a truly "Great Society" can accomplish in two generations needs to look at Singapore.
In the 1960's it was practically a third world country with a GDP per capita about 1/3 of what the US was at the same time.
Today its GDP per capita measured by PPP (Purchasing Power Parity) surpasses the US by over 20%.
And its schools are far better.
I think the two are related.
There is no finer example of two worlds apart.
I am always amazed by people spewing forth things they know nothing about. Some of you are posting as fact, rumors, conjecture, and just plain mis-information. Unless you have been a teacher or student and I even say loosely a parent of a student in the school you are talking about---you shouldn't talk about the school or what goes on there. Some of you are basing your "viewpoints" on information from "your day", which is potentially vastly different than it is today. Some of you are trying to simplify through generalization a very complex matter. Some of you are totally off topic (like asking why Blacks can use the "n" word...huh? And some of you are just flat making sh-t up. Period.
If you want to know what some of the issues are in schools--look no further than the end of your own myopic view--the kids are often just as diverse as the commenters on this board: some are focused and driven, others are totally not paying attention, some hold prejudices and biases against their peers (much like their parents), some are just going through the motions, and some are just troublemakers running their mouths and causing problems.
8:11 AM
I'm a former certified teacher, former PTO president, school leadership team member, grade parent, ELS tutor, after-school club director, door decorator, and daughter of a retired public school superintendent.
"Misinformation" is spelled accordingly although I appreciate and value your contributions and opinions.
8:11 AM. "Courageous Conversations"
Since you brought it up, perhaps you can explain and clarify why it is OK for blacks/African-Americans to freely use the word "nigger" and "nigga'" amongst themselves and in popular music? Us old, white, "redneck" folks could use a little education on the subject in the name of cultural understanding and diversity in education.
8:11 AM
I sincerely apologize for my snarky comments which don't contribute anything to the conversation. I'm guessing you are younger than I am which is something this blog is lacking - a youthful perspective. Please, I encourage you to stay "engaged" (snarky passive-aggressive comment on the subject of educational lingo) on this board.
A lot of white people from my old-fogey generation really don't understand the difference between "Black" and "African-American" and worry about using the wrong word in public. Also, the blatant use of the word "nigger" within the Black/African-American community/culture is confusing at best.
I hope you continue to comment here because race is an undeniably important and critical issue in education.
8:11
For example; the other night my son watched Charlie Rose interview Tyler Perry about his latest "Madea" movie. I've never seen a Madea movie and I never heard of Tyler Perry up until the Charlie Rose interview on T.V. Charlie Rose used the word African-American and Black during his interview which demonstrated the fear and confusion most white people of my generation feel when venturing into any topic related to race. Current educational reform efforts costing millions of dollars place a huge emphasis on the correlation between race and student achievement. There is a persistent "Achievement Gap" between blacks and whites that no one - not even M.I.T educated billionaires - have been able to solve. Please consider that many of us old people were alive when Dr. Martin Luther King was assassinated. My grandmother referred to Blacks/African-Americans as "colored". Before this, "coloreds" were called "Negros". As a white, middle-aged person, it's almost impossible to tip-toe around the words "Black" and "African-American" without the fear of offending someone.
I welcome a young person's thoughts on the subject of race and student achievement. If nothing else, the topic could solicit a potential award winning college admissions essay! Have at it.
12:11
Can technology improve race relations and close the achievement gap? Is technology the best way to improve race relations and close the achievement gap? Are there other means to improving race relations and closing the achievement gap? Do college level Education Department courses entitled "Cultural Understanding and Diversity in Education" improve academic achievement?
What is the primary goal and purpose of a CMS professional development course offered through the "Urban Education Academy" on the subject of "cognitive differences" between races and cultures? Do professional development courses on the subject of cultural understanding, diversity, and race improve educational outcomes? Do "Diversity and Cultural Understanding" courses contribute - on the basis of measurable scientific data - to closing the Achievement Gap? Well, do they?
"Urban Education", the new official educrat buzzword for lowering the standards so more will pass. Many states have already identified standard pass rates for different races. Ebonics went this same way and failed.
The premise of all of this, UEA, is probably simply a method to run off teachers that "do not look like their students". Denise may be simply satisfied with TFA's or the like. That could leave a lot of extra money in her pocket.
How many generations in the USA does it take to become "American"?
Heck, some nationalities want to be called American ASAP. Perhaps if us Irish continued to get government handouts, preferences, etc we would also not want to be just American?
Giving preference to some blacks tarnishes all blacks.
Ebonics, Afro-Centric Education, Spanish Language Immersion magnets for Spanish speaking students, Multi-Cultural Understanding courses for teachers.
How many educrats does it take to screw in a lightbulb?
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