For the 2008-2009 school year, 66 county schools met the AYP standard, an increase of seven schools from the year before. There were 40 schools that did not meet the standard — seven fewer than the prior school year.
Adequate Yearly Progress is the testing arm of the federal government’s No Child Left Behind Act.
These results came with an achievement bar set at the same level as last year’s. However, next year, students will have to jump a little higher.
The eventual goal for the students, according to No Child Left Behind legislation, is to have every child in Washoe County grades K-12 score proficiently or above in standardized tests by the 2013 school year.
During the 2008-2009 school year, 51.7 percent of elementary school students had to score at or above proficiency levels in the English language arts to fulfill the AYP requirements. More than 54 percent of elementary school students needed to score well on math tests in order to prove their adequate yearly progress. The same percentages were necessary for middle school students.
The bar was set a little higher for local high school attendees. More that 80 percent of children in those schools needed to score at or above proficiency levels in English language arts tests to prove their progress.
Washoe County School District spokesman Steve Mulvenon said that a school could be deemed not to have made progress if one of its minority groups did not achieve the standards.
“If you have one of those groups that does not make AYP, the whole school fails,” Mulvenon said. “With some schools it came down to a few kids.”
The groups are identified as American Indian, black, white, special needs, English as a second language students and students who receive free and reduced lunches.
However, Mulvenon added that one of the biggest benefits of the AYP standard of testing has been a renewed interest in every single child.
“What it forced school districts to do is it forced teachers to pay attention to all kids,” Mulvenon said.
According to Mulvenon, a school’s funding is not affected by its students’ scores on the AYP exams.
The largest consequence for consistent year-upon-year failure, according to Mulvenon, would be a restructuring plan for the school. This plan could include moving teachers to another classroom or between schools, bringing in subject experts to provide coaching or changing administration. The plan would have to be approved by the school district board of trustees.
Last year, five local schools started developing such a plan just in case they did not make AYP standards this year. Only two of those schools, Echo Loder and Veterans elementary, needed their plans.
Of the elementary schools in Sparks, three achieved an adequate rating: Florence Drake, Jessee Hall and Ed Van Gorder elementary schools. Two were classified as “in need of improvement”: Lincoln Park and Agnes Risley elementary schools. Spanish Springs elementary school was classified as “watch.”
Of the Sparks middle schools, George Dillworth was classified as “needs improvement,” Lou Mendive was classified as “watch,” and Sparks Middle School was classified as “adequate.”
The three high schools in Sparks scored across the board in 2008. Edward C. Reed High School was classified as in need of improvement, Spanish Springs High School was classified as a school to watch and Sparks High School achieved adequate status.
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