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County district shows gains
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| H&N photo by Todd E. Swenson Henley science teacher Jack Lee, 43, looks through a new microscope at Henley High on Thursday. Lee teaches anatomy, biology and integrated science for Henley High School. Henley High School is one of 19 out of 21 Klamath County schools to meet adequate yearly progress under the No Child Left Behind Act. |
Scores in city, Lakeview districts the same
By STEVE KADEL
H&N Staff Writer
Klamath County School District students improved significantly in testing that is part of the federal No Child Left Behind Act.
Four county schools that failed to meet adequate yearly progress (AYP) in 2005-06 increased their testing scores last year to meet the benchmarks. The schools are Bonanza Junior/Senior High, Gilchrist Elementary, Henley Middle and Henley High.
Progress scores in Klamath Falls City Schools and Lakeview County School District schools stayed the same from 2005-06 to 2006-07, according to results released Thursday.
Doug Smith, curriculum director for Klamath County schools, said he was particularly happy to see Henley High School meet AYP standards. Statewide, 43 percent of high schools meet the standards.
“The staff out there has really put in some effort,” Smith said.
Only Brixner Junior High and Lost River High failed to meet AYP among county schools. Brixner tripped up because its special education student sub-group failed the test, Smith said. Two sub-groups - special education and economically disadvantaged students - failed to meet requirements at Lost River.
All of a school’s sub-groups must pass the tests for it to meet AYP.
Smith credited the district’s emphasis on literacy for the good overall results.
“The literacy plan has had a huge impact,” he said. “The school board is heavily invested in providing our teachers the first-class medical kit for reading. That’s why we’re seeing this improvement.”
Among Klamath Falls schools, Klamath Union High, Mazama High and Ponderosa Junior High failed for the second consecutive year to meet AYP. All other city schools met the required standards.
City schools curriculum director Leigh Ann Arthur said the three secondary schools wouldn’t face sanctions from the state because they are not Title 1 schools.
Although not making overall progress in the latest testing, Arthur pointed to city students’ bright spots. They scored better in reading tests from elementary school through the high school level, she said. Reading improvement was particularly strong among Native American elementary school students, those with limited English proficiency at the middle school level, and among limited English proficiency and Hispanic students at the high school level.
“We didn’t move out of a category, but we’ve shown good growth,” Arthur said. “We are very pleased with the improvement. We went up in reading at all three levels.”
The city’s high school students also did better in math in the most recent testing, she said.
At Lake County School District, all schools passed AYP for the second consecutive year.
“This is a testament of the continued quality of education offered to the students in our community,” superintendent Sean Gallagher said.
The No Child Left Behind legislation increases its requirements each year. By the 2013-14 school year, 100 percent of all students will need to meet state testing standards for a school to earn a passing AYP designation.
Currently, 50 percent of all students must meet the language arts requirements and 49 percent must meet standards for math.
“The continued increase in requirements is certainly a challenge for all schools in the state of Oregon,” Gallagher said.
Four county schools that failed to meet adequate yearly progress (AYP) in 2005-06 increased their testing scores last year to meet the benchmarks. The schools are Bonanza Junior/Senior High, Gilchrist Elementary, Henley Middle and Henley High.
Progress scores in Klamath Falls City Schools and Lakeview County School District schools stayed the same from 2005-06 to 2006-07, according to results released Thursday.
Henley makes grade
Doug Smith, curriculum director for Klamath County schools, said he was particularly happy to see Henley High School meet AYP standards. Statewide, 43 percent of high schools meet the standards.
“The staff out there has really put in some effort,” Smith said.
Only Brixner Junior High and Lost River High failed to meet AYP among county schools. Brixner tripped up because its special education student sub-group failed the test, Smith said. Two sub-groups - special education and economically disadvantaged students - failed to meet requirements at Lost River.
All of a school’s sub-groups must pass the tests for it to meet AYP.
Literacy plan
Smith credited the district’s emphasis on literacy for the good overall results.
“The literacy plan has had a huge impact,” he said. “The school board is heavily invested in providing our teachers the first-class medical kit for reading. That’s why we’re seeing this improvement.”
Among Klamath Falls schools, Klamath Union High, Mazama High and Ponderosa Junior High failed for the second consecutive year to meet AYP. All other city schools met the required standards.
City schools curriculum director Leigh Ann Arthur said the three secondary schools wouldn’t face sanctions from the state because they are not Title 1 schools.
Although not making overall progress in the latest testing, Arthur pointed to city students’ bright spots. They scored better in reading tests from elementary school through the high school level, she said. Reading improvement was particularly strong among Native American elementary school students, those with limited English proficiency at the middle school level, and among limited English proficiency and Hispanic students at the high school level.
“We didn’t move out of a category, but we’ve shown good growth,” Arthur said. “We are very pleased with the improvement. We went up in reading at all three levels.”
The city’s high school students also did better in math in the most recent testing, she said.
Lake County
At Lake County School District, all schools passed AYP for the second consecutive year.
“This is a testament of the continued quality of education offered to the students in our community,” superintendent Sean Gallagher said.
The No Child Left Behind legislation increases its requirements each year. By the 2013-14 school year, 100 percent of all students will need to meet state testing standards for a school to earn a passing AYP designation.
Currently, 50 percent of all students must meet the language arts requirements and 49 percent must meet standards for math.
“The continued increase in requirements is certainly a challenge for all schools in the state of Oregon,” Gallagher said.
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