School system fails to meet AYP

School system fails to meet AYP

Posted by

in Top Stories & Breaking News, Winder Archives

Thursday, July 22. 2010

Comments (31)

For the fourth year in a row, Barrow County Schools failed to make adequate yearly progress (AYP) according to results released July 19 by the Georgia Department of Education.

Four of the school system’s 14 schools, including both high schools, failed to meet AYP standards.

In addition to Apalachee High School and Winder Barrow High School, Russell Middle School and Bethlehem Elementary School also failed to make AYP.

Because it’s the second year in a row they failed AYP, both AHS and WBHS will be listed as schools in “need of improvement.”

HIGH SCHOOLS
While the AYP criteria is a complex formula involving both academic and non-academic standards, at AHS it was the school’s high failure rate on the Georgia High School Graduation Test that was a major problem. One-third of AHS juniors failed the Math part of the GHSGT this year. In addition, the school’s graduation rate of 78 percent fell below the 80 percent threshold required.

At WBHS, a 28 percent failure rate on the GHSGT Math test was also a major factor in that school’s not meeting AYP, along with a 75 percent graduation rate that fell below the 80 percent mandate.

In an attempt to improve performance at AHS and WBHS, school officials plan to offer free tutoring to eligible students. Students who qualify to receive free or reduced price meals may qualify for the Supplemental Educational Services or SES. If the school does not have sufficient funds to provide tutoring to all students, priority will be given to those students with the lowest test scores.

AYP ‘ONE FACTOR’
School superintendent Dr. Wanda Creel said she hopes parents will consider more than just AYP when evaluating area schools.

“I encourage everyone to consider that AYP is just one factor in determining a school’s effectiveness,” she said. “It is a fallacy that Needs Improvement schools are “failing.” They are not. They are simply schools that have been identified as needing to improve in one or more very specific areas.”

For more on this story, see the July 21 edition of the Barrow Journal or click here to read the full story online when you subscribe to our new e-edition.

Defined tags for this entry: News, Top Stories

Related entries by tags:

Trackbacks

Trackback specific URI for this entry

No Trackbacks

Comments

Display comments as (Linear | Threaded)

#1 taxpayer on 07/22/10 at 07:03 AM [Reply]

The low graduation rate tells a lot of the story. The problem isn't the schools or the teachers. It's the attitude of the students and parents. When they realize that school is a child's JOB and the PARENTS make sure their child is present then maybe our scores will improve. Teachers can't teach those who are not there or those who don't care. I can't count the number of elementary children in the local stores during school hours. Where are the truent officers? Maybe our courts need to make parents accountable for their childern's lack of attendance.

#2 DuWayne R. Anderson on 07/22/10 at 07:30 AM [Reply]

Ladies and Gentlemen,
I agree with the above post that Education starts at home with parents,and their commitment to ensure that their kids go to school and stay in school.
I also believe that if the state continues to reduce Education funding, they will not be doing our schools or students in Barrow County any favors. Continuing to demand better results on test scores,AYP,etc,while reducing the amount of funding designed to ensure that schools meet AYP, is tantamount to shooting oneself in the foot, and refusing to call a doctor to treat the wound. Without proper treatment that foot will become infected, and eventually have to be amputated, leaving that poor person left to hobble on crutches for the rest of their lives.
Is that the result we want for Education in Barrow County Schools and our students?

Sincerely,
DuWayne Anderson
Winder, GA

#3 Anonymous on 07/22/10 at 07:30 AM [Reply]

The current board is complacent and the voters allow them to be. If they, (BOE) was doing what they should be doing, our schools would be better. If the voted had done what needed to be done ..... This is why we needed new younger blood on the board.

It's my understanding that I can now send my child to Mill Creek and Barrow County has to pay for it.

And to the above blogger, I'm sorry I disagree. The schools need to be brought into the current century, hell the whole county needs to join the current century.

#3.1 DuWayne Anderson on 07/22/10 at 08:51 AM [Reply]

With all due respect,considering moving your child out of Barrow County Schools is not the answer, unless you have taken the time to actually meet with the member of the BOE who represents your district to express your concerns. You can also sign up to speak at any BOE meeting to discuss your concerns. If you still feel that the BOE has not responded to your concerns, then you should contact Mark Still first, and then if you still feel the BOE has not addressed your concerns,at that point it would be appropriate to contact Dr. Wanda Creel Superintendent of Barrow County Schools, to set up a meeting. If after that meeting, you still feel your concerns are not being met, then you simply may want to look at alternative education options, such as home schooling,certified home Tutor, or private school instruction.
I have every confidence that the BOE will address your concerns, if you just take the time to follow the steps I have outlined.In addressing your concerns,the BOE may not give you the answer you want to hear. The choice as always, is yours...........
Sincerely,
DuWayne Anderson
Winder, GA

#3.1.1 xxxxxxxxx on 07/22/10 at 09:20 AM [Reply]

"If you still feel that the BOE has not responded to your concerns, then you should contact Mark Still first, and then if you still feel the BOE has not addressed your concerns,at that point it would be appropriate to contact Dr. Wanda Creel Superintendent of Barrow County Schools,"
You have that backwards Dr. Wanda Creel answers to the Board not the other way.

#3.1.2 Anonymous on 07/22/10 at 09:45 AM [Reply]

I did, and I wasn't impressed. He basically passed the buck. Can't afford private school or my child would be going. I have to work so I don't have the time to home school. It's the BOE's responsibility to see that the schools are up to date and the children are learning. No disrespect to your wife but there are teachers who are just collecting a pay check and waiting until retirement. If Barrow County can't get their act together, then they can pay to send my child somewhere else.

#3.1.2.1 DuWayne R. Anderson on 07/22/10 at 04:45 PM [Reply]

Who did Mark Still pass the buck to?

#3.1.3 Robert on 07/31/10 at 05:51 AM [Reply]

Duwayne.....
I did everything you mentioned 6 years ago. We were told Barrow County had never done this particular thing before (educating kids out of the schoolthey were zoned for). I know this to be false as there are many athletes who choose Apalachee for football or WB for baseball but do not live in the district of the school they choose. Anyway, we were not goingto fight with them. We took our high achieving kids with their better than 3.5 GPA's and their art skills and athletic abilities and are sending them out of Barrow County to school! You can thank Saunders and the BOE for losing that one!

#3.2 Robert on 07/31/10 at 05:40 AM [Reply]

Thank you! And it is administrative isues that contribute to this topp;e downward as well as parent-student apathy. I have a long story of my history with this BOE and Saunders! My kids were homeschooled AND I have one left going to a great school in Jefferson!

#4 She told you so on 07/22/10 at 09:59 AM [Reply]

I guess one of the candidates did know what she was talking about. We will see what happens the next few years, I hope things change, but I doubt they will.

#5 Registered Voter on 07/22/10 at 10:48 AM [Reply]

Boy, am I relieved that DuWayne did not win election to the school board. Not that I think he would have done a poor job, but that responsibility pales in comparison to his duty to post in the Barrow Journal comments section. Welcome back!

#6 ColdHardTruth on 07/22/10 at 04:44 PM [Reply]

Fact is you don't need to talk to anyone on the board or at the school. The report does not lie. Apalachee and WB failed AYP as did others. Who's to blame? (Im speaking strictly about highschools) Ask your child. Sure there are always bad apples with bad home lifes, or those who just don't give a crap. But schools have always had those. What they havent had are classes 1 hour and a half long in which they are only busy about half of the time. During end of course exams, those who "exempt"
do nothing for a week while others who arent fortunate enough to "exempt" are trained to pass one test to graduate. Thus, improving graduation rates and passing AYP. Please note I have yet to criticize a teacher, board, or parent yet, so don't get your drawers in bunch just yet. The problem is the system. The system takes a long time to define. It is created by the desire to equalize a standard of education. A few thoughts: A college course rarely exceeds an hour. What happened to the six classes a day I took. I was never bored or developed ADHD. What the heck is "exempting" a final. You take a final to prove you master the course. AYP meant you graduated or were promoted to the next grade. If you failed you repeated and were embarassed to do so cause you were older than everyone else. Today if you fail we have credit recovery. For those of you who don't know, thats a little helper to get you caught up with the least effort. You learn nothing. I could go on and on. Education is not equal. Nor is it for everyone. I know more millionaires who never attended college than I know who did. One of my children was a solid B-C student, the other an honor grad. Ironically, both complained about the same thing. They hated the system and felt they were not challenged because of it. Amazing, I hear our current adminstration both federal and local as well as candidates on the trail calling for longer school years and longer days more funding and so on. Heck, they don't work under these conditions much less attend school under them. I could miss 30 days a year and pass if my grades were passing. I missed 29 every year. Graduated with a 90 average and attended college on a baseball scholarship.I really wasn't that smart. School was fun. Best days of my life. Good system that worked. Good teachers that care. Parents that care. If you dont have that here in Barrow Co. Don't wait around to ask some questions. Move your child. We need a lot less education and a lot more common sense. Get rid of block schedules and graduation tests. No more exempting finals. My mother in law is a teacher in South GA. I tell her of these things and she is appalled.

#7 Some Body on 07/22/10 at 08:15 PM [Reply]

Watch out for any new high school schedules on the horizon that come from Dr. Creel. Before Creel came to the Houston County school system, all 4 high schools made AYP. Then, she decided to implement a modified block schedule with "academic opportunity" classes worked into the schedule for the 09-10 school year. As a result, only 1 high school in Houston County made AYP this year. Now that Creel has left Houston, the schools there are ditching her modified block after one year due to the poor results.

If she tries it in Barrow, ask her specifically about the results in Houston. Also, teachers and administrators cheered when she left Houston. I hope she does better in Barrow but I really think she'll be run out of town in the next 2 years.

#7.1 someone on 07/24/10 at 02:20 PM [Reply]

Not impressed with her so far

#7.2 Anonymous on 07/25/10 at 10:09 PM [Reply]

Houston County Please tell us more........

#8 Just Moved to Barrow County on 07/22/10 at 08:40 PM [Reply]

And this is why my kids will be attending private school. We certainly didn't move here for the school system...

#9 Concerned parent on 07/22/10 at 09:51 PM [Reply]

I moved my child from Gwinnett several years ago and loved the elementary school. However when he started at Russell 2 years ago everything changed. This past year I never once saw my son with homework but yet he was passing all of his classes with high As and Bs. Even more disturbing was the fact that he had an 89 average in a math class that he had only turned in 4 out of 12 assignments. I was told that they were given 50% credit for not even turning in the assignments. These were classroom assignments!!!! The teachers are so worried about CRCT scores and having high percentages of students passing that they are not giving our children the tools they need to succeed!!! I want my child to be challenged and know that hard work is rewarded not laziness. It's hard to teach them to achieve when the teachers are giving up because they are so afraid they will lose their job.

#9.1 Anonymous on 07/23/10 at 08:05 AM [Reply]

twist was for an education that mattered

#10 Moved 1 yrs ago here... on 07/23/10 at 05:05 AM [Reply]

My child attended Bethlehem Elementary this year for the first time. All year long I asked to have her tested for gifted because she was bored with the regular class work. You know what the teacher did? Had her help the children who couldn't learn. Instead of recommending the gifted program, my child was stuck doing the teacher's job. Also, when entering into the classroom, I noticed the teacher had no control over the children. They ruled the room and when one child did something, they all were punished. How fair is that? I agree with several individual's opinions here, some are in it for the money and the vacation time and thats it. Alot of the teachers care about nothing but themselves and time off. Wake up barrow and hired teachers that care, not ones in it for the paycheck and benefits

#10.1 In it for the money on 07/24/10 at 12:35 PM [Reply]

How dare you?!! I am a teacher in Barrow County and specifically a teacher at Bethlehem Elementary school. We work very hard to ensure that our children learn. As for your concern about the gifted program, please know that every parent thinks their child is gifted. I am sure you believe this to be true also. There is a difference between bright and gifted. I know for a fact that each teacher at that school puts in their best effort each day. We do not work for our measly paychecks and vacation time. ALL teachers work during their vacation time to prepare lessons and worry about their children’s wellbeing. If we were able to be at the school during our vacation time to prepare, we would be and you still would have the audacity to complain about what we do. Many parents think we are glorified babysitters, well come and sit in our rooms and take over. By all means if you think you could do better, two words … home school.

#10.1.1 Moved one year ago on 07/25/10 at 09:13 AM [Reply]

If the school system would have check my son's records, they would have seen that he had passed all 5 CRT test last year with exceeding at his old school and this year, guess what same thing. Humm.. Plus all A's 2 years in a row, to include Bethlehem Elementary. So how is it my fault that You the teacher fail to do your job? Like I said, In it for the money and benefits. See Barrow county even the teachers admit it!!! I don't send my child to school to be disciplined, I send him to learn, not teach. Do YOUR JOb that you are PAID to do and stop relying on the Bright kids to pick up YOUR slack!

#10.1.1.1 hey lady on 07/25/10 at 03:33 PM [Reply]

Hey lady,
you missed what that teacher was saying and you must be an idiot to believe any teacher does it for the money and benefits. My child had to score 98% or higher on the ITBS to even be considered for gifted and from what I understand that is State and Federal regulations. Since you didn't mention that it only tells us that you have no idea what it takes to be in the gifted program. It's not like they are trying to keep children out of the gifted program. Straight A's doesn't get your child in the program.

#10.1.1.1.1 Anonymous on 08/02/10 at 12:32 PM [Reply]

You are WRONG! I have a child that is in Scope and has been since 2nd grade. My younger child that attends Bramlett seemed bored last year. I asked his teacher twice last year if he had been tested for Scope and she told me that SHE didn't select him to be tested. It is not only based on the ITBS. Yes, that is a factor, but there are other tests also. I had to go above the teacher to the principal. My oldest started at Russell today and I'm sick to my stomach. Based on what I have read here, my instinct telling me to pull him and take him to Gwinnett are correct.

#11 She told you so on 07/23/10 at 05:28 PM [Reply]

I know Ms Kelley had some issues with finances, but she was 100% correct about our schools. I hope Mr.Dunn will reach out to her for a her ideas and not let the other Board members intimadate him in not doing what has to be done to get this thing turned around. The other BOE members do not have the courage to rock the boat!!!!

#11.1 Johnny on 07/23/10 at 11:13 PM [Reply]

Those financial issues she has are what make her completely unsuited for a position on the BOE. From her comments to the readers of this newspaper, it would appear that she is not emotionally equipped to stand up to the scrutiny that comes with that position. The BOE is fortunate that the voters of her district chose not to vote for her.

#12 Jimmy New on 07/24/10 at 10:14 PM [Reply]

No you are all wrong the schools need to demand less in school supplies the parents buy for their children. There is way to much money spent by the parents on school supplies. I never went through 6 packs of notebook paper,folders with clasp(6),two packs of ink pens,two packs of pencils,glue stix. School supplies have become the parents job to supply,wrong. The schools have made it the parents job to supply the supplies the school should be. There are children that live close to one school but have to go to another schoolfarther away. If a child lives a mile an a half from Auburn Ele.. The child has to go all the way to Yargo Ele.. That is very stupid of the Board of Education to start with. I think the Board needs to have their heads examined to see what has stopped working in it.

#12.1 Anonymous on 07/25/10 at 12:32 PM [Reply]

You get what you vote for, and it seems the citizens of Barrow voted in all the complacent incumbents. Get ready for the schools to fail AYP again next year.

#13 Joy Carey on 07/25/10 at 02:57 AM [Reply]

From what I have read and know-- There are 3 requirements of a successful AYP--Reading, Mathematics, and Attendance. The failing school your child attends is to offer after school programs/tutoring to help improve students academics. Also, you are to be given the option to attend a school that is passing under the NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND ACT.

Please read this below:

Title I schools that do not meet AYP for two consecutive years are placed in "School Improvement Status" and must offer alternative school attendance opportunities to students within their schools. If these same schools do not make AYP for three consecutive years, they must offer both alternative school attendance opportunities and opportunities for students to increase their learning outside of school time. If those schools miss AYP for a fourth consecutive year, they are designated as being in "Corrective Action" and must choose among strategies outlined by NCLB. A fifth year of missing AYP results in a restructuring planning year when the school is shut down, and then a sixth year of missing AYP requires that the restructuring plan be implemented.[9]. NCLB restructuring options include:
Chartering: Closing and reopening as a public charter school.

Reconstitution: Replacing school staff, including the principal, relevant to the failure in the school.

Contracting: contracting with an outside entity to operate the school.

State takeovers: turning the school operations over to the state education agency.

Any Other: engaging in another form of major restructuring that makes fundamental reforms. [14]

This is my opinion, I do believe that we have some good caring teachers, I think a lot of them are stressed at different times by what the state requires them to do and what time frame it needs to be done in. Students now are being taught a grade ahead in everything it seems. I, myself would have a difficult time passing. I do believe our children have to have that special connection with their teacher plus their teaching style and if they don't they will not succeed sometimes.

#14 Jimmy New on 07/26/10 at 08:50 PM [Reply]

Well Hell Barrow county has gone to hell in a hand basket. The school system really sucks. When you live close to a school they send your kids across the county to another. instead of the one closet to you. The Board of Education does some of the stupidst shit. I think they all need to take a pay cut.

#15 Anonymous on 07/27/10 at 08:40 AM [Reply]

Part of the problem at Bethlehem Elementary is that instead of hiring the most qualified candidate two years ago for principal, the job was given to the wife of an assistant superintendent. The assistant principal at Yargo would have been the best choice, having led a school that rocks the CRCT each year, but once again PDC politics rules. This is just one reason my children go to BCCA rather than Bethlehem Elem.

#15.1 who dat? on 07/27/10 at 08:33 PM [Reply]

This assistant superintendent, are you talking about the second highest paid person that works for the county? Well heavens no, politics had nothing to do with that appointment (Principal). And I have a bridge for sale. It’s not what you know, it’s who you know…still… in 2010… in Barrow County…

Add Comment

Name
Email
Homepage
In reply to
Comment: E-Mail addresses will not be displayed and will only be used for E-Mail notifications.
To leave a comment you must approve it via e-mail, which will be sent to your address after submission.

To prevent automated Bots from commentspamming, please enter the string you see in the image below in the appropriate input box. Your comment will only be submitted if the strings match. Please ensure that your browser supports and accepts cookies, or your comment cannot be verified correctly.

Enter the string from the spam-prevention image above:
Phone*

What is eight minus four?
: Remember Information? Subscribe to this entry
: Submitted comments will be subject to moderation before being displayed.

School system fails to meet AYP

Barrow Journal

School system fails to meet AYP

Recent Stories

Recent Comments

This Week's Poll

Sister Sites

Archives

Community

Keyword Tags