School District Exceeds State On CCRPI Average

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CANTON, GA -- For the fourth consecutive year, the Cherokee County School District has outperformed the state under the College and Career Ready Performance Index system.

The school district last week released the results of its district wide as well as individual school scores for the 2014-15 school year.

These scores from the system, which assesses student academic achievement and progress, are based upon the first-time administration of Georgia's new Milestones assessment, which students took more than one year ago, the district said.

Cherokee County's average CCRPI score for 2014-15 is 78.2, exceeding the Georgia average of 75.5.

Thirty of the Cherokee County School District's 38 schools evaluated as part of CCRPI earned an average score of 70 or higher for 2014-15, which is an increase of one school from the previous year. Additionally, all district high schools exceeded an average of 79.

• Click here to individual school scores.

"Since the state continues to annually adjust the CCRPI formula, it’s difficult for educators (and parents) to determine how schools are performing on a linear track, as year-to-year gains or losses cannot truly be measured until the metric remains constant," said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian Hightower. "Again this year, the readjusted formula set a higher bar for schools... and, accordingly, has resulted in higher scores for some schools and lower scores for some schools, although the CCSD overall average has increased."

Residents should note the scores are also the measure the proposed Opportunity School District will use for identifying failing schools for state takeover, if a Constitutional amendment on the ballot in November is approved by voters.

While a specific CCRPI score has not been enumerated, the term “failing school” is interpreted by many to be a score of less than 60. The school district had only one school -- Holly Springs Elementary STEM Academy -- to earn such a score with the 2014-15 index, and it was the first time the school had a score of less than 60.

Holly Springs would not be immediately eligible for takeover by the state, since a school has to be labeled as failing for three consecutive years to qualify for takeover, Hightower added.

Hightower stated the district does not wait for CCRPI scores to be released to begin addressing school performance issues, as the Cherokee County School Board's policy already allows an administrative team to take action if necessary.

"We stand ready to intervene if any of our schools are threatened by possible state takeover, and we already have a strong history of directing additional resources and support to our most at-risk schools," he said.

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