Wheeler, ECMS Principals Explain AYP Results

The following are the full texts of letters sent out to the  and communities by their respective principals, David Chiprany and Tiffany M. Honoré. This week Wheeler, ECMS and and elementary schools were among the 30 Cobb schools that fell short of Adequate Yearly Progress benchmarks for student achievement. 

As East Cobb Patch reported Thursday, Wheeler of AYP in only one category, overall graduation rate, and would have passed the 85 percent state minimum with one more graduating senior.

In the Wheeler letter, Chiprany explains the complicated formula and raised thresholds of the AYP, which schools must report yearly under federal No Child Left Behind mandates.

He also outlined how the Wheeler administration will work to improve the school's graduation rate.

Honoré also stated in her letter that summer retesting "will assist [ECMS] in reaching the bar" in areas that did not meet state criteria.

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Hello Wheeler Family. I hope this message finds you well.

As many of you know, Wheeler High School did not meet the minimum requirement for graduation rate this year of 85 percent. Wheeler’s graduation rate for the 2011 school year was 84.7 percent and our multiyear average was 84.93 percent. With that said the final tally for graduation rate is not complete until the summer graduates arecalculated in the formula and this does not put us on the Needs Improvement List. A large number of our seniors who did not receive their diploma this spring are attending summer school. We are anticipating a good number of seniors to earn their diploma this summer. This will hopefully push our rate over 85 percent when the final calculations are complete this fall. However, I feel it is important that you, the community understand how the formula works and outline what Wheeler will continue to do to improve our graduation rate.

The Georgia Department of Education (GDOE) minimum percent allowed for this year’s graduation rate was 85 percent. In other words, 85 percent or more of our students who were identified as freshman during the 2008 school year had to graduate with a regular diploma during the 2011 school year. The GDOE graduation rate formula is calculated by dividing the number of graduates with a regular diploma by the number of drops-outs and completers (regular education diplomas, special education students, and certificate of attendance). For calculation purposes, a student earning a regular diploma does not include a student who earns a special education diploma, a GED, or a certificate of attendance (passed all classes but did not pass one or more of the graduation tests).

The GDOE also allows a second way to calculate graduation rate called multiyear average. This is calculated by taking the number of graduates for the past three years and dividing them by the total number of students the GDOE identified as “should have” graduated in the past three years.

This year, we had 399 students graduate with a regular diploma against 471 total students, which equals 84.7 percent. Our multiyear average rate was 84.93 percent (1167 graduates divided by 1374 total students). Of special note, out of the 72 students who counted against Wheeler for the 2011 school year, 25 students withdrew from Wheeler in 2007 and 2008 and 9 students began high school during the 2005 school year or earlier. Students who withdraw from Wheeler and we receive proof of attendance at another high school do not count against our graduation rate. Our staff does an outstanding job of tracking all students. For a sense of where Wheeler has been in the past with graduation rate, the following table shows our graduation rate (by percentage) for the past 9 years, including our current rate.

* -- Does not include 2011 summer graduates

As we move forward, we will continue to support and mentor all students to stay in school. Our counselors and school social worker will continue to conference with students at all grade levels about attendance concerns and the importance of staying in school. At-risk seniors will continue to be linked with a teacher and administrator to provide guidance and motivation throughout the year. We will ramp up efforts to build relationships and maintain the lines of communication with parents at all grade levels to help us keep their child motivated. It will take all of us to meet the graduation rate as it moves to 90 percent for the 2012 school year.

What about the rest of the AYP report? Our Graduation Test Scores were excellent this year. Our overall math score was 91.7 percent meet/exceeds. This is an increase of 7 percentage points from last year and well over the state minimum percent of 81.2 percent meeting/exceeding. Our overall language arts score was 94 percent which is consistent with last year and well over the state minimum percent of 90.8 percent meeting/exceeds.

In closing, I am extremely proud of the teachers, students and you, the parents for the many academic and athletic accomplishments during the 2011 school year. I am looking forward to a great 2012 school year. We look forward to seeing you at “Wildcat Daze.”

David Thomas Chiprany

“Proud” Principal of Wheeler High School

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Dear East Cobb Middle School Family, 

CRCT results have been released and preliminary results for Adequate Yearly Progress or AYP have been reported. Unfortunately, East Cobb Middle School did not meet all of the AYP benchmarks for the initial report. However, we anticipate that the eighth grade retest results, when added in this fall, will assist us in reaching the bar. Let's review how a school makes AYP. Schools must meet the criteria in all areas. 

Participation:

95% of all students and all subgroups must participate in testing. Results – East Cobb met this requirement.  

Academic Performance:

-- A. Reading and English Language Arts - 80% of all students and subgroups continuously enrolled must have  met or exceed standards. Results – 91% of all students met this requirement. Most subgroups (Black, Hispanic, White, Multi-Racial, English Language Learners, Economically Disadvantaged students) met this requirement.

-- B. Math - 75.7% of all students and subgroups continuously enrolled must meet standards. Results - 77% of all students met this requirement. Several subgroups (Hispanic, Students with Disabilities, English Language Learners, Economically Disadvantaged students) had difficulty meeting this requirement. 

Second Indicator:  

Schools need to show progress in school attendance or have fewer than 15% of the students absent 15 days or less. Results - 8% of our students were absent over 15 days. 

As you can see, East Cobb Middle School met part of the criteria (Reading/ELA, Participation, Attendance); however, we continue to have difficulty with some of our subgroups meeting the bar for math.

Again, we anticipate that retest data, which has yet to be added, will help us meet the math criteria. 

East Cobb Middle has made AYP for five consecutive years earning Title I Distinguished Schools Status in 2010. We are hopeful that the next reporting for AYP this fall will show more positive results. 

In the meantime, we will continue our focus on improving the academic achievement instead of numbers. Quality instruction, monitoring of student learning, and additional tutoring opportunities will continue to be a focus. Our theme next year will be “Reenergize, Refocus, and Refine.” We look forward to your return, your support, your involvement and your commitment to the education of all students.   

Sincerely, 

Tiffany M. Honoré 

Principal