| By Bob Weaver
It's been fascinating trying to make sense of the West Virginia Department of Education's latest performance model being applying to West Virginia schools.
A Calhoun educator described it as a formula which seems to skew some school's performances, very detailed and confusing.
David Hedges, publisher of Spencer Newspapers, says under the new system, Roane County schools are faring well, some deemed Success Schools, although actual test scores on WESTEST fell, creating an effect proclaimed by Prairie Home Companion's Lake Wobegon, "Where all the children are above average."
The actual WESTEST results have not been made available to the Hur Herald from the WVDE or Calhoun Schools, although Spencer Newspapers obtained a copy for Roane County some weeks ago, which lists results in grades 3-11, making comparisons to the previous year.
"This year, instead of focusing so much on proficiency, its how much students have grown," said WVDE spokesperson Liza Cordeiro.
The WV Department of Education's new system to monitor performance in the state's schools is centered on improvement, not on the former cut-line fail or pass system used for a number of year's, mandated by the nationwide No Child Left Behind.
Few educators were happy with No Child Left Behind, saying it was based on teaching to a test, and had little to do with a student's ability to learn basic skills in obtaining an education.
West Virginia, along with most states received a waiver from the NCLB standards, creating their own evaluation system.
Calhoun Superintendent of Schools Roger Propst says there was some confusion in defining the new standards with data.
For example, the WVDE advised Calhoun Middle-High School that WESTEST identified the school as a Transitional School, but days later the WVDE showed the school as being a Support School, dropping two notches.
WVDE spokesperson Liza Cordeiro said it has been corrected, "The school is no longer under review and is a Transitional School. As part of the review and appeals process it was discovered that there was a data entry issue with one student. We did not identify the error until after the original release, but the situation was remedied."
The state's web site said that Calhoun-Middle High School had a poor standing in Proficiency, a standing less than the lowest scoring school in the state. But that has since been changed.
George Washington High School in Kanawha County had the highest WESTEST results in the state, but was ranked lowly as a Support School, but after an appeal from the principal was then ranked as a Success School.
According to the Annie E. Casey Foundation's 2013 KIDS COUNT® Data Book, West Virginia's education system ranks 47th (or 4th worst) in the nation for the second straight year.
WHERE CALHOUN SCHOOLS STAND IN RATINGS
CALHOUN MIDDLE-HIGH SCHOOL, designated as a Transition School, did not meet the target index, did not meet at least 50% targets in math and reading, but did meet the participation rate index.
A Transition School means that the majority of student groups
have met the annual academic goals in mathematics and English/language arts or the school has reached its goals in attendance or graduations rates, student academic
growth, student success on WESTEST 2, and learning gaps between student groups.
The school and students will receive additional support. The majority of services will be led by
the local school district, with support from the Regional Education Service Agency (RESA) and
the West Virginia Department of Education.
PROFICIENCY (35% of the index) How many kids at grade level expectations today.
Calhoun Middle-High School earned 34.94% of the possible points.
The State average was 45.1253% for high schools.
The highest scoring high school earned 73.1759%
The lowest scoring high school earned 20.8333%.
ACHIEVEMENT GAPS CLOSED (20% of the index) How many kids at grade level expectations today.
Calhoun Middle-High School earned 48.85% of the possible points.
The State average was 57.0334% for high schools.
The highest scoring high school earned 98.7959%.
The lowest scoring high school earned 28.1682%.
OBSERVED GROWTH (5% of the index)
How much students are improving no matter where they start.
Calhoun Middle-High School school earned 39.60% of the possible points.
The State average was 49.9574% for high schools.
The highest scoring high school earned 100%.
The lowest scoring high school earned 6.25%.
ADEQUATE GROWTH (10% of the index)
How close students are from reaching their grade level expectations.
Calhoun Middle-High School earned 17.50% of the possible points.
The State average was 34.6522% for high schools.
The highest scoring high school earned 95%.
The lowest scoring high school earned 0%.
GRADUATION RATE (30% of the index)
Calhoun Middle-High School earned 83.27% of the possible points.
The State average was 80.8129% for high schools.
The highest scoring high school earned 100%.
The lowest scoring high school earned 46.45%.
TOTAL INDEX SCORING (out of 100)
Calhoun Middle-High School earned 45.33% of the possible points.
The State average was 55.3611% for high schools.
The highest scoring high school earned 88.3033%.
The lowest scoring high school earned 32.033%.
PLEASANT HILL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL has been designated as a Success School. The school met Index Target, and met at least 50% of targets in Math and Reading, and met Participation Rate Index.
A Success School means the the majority of student groups have
met the annual academic goals in mathematics and English/language arts; the school has reached its goals in attendance or graduations rates, student academic growth, student success on WESTEST 2, and learning gaps between student groups are
small, and did meet target index, but did meet at least 50% of targets in math and reading, and did meet participation rate index.
PROFICIENCY (40% of the index)
How many kids at grade level expectations today.
Pleasant Hill School earned 45.57% of the possible points.
The State average was 46.4622% for elementary schools.
The highest scoring elementary school earned 91.5493%.
The lowest scoring elementary school earned 18.2927%.
ACHIEVEMENT GAPS CLOSED (20% of the index)
How much the school has closed its achievement gap between groups of students.
Pleasant Hill School earned 85.95% of the possible points.
The State average was 59.5104% for elementary schools.
The highest scoring elementary school earned 100%.
The lowest scoring elementary school earned 24.3%.
OBSERVED GROWTH (15% of the index)
How much students are improving no matter where they start.
Pleasant Hill School earned 93.73% of the possible points.
The State average was 56.1693% for elementary schools.
The highest scoring elementary school earned 100%.
The lowest scoring elementary school earned 12.5%.
ADEQUATE GROWTH (20% of the index)
How close students are from reaching their grade level expectations.
Pleasant Hill School earned 60.00% of the possible points.
The State average was 47.5674% for elementary schools.
The highest scoring elementary school earned 100%.
The lowest scoring elementary school earned 0%.
ATTENDANCE RATE (5% of the index)
Pleasant Hill School earned 98.40% of the possible points.
The State average was 97.8618% for elementary schools.
The highest scoring elementary school earned 99.9737%.
The lowest scoring elementary school earned 88.7491%.
TOTAL INDEX SCORE(out of 100)
Pleasant Hill Schoolearned 64.03% of the possible points.
The State average was 50.9173% for elementary schools.
The highest scoring elementary school earned 99.2341%.
The lowest scoring elementary school earned 11.1845%.
ARNOLDSBURG ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, designated as a Transition School, did not meet target index, did meet 50% of targets in math and reading, and did meet participation rate index.
A Transition School means that the majority of student groups
have met the annual academic goals in mathematics and English/language arts or the school has reached its goals in attendance or graduations rates, student academic
growth, student success on WESTEST 2, and learning gaps between student groups.
The school and students will receive additional support. The majority of services will be led by
the local school district, with support from the Regional Education Service Agency (RESA) and
the West Virginia Department of Education.
PROFICIENCY (40% of the index)
How many kids at grade level expectations today.
Arnoldsburg School earned 52.63% of the possible points.
The State average was 46.4622% for elementary schools.
The highest scoring elementary school earned 91.5493%.
The lowest scoring elementary school earned 18.2927%.
ACHIEVEMENT GAPS CLOSED (20% of the index)
How much the school has closed its achievement gap between groups of students.
Arnoldsburg School earned 46.55% of the possible points.
The State average was 59.5104% for elementary schools.
The highest scoring elementary school earned 100%.
The lowest scoring elementary school earned 24.3%.
OBSERVED GROWTH (15% of the index)
How much students are improving no matter where they start.
Arnoldsburg School earned 21.87% of the possible points.
The State average was 56.1693% for elementary schools.
The highest scoring elementary school earned 100%.
The lowest scoring elementary school earned 12.5%.
ADEQUATE GROWTH (20% of the index)
How close students are from reaching their grade level expectations.
Arnoldsburg School earned 37.50% of the possible points.
The State average was 47.5674% for elementary schools.
The highest scoring elementary school earned 100%.
The lowest scoring elementary school earned 0%.
ATTENDANCE RATE (5% of the index)
Arnoldsburg School earned 97.80% of the possible points.
The State average was 97.8618% for elementary schools.
The highest scoring elementary school earned 99.9737%.
The lowest scoring elementary school earned 88.7491%.
TOTAL INDEX SCORE (out of 100)
Arnoldsburg School earned 47.19% of the possible points.
The State average was 50.9173% for elementary schools.
The highest scoring elementary school earned 99.2341%.
The lowest scoring elementary school earned 11.1845%.
See CALHOUN MIDDLE-HIGH SCHOOL SHOWING PROGRESS AS TRANSITION SCHOOL - "CM-HS Among Top 15 Most Improved"
KIDS COUNT RATES WV'S COUNTY-BY-COUNTY READING PROBLEMS - Calhoun Ranks Near Bottom 2011-12 Westest Scoring, Statewide 7 Of 10 4th Graders Not Proficient
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