Press release [Jan. 25, 2000]

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For Immediate Release
TUESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2000 AT 10:00 AM.
Council reports show little improvement among Georgia's low-performing schools
ATLANTA Georgia's lowest performing schools have shown little improvement over the past year, according to analysis released today by the Council for School Performance, which is housed in the Applied Research Center of Georgia State University.
Using selected criteria from three years of the Council's School Performance Reports, the Council identified 88 elementary, middle, and high schools that have consistently performed poorly over the last three years--1996-97, 199798, and 1998-99. Sixty-two of the schools appeared on a similar list released last March. Georgia has a total of approximately 1,800 elementary, middle, and high schools.
"This analysis shows that many of the same schools perform poorly year after year. Releasing their names to the public is not enough--these schools need extensive, focused technical assistance, or their student achievement will continue to stagnate," said Dr. Gary T. Henry, research director of the Council for School Performance and director of the Applied Research Center.
Based on selected test scores, absenteeism, and dropout rates, 41 elementary schools, 40 middle schools, and 7 high schools are considered low-performing, from 1996-97 through 1998-99. To appear on the list, schools had to fall below all of the criteria every year, for the past three years.
Council chair and BellSouth Director of Community Affairs Pat Willis remarked, "The Council's analysis shows the critical need for an accountability system that establishes meaningful standards by which state and local policymakers can measure progress. Schools consistently performing poorly will require targeted assistance to help them improve toward expected standards."
To determine if a school was considered low-performing, the Council for School Performance selected criteria based on available data for each school level. For elementary schools, the criteria included having fewer than 50% of the school's 3rd and 5th graders score above the national median on ITBS reading and math tests and having an absentee rate above that of the typical Georgia elementary school. For middle schools, the criteria included having fewer than 50% of the 8th graders score above the national median on ITBS reading and math, if the percentage scoring well on the 8th grade writing assessment fell below the state median; and if the absenteeism rate was higher than that of the typical middle school. The criteria for high schools included having a passing rate below the state median on each of the high school graduation tests, having less than 50% of 11th graders above the national median on the SAT, and having absentee and dropout rates above those of the typical Georgia high school. Schools were "low-performing" if they fell below all of the criteria each year for the past three years.
These findings were compiled from the fifth annual Council for School Performance School Performance Reports, report cards for 1,836 Georgia schools, and from previous Council reports. Parents, teachers, and school administrators can use these impartial and accurate reports to assess a school's performance on over 50 indicators, including teacher development, school safety, and academic preparation. In the coming weeks, performance reports on school systems will be released as well.
Those interested in their school's performance should contact their school principals or PTA/PTO presidents, or access the Council for School Performance reports at http://arcweb.gsu.edu/csp/csp_schools.htm.
Low Performance Criteria Used in Analysis of 1996-97, 1997-98, and 1998-99
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Reading Test (less than 50% of students above national median)
Writing Test (school score below state median school score) Graduation Tests (school score below state median school score)
Math Test (less than 50% of students above national median)
Chronic absenteeism (school score above state median on percent of students missing 10 or more days of school per year) Drop-out rate (school rate higher than state median)

ES 3rd & 5th Grades ITBS
NA NA 3rd & 5th Grades ITBS

MS
8th Grade ITBS
8th Grade % Good or Very Good NA
8th Grade ITBS

HS
SAT (combined reading and
math)
11th Grade % Passing
11th Grade % Passing
SAT (combined reading and
math)

Grades k-5

Grades 6-8

Grades 9-12

NA

NA

Grades 9-12

Number of Schools receiving Performance Reports in 1998-99
Schools failing to meet all criteria in 1998-99
Schools failing to meet all criteria for 3 consecutive years (1996-97, 1997-98, 1998-99)

How Many Schools Fail to Meet Criteria?
Elementary Schools

Middle Schools

High Schools

Total

1166

411

319 1896

Number Percent of
Schools
Number

130 11.1%
41

71 17.3%
40

36 11.3%

237 12.5%

7

88

Percent of Schools

3.5%

9.8%

2.8% 4.6%

Enrollment

27,357

33,987

6,802 68,146

Schools with Low Performance on all Criteria in 1996-97, 1997-98, & 1998-99

41 Elementary Schools (5 Criteria) Atlanta City: Anderson Park ES* Atlanta City: Blalock Alfred ES* Atlanta City: Cook ES* Atlanta City: Jones M. Agnes ES* Atlanta City: Mitchell ES* Atlanta City: Toomer Fred A. ES* Atlanta City: Williams A.D. ES Butts County: Jackson ES* Chattooga County: Pennville ES Clarke County: Oglethorpe Ave. ES Clayton County: Anderson ES* Clayton County: Edmonds ES*

40 Middle Schools (4 Criteria) Atlanta City: Coan Sammye E. MS* Atlanta City: Kennedy John MS* Atlanta City: King MS* Atlanta City: Long MS* Atlanta City: Marshall Thurgood MS* Atlanta City: Price MS* Atlanta City: Sylvan Hills MS* Atlanta City: Turner MS* Atlanta City: West Fulton MS* Bacon County: Bacon Co. MS Berrien County: Berrien MS Bibb County: Ballard Hudson MS*

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Clayton County: Fountain ES* Clayton County: Haynie ES* Clayton County: Huie ES* Clayton County: Northcutt ES Clayton County: Swint ES* Clayton County: Tara ES* Cobb County: Bryant ES* Cobb County: Clay ES* Cobb County: Green Acres ES Cobb County: Norton Park ES* Cook County: Cook ES Coweta County: Eastside Coweta County: Newnan Crossing ES* Dekalb County: Steele Leslie J.* Dekalb County: Terry Mill* Dekalb County: Tilson* Fulton County: Brookview ES Fulton County: Campbell ES* Fulton County: Hapeville ES* Fulton County: Lee Seaborn ES* Fulton County: Palmetto ES Glynn County: Burroughs-Molette ES* Houston County: Stephens Pearl ES* Lamar County: Lamar Co. ES Meriwether County: Luthersville ES Polk County: Goodyear ES Taliaferro County: Taliaferro Co. ES Troup County: Unity ES Troup County: Whitesville Rd. ES

Butts County: Henderson MS* Carroll County: Temple HS* Chattooga County: Pennville ES* Clayton County: Babb MS* Clayton County: Forest Park MS* Clayton County: Kendrick MS Clayton County: North Clayton MS* Clayton County: Riverdale MS* Dekalb County: Avondale HS* Dekalb County: Chapel Hill MS Dekalb County: Clarkston HS* Dekalb County: Columbia HS* Dekalb County: Mcnair Ronald E. MS* Dekalb County: Salem MS* Dekalb County: Towers HS Elbert County: Elbert Co. MS* Fulton County: Woodland MS* Griffin-Spalding County: Kelsey Ave. MS* Murray County: Bagley MS* Muscogee County: Baker MS* Muscogee County: Daniel MS* Muscogee County: Eddy MS* Muscogee County: Marshall MS* Pierce County: Pierce Co. MS Randolph County: Randolph-Clay MS* Troup County: Long Cane MS Walton County: Carver MS* Ware County: Ware Co. MS*

7 High Schools** (8 Criteria) Atlanta City: Harper/Archer HS Atlanta City: Therrell HS* Bacon County: Bacon Co. HS Dooly County: Dooly Co. HS Muscogee County: Carver HS Magnet* Randolph County: Randolph-Clay HS* Washington County: Washington Co. HS

Notes * Indicates the school was on the list of low performing schools based on 1996-97,1997-98, & 1998-99 **This analysis included all five high school graduation tests.

Schools No Longer on List of Low-Performing Schools based on 1996-97,1997-98, & 1998-99 Analysis Elementary Schools
Bibb County: Bruce Charles H. ES Bryan County: Bryan Co. ES Carroll County: Sand Hill ES Cherokee County: Tippens Lee R. ES
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Clarke County: Cleveland Rd. ES Clarke County: Fowler Dr. ES Clayton County: Church Street ES Clayton County: Lee Street ES Clayton County: West Clayton ES Dekalb County: Alexander Hooper Dekalb County: Avondale ES Dekalb County: Peachcrest Hall County: Lyman Hall ES Polk County: Eastside ES Richmond County: Hephzibah ES
Middle Schools Ben Hill County: Ben Hill Co. MS Bibb County: Mcevoy MS Carroll County Schools : Villa Rica High School (8th Grade only)* Clinch County: Clinch Co. HS Cobb County: Campbell MS Coweta County: Central MS Harris County: Harris Co. Carver MS Polk County: Cedar Hill MS Telfair County: Telfair Co. MS Thomasville City: Macintyre Park MS Walker County: Rossville MS
High Schools** Atlanta City: Southside HS Baldwin County: Baldwin HS Clayton County: North Clayton HS Decatur County: Bainbridge HS Jefferson County: Jefferson Co. HS Walker County: Ridgeland HS
Notes * In 1997-98, this school had grades 8-12. In 1998-99 this school had grades 9-12. ** This analysis included all five high school graduation tests.
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