news-record.com

GREENSBORO -- Guilford County schools showed a marked improvement in their student performance last school year, according to preliminary testing data released today.

Among the improvements, two schools posted 100 percent proficiency, 13 posted scores of more than 90 percent and 19 schools earned significant gains by increasing their scores by five points or more.

The preliminary results come from the 2010-11 End-of-Grade (EOG) and End-of-Course (EOC) tests.

Overall, Guilford County Schools gained 1.3 percentage points for a total performance composite of 74.5 percent. According to the data, 48 schools showed growth of more than two points. Only one school remained below 50 percent, a marked improvement since the 2007-08 school year when there were 30 schools with performance scores below 50 percent. GCS reduced this number to 15 in 2008-09 and then to six in 2009-10.

Of the 13 schools that achieved achievement scores of more than 90 percent, two schools – Brown Summit Middle and The Early College at Guilford – earned a perfect 100. The other schools earning above 90 percent were The Middle College at GTCC-Greensboro; The Academy at Smith; Oak Ridge Elementary; Weaver Academy; Greensboro College Middle College; Kernodle Middle; Northwest Middle; Summerfield Elementary; Northwest High; Brooks Global Studies; and Southwest Elementary.

The number of schools with performance scores above the 80 percent mark has more than doubled in three years. The preliminary results show 43 schools with scores above 80 percent while there were only 17 in 2007-08.

“Our students, staff and parents have much to be proud of,” Superintendent Maurice “Mo” Green said in a news release. “We begin each school year confident that our students will be equipped with the skills they need to do well academically, and it’s rewarding to see the test results at the end of the year to prove it.”

Of the 19 schools that increased their scores by five or more points, four saw their scores go from below 50 percent to above 50 percent. Union Hill Elementary, Foust Elementary, Wiley Elementary and Oak Hill Elementary each posted gains of nine percentage points or more.

Oak Hill, which three years ago had one of the lowest performance scores in the state, made the largest gains of the district. Oak Hill’s scores brought its performance from 45.8 percent to 65.2 percent, an increase of 19.4 percentage points.

Oak Hill was selected for a $2.9 million School Improvement Grant and made drastic reforms under the turnaround model, which required the district to replace the principal and at least half of the school’s staff. Since 2008-09, Oak Hill has improved its reading scores by 23.7 percentage points, its math scores by 40.4 points and its science scores by 58.3 points.

“These results show what you can accomplish when you set high expectations, not only for students but for everyone in the building,” said Principal Patrice Faison. “The Western Region office and the district’s academic services departments provided constant support throughout the year. They helped our teachers make sure they had the skills and resources needed to make the most out of their lessons.

“We worked closely with parents to make them active partners in the process,” she said. “Volunteers and business partners also played a critical role serving as tutors, reading buddies and donating supplies. After our first year of the School Improvement Grant, we’re very proud of the way our students performed.”

Students in grades three through eight take EOG tests in reading, math and science and have the opportunity to retest if needed. EOC tests are given to middle and high school students in seven subject areas.

To view the full preliminary results, visit http://www.gcsnc.com/eog-eoc2010-11.