Rockingham school plan addresses poor performance : News-Record.com : Greensboro & the Triad's most trusted source for local news and analysis

Officials with Rockingham County Schools are aiming toward gains in academic performance among girls, minorities and low-income students. The effort is part of the district’s focus on science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM.

Superintendent Rodney Shotwell told the school board during its meeting Monday night that by reaching out to these three demographic groups the district will reach many of its students.

“In the past, they’ve been, maybe, not encouraged as much to enter those (STEM) fields,” Shotwell said. “And quite frankly, that’s where the biggest job growth is going to be.”

The program’s goals for 2014 include:

Increasing the percent proficient from 5 percent to 25 percent of those completing Algebra I by the end of eighth grade.
Increasing the percent proficient from 51 percent to 85 percent of those completing Algebra I by the end of ninth grade.
Increasing the percent proficient from 42 percent to 75 percent of those completing the eighth-grade science end-of-grade test.
Increasing the percent participating in advanced-placement math and science classes from 7 percent to 25 percent at every high school.

The goals are considerable considering a recent report found that more than 30 percent of all Rockingham County high school students failed at least one class last year.

Shotwell said he believes the STEM focus can engage those students by capturing their imaginations, offering hands-on learning and connecting that with career opportunities.

To do that, the district is setting up a partnership with local colleges and businesses, in which students will be able to get more of a hands-on application of what they’re learning in class.

Twenty students every summer also will participate in the robotics program held at N.C. A&T.

The focus is being made possible in part by a $325,000 Golden LEAF grant.

Contact J. Brian Ewing at 627-4881, Ext. 120, or brian.ewing@news-record.com

jeffreyhsykes

September 27, 2011 - 8:20 am EDT

I fully support this initiative by Dr. Shotwell and the school board. It sounds like a rational plan to focus on the fundamentals of the new economy.

Shotwell is a strong leader and I can only hope the school board can find ways to engage as many parents as possible to involve their children with the STEM initiative.

Not all families here are devoted to their children's academic success. We as a community should work toward developing a tradition of success within the mindset of the populous.

HotRodLincoln

September 27, 2011 - 12:49 pm EDT

The last paragraph is imperative.

rcvx2

September 27, 2011 - 2:31 pm EDT

Shotwell ? Who is that? Oh, the superintendent that, according to his office, isn't available to speak to parents ?
I guess someone needs to refresh his memory on who pays his salary and if any parent has an issue that can't be resolved through the normal channels, then he should spare a few minutes of his time and assist the parents that he works for.

Also, a large majority of the educators and administrators in the Rockingham County school system really
don't care if these children succeed or fail. It's all about the numbers game and the summer vacations or promotions. I am a parent of 2 students so I see it first hand everyday. And if you have a child in one of our 4 high schools, you better hope and pray that they are athletic so they can get the school on the front page of 4 a page flyer called a newspaper. They'll bend over backwards to help these students. But, if you're not one of them, or the child of a local 10 cent millionaire, your child is at a disadvantage from the start. All the initiatives in the world won't change this !!

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