Charleston Post & Courier
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
Schools closing the achievement gap
Oakland Elementary among 138 cited

BY MINDY B. HAGEN
The Post and Courier

For 30 minutes each day, students at Charleston County's Oakland Elementary School divide into small groups in which instructors track each child's reading and math skills.  Administrators credit the individualized approach in the school's "march to math" and "walk to read" programs for Oakland's academic success. The West Ashley school was one of 138 schools across the state recognized for narrowing the achievement gap between white students and at least one historically underachieving group, according to a report released Monday by the S.C. Education Oversight Committee.

Historically underachieving groups include blacks, Hispanics and students who receive free or reduced-price lunches. The achievement gap persists as test scores of students in these groups lag behind the scores of white students and those who pay for lunch.  Students can score below-basic, basic, proficient or advanced on the test. The state accountability law says achieving the basic score is sufficient, while the federal No Child Left Behind Act judges performance by proficient and above.

No giving up
At Oakland, black and white students achieved high scores on the Palmetto Achievement Challenge Test in 2005. In the English/language arts portion of the test, nearly 93 percent of white students scored basic or higher; 88 percent tallied scores of basic or higher. Students on free and reduced lunch scored higher than their peers who pay full price for meals, with more than 92 percent of students on subsidized meals scoring basic or higher on the test.

"It shows that we are dedicated to working hard with all of our kids, and we aren't going to give up," Oakland Principal Dietra Brown said.  Students at Oakland are separated into the flexible reading and math groups based on previous assessments and careful analysis of skill levels. A student who proves a proficiency in interpretative comprehension would be assigned to an accelerated team; a student struggling in word study would be grouped with others who need instruction at a slower pace.

Dre'Quan Brown, a third-grader at Oakland, said the small-group format helps him learn. "We have to work hard and do our best in school," Dre'Quan said.


'Sense of urgency'
Although Oakland is making strides, the study by the Education Oversight Committee showed little change statewide in closing the gaps in reading and math achievement between white and black students, or between free- or reduced-lunch students and students who pay full price.  There was no reduction in the 25 percent of students who failed the reading exam or the 25 percent who failed the math in 2005 compared with 2004. In response, the report indicated that schools not on the recognized list must develop strategies to help low-scoring students from all racial and socioeconomic backgrounds.

"We need to have a sense of urgency about this," said David Potter, the oversight committee's director of research. "We aren't going to meet our state's educational goals for all students unless we continue to bring up the scores of students from all groups."  Potter said the report's findings show that academic disparities between groups of students aren't evident just in low-performing schools. Achievement gaps exist even at schools rated "excellent" in the state's rankings, he said.

"All groups of students score higher in higher-rated schools, but there are still consistent gaps in performance," Potter said.


Emphasis on literacy
The report recognized 138 schools, an increase from last year's 132 schools. Locally, 13 Charleston schools, four Berkeley schools and two schools from Dorchester District 2 were cited for progress in reducing the achievement gap. Four Lowcountry schools - Stono Park Elementary and Buist Academy in Charleston, Marrington Elementary in Berkeley and Rollings Middle School of the Arts in Dorchester District 2 - have been on the list for four consecutive years.

Windsor Hill Elementary, a Dorchester District 2 school recognized for the first time this year, saw high scores for black students on the math and reading PACT. Principal Jim Atkinson credited the district's strong emphasis on literacy, but said his school doesn't have a "magic bullet" for fixing the achievement gap.

"We don't single out black kids or Hispanic kids, because we want them all to be successful," Atkinson said. "No one has low expectations for any group of children."

Schools that made the list
Lowcountry schools recognized for narrowing the achievement gap for at least one historically underachieving group:

BERKELEY
-- Westview Middle
-- Marrington Elementary*
-- Marrington Middle
-- Howe Hall Arts Infused Magnet School

CHARLESTON
-- C.C. Blaney Elementary
-- Harbor View Elementary
-- Minnie Hughes Elementary
-- Oakland Elementary
-- Sanders Clyde Elementary
-- Springfield Elementary
-- St. Andrews School of Math and Science
-- Angel Oak Elementary
-- Stono Park Elementary*
-- Mamie Whitesides Elementary
-- Ashley River Creative Arts
-- Buist Academy*
-- Charleston School of the Arts

DORCHESTER 2
-- Rollings Middle School of the Arts*
-- Windsor Hill Elementary

No Dorchester District 4 or Colleton County schools made the list.
*Schools recognized for four consecutive years

Reach Mindy B. Hagen at mhagen@postandcourier.com or 937-5433.

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