More schools statewide praised for making achievement progress

By Diette Courrégé
The Post and Courier
Saturday, April 12, 2008

Fewer Lowcountry schools were recognized for closing the achievement gap while more schools statewide were honored for doing so, according to results released Friday by the South Carolina Education Oversight Committee.

Fewer Charleston and Dorchester 2 District schools decreased the gap for at least one historically underachieving group, which includes black, Hispanic or low-income students.  Berkeley County maintained the number of schools reducing the gap.

Statewide, 16 percent or 141 elementary and middle schools narrowed the gap based on 2007 English and math scores on the state Palmetto Achievement Challenge Test, according to the committee's sixth annual report.  In both 2006 and 2007, about one-third of all students scored at a proficient or advanced level on the English and math tests, and roughly one-fourth of students failed the same tests both years.

David Potter, research director for the committee, said the achievement levels of students have been relatively flat for the past few years, and those need to be increasing for students to be competitive.  The lack of growth also can be seen in the achievement gap, which didn't change much, he said. That is a big problem, and it means the state needs to rethink the way it's providing education for its students, he said.  "When you have a low-achieving group and your goal is to catch up, they have to move faster," he said. "We need to be looking at what we can do to raise the achievement."

Springfield Elementary School Principal Jacqueline Dinge was surprised and excited to learn that her West Ashley school was one of the local schools being honored for closing the gap for its low-income students in math.  "Our teachers will be jumping up and down when I announce this in a few minutes," she said when told of the news late Friday. "They take this very seriously. This is a big, big recognition for the efforts of our staff. We're real proud of them."

Teachers work to ensure lessons are tailored to the needs of specific children, and students are taught in different groups based on their skills for reading and math, she said. The school has implemented motivational programs, such as a limo ride for fifth- graders or lunch on the school's stage for younger students, to encourage students to do their best on standardized tests, she said. "We just celebrate learning," she said.  Fifth grade was moved back to elementary schools in West Ashley last year, and Dinge said research shows a change such as that often is accompanied by a drop in scores. She thought it would be difficult to make the needed gains to be recognized by the state, and she's excited to learn the school made it, she said.

Schools will be honored for their achievements on Monday. One of the schools chosen to make a presentation to the state committee was Sanders-Clyde Elementary in downtown Charleston. The school made strong progress for its black and low-income students in English and math.

Dana Yow, director of communications for the committee, said the state chooses schools from different parts of the state to present every year. Sanders-Clyde has been recognized for closing the gap for three years, despite it's high rate of student poverty. Nearly all of its students are low-income, and she said the committee wants to hear about the strategies the school is uses to serve its population successfully.

Area PACT achievers The following Lowcountry schools were recognized for closing the achievement gap based on their English or math results from the 2007 state Palmetto Achievement Challenge Test. BERKELEY Marrington Elementary* Howe Hall Arts Infused Magnet Sangaree Intermediate Hanahan Elementary Westview Primary CHARLESTON Harbor View Elementary Minnie Hughes Elementary Jennie Moore Elementary Dunston Elementary Sanders-Clyde Elementary Springfield Elementary St. Andrew's School of Math & Science Stiles Point Elementary Ashley River Creative Arts Buist Academy* Charleston School of the Arts Pinckney Elementary DORCHESTER 2 R.H. Rollings Middle Newington Elementary Flowertown Elementary Oakbrook Elementary Windsor Hill Elementary * Schools recognized for six consecutive years.

Reach Diette Courrégé at dcourrege@postandcourier.com. or 937-5546
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