Local schools dip below state
Rome and Floyd system officials plan to use the CCRPI data to determine what areas need work.
Overall, College and Career Ready Performance Index scores for Rome and Floyd County are below the state average, but local high schools are averaging better, according to the report for the 2014-2015 school year released Tuesday by the Georgia Department of Education.
Rome had an overall score of 72.6 and Floyd an overall score of 71.4. The state had an overall score of 75.5.
Rome High scored a 76.6 and Floyd’s overall high schools score was 79.6, with Armuchee and Model high schools both beating the state average with 89.8 and 79.6, respectively.
The CCRPI was implemented in 2012 to replace the Adequate Yearly Progress measurement used under No Child Left Behind.
It measures schools and school districts on a 100-point scale, helping parents and the public better understand how schools are performing in a more comprehensive manner than the pass/ fail system previously in place under AYP.
Both systems’ elementary schools averaged lower than the state’s 76.0, with Rome averaging a 69.2 and Floyd a 71.4.
Rome Middle School received a 77.6, higher than the state average of 71.2, but Floyd’s middle schools averaged lower with a 61.4.
Floyd County’s primary schools were not given a CCRPI score because the Georgia Milestones, a component of the CCRPI score, starts at third grade and the primary schools only house pre-K through second grade.
Also, the state DOE officials warned that it is impossible to make a direct comparison with scores from the 20132014 school year because there have been multiple changes made to the assessment.
Georgia Milestones is the testing system used in the current scores and the Criterion Referenced Competency Tests were used during previous years. Also, the point system has changed greatly.
School officials weigh in
During previous years, student progress was worth 25 points. Now the progress component is worth 40 points, making it a little less than half of the score.
“Students have a growth target,” explained Dawn Williams, director of test administration at Rome City Schools. “They compare different levels of student performance, as well, to make it more realistic. High achievers are compared to other high achievers in similar systems across the state, for example.”
However, students, no matter what level they are on, must show progress.
“A high-achieving student, are they growing?” said Tim Hensley, assistant to the superintendent of Floyd County Schools. “Or maybe you have a student who isn’t performing at level, but their growth level is strong. That makes a difference in scores.”
Fifty of the points come from achievement, which includes content mastery, readiness assessment and graduation rates and readiness. Systems are also awarded up to 10 points for other factors, such as how well the lower-performing students are working compared to the state average.
“It’s called an achievement gap,” explained Williams. “There are many factors that go into the score, and it did change a lot for this year. However, we plan to use this as a tool and continue to focus on teaching the students. If you do this, it all works out.”
Hensley said system officials are already breaking down the data they received and are making plans, such as focusing on elementary and middle school levels because those averages were lower than the state.
“We also plan to continue looking deeper into the data, breaking it down by school and even classroom to see what can be expanded on and what needs work,” he said.
Williams said it feels great to see that Rome Middle and Rome High did better than state average.
“It’s something we often see, that the longer students are with us, the better they do,” she said. “When you see all of the elementary schools combine into those schools, it shows how powerful that can be.”
Williams said the CCRPI scores will be used moving forward as school officials work on school improvement plans.
In addition to the CCRPI scoring website, the state DOE created a Georgia Student Growth Model website. Parents may go to the site and follow a series of links to find their child’s school and see how each grade is performing in different subject areas.