State Recognizes Area’s Top Schools
By Beverly A. Carroll, Chattanooga Times/Free Press, Tenn.
Oct. 31–At Battlefield Primary School, teachers evaluate student progress daily, with short quizzes that focus on specific skills. Advanced technology allows teachers to see exactly where a child is having a problem in every subject and at every grade level.
“Five years ago, we used assessment data several times a year to target student weaknesses,” said Sandra Boyles, Battlefield Primary principal. “Now we literally use it every day.”
That technology, combined with excellent teachers is what captured a top prize in the state for student achievement, the second year in a row the Catoosa County elementary school earned the recognition, Dr. Boyles said.
“We were very proud to win this last year, but this year we are really excited to win because we are one of 15 primary schools in the state to win this,” she said.
The award was for meeting and exceeding federal benchmarks for two years in a row and reporting that 96 percent of students met or exceeded state standards.
The school received the platinum award, which is followed by gold, silver and bronze.
Mike Helton, Catoosa County manager, attended a ceremony earlier this week, when Georgia superintendent of schools, Kathy Cox, arrived in a helicopter to present the award.
“(I am here) to acknowledge the work of the staff and students,” Mr. Helton said. “It’s important that the kids see the community support. A lot of people who are moving here are coming because of our schools. We are behind our schools.”
Other Catoosa County schools that were recognized include Graysville Elementary School and Boynton Elementary, which each also received the top honor platinum awards.
Last week, Dade County Middle School celebrated winning the silver award, ranking it as one of seven middle schools to receive the award.
The recognition was a wonderful surprise, principal Karen de Marche said. Her first clue was a box she received. It was from the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement and the only thing inside was a banner with the words “2007 Silver Award, greatest gains, students meeting and exceeding standards.”
“There wasn’t a letter or anything with it,” Ms. de Marche said before the morning before Dade Middle’s Principal’s Awards ceremony.
The award was for meeting and exceeding federal benchmarks for two years in a row and ranking in the 96th percentile for making amount gain on state tests in five core subjects.
“This is an exciting time for Dade County Schools,” Dade Schools Superintendent Patty Priest told students, parents and faculty in the gymnasium. “This award speaks well of you students, of your parents, to the effort you’ve made.”
Dade County parents and teachers were excited about the school’s recognition. But the local awards ceremony seemed nearer to the community’s hearts. Conceived several years ago, the principal’s awards are designed to recognize students who might otherwise go unheralded in traditional avenues such as sports, honor rolls, music or art.
Lisa and Greg Fortner wore proud smiles while posing for a photo with their daughter Grace. The sixth-grader was selected for the award by her English teacher Sharee Miller.
“There is a way to recognize students for what counts,” she said. “Grace is a star. She always gets her work done and she is helpful to others.”
Other area schools recognized included Westside Middle School and Varnell Elementary. The Whitfield County elementary school received the platinum award for greatest gains, and Westside received a gold medal, for greatest gains.
Westside Middle was one of five middle schools in the state to earn the Gold Award.
E-mail Beverly A. Carroll at bcarroll@timesfreepress.com
Schools recognized
Catoosa County — Battlefield Primary — Graysville Elementary — Boynton Elementary
Dade County — Dade Middle School
Whitfield County — Westside Middle School — Varnell Elementary
For more information visit: www.gaosa.org/ssas.aspx
What it means The Governor’s Office of Student Achievement has four awards in two different categories to recognize student performance on standardized tests. The awards recognize schools that are improving and also recognizes high performing schools for continued academic success.
— Greatest gains: Schools meet federal benchmarks on standardized state tests for at least two consecutive years; a specific percentage of students exceed benchmarks, and academic gains are in the top percentile of all schools.
— Highest percentage: Schools meet federal benchmarks for at least two consecutive years; a specific percentage of students exceed benchmarks, 95 percent or more students meet or exceed standards.
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