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4 in County Named Schools of Promise ; Miamisburg's Kinder Elementary, Moraine's Frank Nicholas Among 113 State Winners

Posted on: Friday, 11 November 2005, 21:00 CST

By Lou Grieco lgrieco@daytondailynews.com

Kinder Elementary School in Miamisburg, Frank Nicholas Elementary School in Moraine have made the state list of Schools of Promise, recognizing high achievement in reading or math.

Two other Montgomery County schools, Northridge High School and Trotwood High School, were also among the 113 state winners.

The award, administered by the Ohio Department of Education, recognizes schools across Ohio that are demonstrating high achievement in reading and/ or mathematics for all groups of students, despite the fact that 40 percent or more of these students come from low-income backgrounds.

Of the four local schools, only Kinder exceeded standards in both reading and math. The other three exceeded standards in reading.

Kinder's third- and fourth-grade students exceeded the state standard of 75 percent passage in proficiency and achievement tests for reading and mathematics.

The award covers the two previous school years, Kinder Principal Tim Ivory said.

For math, 93.1 percent of third-graders and 93.8 percent of fourth-graders passed the state tests during that time, Ivory said.

For reading, 96.6 percent of third-graders, 93.8 percent of fourth-graders and 86.5 percent of fifth-graders passed the state tests, Ivory said.

Ivory said a share of the credit should go to his predecessor, Cheryl Smith, who was principal during 2003-04, the first of the two years covered by the award. Ivory arrived during the next school year.

He said he inherited a great faculty, staff and parents.

"It's a blessing being here," Ivory said. "I have a lot of good people around me."

Kinder, 537 E. Central Ave., was rated excellent on the latest state report card. It has about 247 students, which ensures that the classes are small, Ivory said.

Nicholas was recognized for its work in reading.

"It's very affirming of the work we've done over the last five years," Principal Melissa Theis said. "The staff has worked tremendously hard to improve student achievement here at Nicholas."

Just four years ago, Nicholas students were scoring in the high 30s to mid 40s on state tests. For the 2003-04 school year, 86 percent of third-graders and 76 percent of fourth-graders passed the state reading tests.

During 2004-05, 96 percent of third-graders, 76 percent of fourth- graders and 83 percent of fifth-graders passed the reading tests, Theis said.

As for the math tests, the school missed meeting the minimum scores needed for the "school of promise" awards by one student, she said.

"I'm just extremely proud of the staff and students," Theis said.

The school, at 3846 Vance Road in Moraine, will celebrate its 50th year of instruction in the 2006-07 school year. Nicholas serves 171 students plus about 30 in an extended kindergarten program funded by a U.S. Department of Education grant.

Though Nicholas received a "school improvement" designation on the state report card in 2002-03, the school received a "continuous improvement" designation on the latest report card.

"It's evident here when you walk classroom to classroom what a great job teachers are doing," Theis said. "But it's nice to be recognized by the state."

In northern Montgomery County, Northridge Superintendent Tod Perez said he always knew the students in that school district held a great deal of promise. State Superintendent Susan Tave Zelman gave him proof positive.

"Our Schools of Promise prove that students can meet and exceed high standards and expectations, no matter where they live or how wealthy their families are," Zelman said. "Good teaching, committed leadership and a positive school culture can help all students succeed."

Nearly half of Northridge's high school students, or 47 percent, are from low-income backgrounds.

"They're looking at students who may not be financially well off, but are still achieving," Perez said.

Students who attend a School of Promise met or exceeded the state standard of 75 percent passage in reading or mathematics, or both on the Ohio Graduation Test or a state proficiency test.

Northridge students far surpassed that with a 92.4 passage rate in reading on the OGT, Perez said. They didn't fare quite as well in math at 70.5 percent, but even that number exceeded the state's adequate yearly progress requirement of 60 percent.

"Math has always been our Achilles heal," Perez said. "We've continued to improve."

Trotwood-Madison High School also was named a School of Promise.

Assistant Superintendent Rexann Wagner said the designation is "an awesome achievement" for the school.

The school, which scored 82 percent passage in reading, was presented the banner at the Oct. 20 board of education meeting. Contact Lou Grieco at 225-2057.

Source: Dayton Daily News

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