FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 29 , 2007
CONTACT
Lisa McVey, Communications & Community Relations Liaison, 610-869-2441, ext. 1019
AVON GROVE SCHOOLS AND DISTRICT MEET ADEQUATE YEARLY PROGRESS (AYP) FOR 2007
West Grove, PA — All four Avon Grove School District schools and the district have met Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) goals for the 2006-2007 school year based on students’ performance on the 2007 Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) tests and other data.
The federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act requires Pennsylvania to evaluate all public schools and districts annually for AYP based on the results of the PSSA and other factors, including test participation, attendance and graduation. NCLB requires states to set gradually increasing proficiency levels in order to reach 100 percent student proficiency by 2014.
Avon Grove High School met AYP requirements in all seventeen scored targets. Fred S. Engle Middle School (FSEMS) met AYP requirements in all twenty-one scored targets. Avon Grove Intermediate School met AYP requirements in all twenty-nine scored targets. In addition, Penn London Elementary School (K-2), identified as a feeder school, was also listed as “Made AYP” by the Pennsylvania Department of Education based on third grade overall test results.
In mathematics, 84.7 percent of Avon Grove Intermediate School students tested scored proficient or advanced; 87.3 percent of FSEMS students tested scored proficient or advanced; and 70.6 percent of Avon Grove High School students tested scored proficient or advanced. A total of 85.7 percent of third-graders tested performed proficient or advanced in mathematics.
In reading, 77.7 percent of Avon Grove Intermediate School students tested scored proficient or advanced; 84.7 percent of middle school students tested scored proficient or advanced; and 77.3 percent of Avon Grove High School students tested performed proficient or advanced. A total of 79.2 percent of third-graders tested performed proficient or advanced in reading.
“The commitment of our educators and their dedication to our students had a direct impact on student achievement in 2006-2007,” said Dr. Augustus J. Massaro, Superintendent. “Our students, parents, teachers and staff, school volunteers, business partners, and all the members of our school community who have partnered with us in our continuous improvement efforts can take pride in this accomplishment.”
Dr. Massaro also applauded the Board of School Directors, school and district administration for their leadership and hands-on approach to creating a positive learning environment for students. Much of the district’s progress in student achievement is owed to continuous improvement initiatives in curriculum and instruction, said Dr. Massaro.
These efforts include ongoing professional development for teachers, and using data to drive instruction. In 2006-2007, Dr. Margaret Sharp worked with teachers on the District Mathematics Task Force to conduct a comprehensive curriculum review of the K-12 mathematics program. In addition, the District Literacy Leadership Team worked to align the K-12 language arts program. The implementation of Performance Tracker, a data warehouse, allows for easy access in obtaining student performance data to drive instruction.
Various grant sources secured during the past year, such as Project 720, Classrooms for the Future, and the Accountability Block Grant, have also contributed to the district’s focus on improving the instructional program.
In 2007-2008, the district will implement newly aligned planned course outlines and pacing guides in both language arts and mathematics. Nine sets of new mathematics textbooks that are aligned to the PA standards have been purchased for use in secondary classrooms across the district.
New instructional materials from Harcourt School Publishers will be used at Penn London Elementary School, and materials from Holt, Rinehart and Winston Publishers will be used at Fred S. Engle Middle School. These materials will complement existing instructional materials in place at Avon Grove Intermediate School and Avon Grove High School, and will ensure a fully aligned K-12 language arts program.
For 2007-2008, Avon Grove will use the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) at Penn London Elementary School and Avon Grove High School to assess students in reading and mathematics, while Avon Grove Intermediate School and Fred S. Engle Middle School will continue to utilize the 4Sight Benchmark Assessment.
In addition, the science and social studies planned course outlines will be revised and prepared for implementation in the fall of 2008.
For more information on Avon Grove School District’s AYP and PSSA results, see www.paayp.com.
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Avon Grove School District serves 5,250 students in a rapidly growing area of southern Chester County, Pennsylvania. The District includes four schools: Penn London Elementary School, Avon Grove Intermediate School, Fred S. Engle Middle School, and Avon Grove High School.
Posted:
October 4, 2007 2:23 PM
