FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
September 24, 2009
CONTACT:
Lisa McVey, Communications & Community Relations Liaison, 610-869-2441, ext. 1019
AVON GROVE SCHOOL DISTRICT HIGHLIGHTS STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT PROGRESS
At the September 24 meeting of the Board of School Directors, Avon Grove School District officials gave a progress report on student achievement across all grade levels and highlighted successes, focus areas, and the path forward for meeting academic achievement goals outlined in the District’s 2008-2013 Strategic Plan.
Highlights from the report include that the Avon Grove School District made Adequate Yearly Progress in 2008-2009 based on results from the 2009 Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) testing, and Penn London Elementary School, Avon Grove Intermediate School, and Fred S. Engle Middle School also made AYP for meeting all of their respective targets measured by the state in 2009.
Avon Grove High School met 19 out of 21 targets measured by the state, including academic performance targets for students overall in reading and mathematics. The high school did not meet targets for Latino/Hispanic subgroup scores in reading and special education subgroup scores in mathematics.
The federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act requires states to evaluate public schools and districts annually for AYP. The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) determines AYP based on students’ scores on the reading and mathematics PSSA tests. Students are tested in these subjects in grades 3 through 8 and 11.
- Penn London Elementary School does not get tested for meeting AYP; however, because PLE feeds into Avon Grove Intermediate School, PLE does receive AYP results based on third-graders’ performance. Overall, 91 percent of third-graders tested in Avon Grove scored proficient or advanced on the 2009 mathematics PSSA test, an increase of about 2 percent from 2008, and 88 percent of third-graders scored proficient or advanced in reading, an increase of about 8 percent from 2008.
- Overall, 84.0 percent of Avon Grove Intermediate School students tested in grades 3 through 6 scored proficient or advanced in reading, and 90.1 percent scored proficient or advanced in mathematics.
- Overall, 88 percent of Fred S. Engle Middle School students tested scored proficient or advanced on the reading PSSA, and 91.5 percent scored proficient or advanced in mathematics.
- Avon Grove High School met the state’s academic performance targets for students overall in 2009, with 75 percent of the eleventh-graders tested scoring proficient or advanced in reading, and 65.5 percent scoring proficient or advanced in mathematics. Avon Grove High School continues to score above the state average in both reading and mathematics. State trend data shows flat growth over the last five years in reading, and minimal growth in mathematics for eleventh-graders statewide. Avon Grove High School is developing a student achievement plan which builds on current efforts to align curriculum and instruction to the state standards and to offer a more challenging program.
Students are also tested in writing in grades 5, 8, and 11, and in science in grades 4, 8 and 11. Writing and science scores do not count towards AYP; however, the Avon Grove School District’s Strategic Plan includes goals related to each of the subjects tested.
Over the past five years, the District has made strong progress in kindergarten through eighth-grade in both reading and mathematics and is closing the achievement gap in both areas, according to Dr. Margie Sharp, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum & Instruction. Sharp presented at the Board meeting along with Tim Parkinson, Avon Grove’s Education Data Specialist. Progress in reading and mathematics can be tied to the alignment of curriculum and instruction, and the use of data-driven instruction and well-designed intervention and support programs.
District officials also reported that Avon Grove School District has laid the groundwork to create “21 st Century Learners” and to better prepare students for the workforce and postsecondary experiences. Goals related to “21 st Century Learner” objectives outlined in the District’s Strategic Plan include increasing student placement in higher-level mathematics courses at the secondary level, continuing to expand the Advanced Placement program and participation in AP classes and AP Exams, increasing the number of students attending college and postsecondary schools, and increasing participation in the SAT as well as maintaining/improving overall performance.
Data shows that a total of 36 percent of students completed Algebra II or higher by tenth-grade in 2008-2009 as compared to 29 percent in 2006-2007. Students can now earn high school mathematics credit in eighth-grade and efforts are underway to place middle school students in higher-level mathematics courses. A total of 49 percent of eighth-graders completed Algebra I in 2008-2009 compared to 35 percent in 2006-2007. In addition, the sixth-grade mathematics curriculum is being more closely aligned with the middle school curriculum. Prealgebra is being piloted at AGIS this year, and about 50 sixth-graders are receiving instruction in the program.
- Data shows student participation rates in the Advanced Placement Program have grown steadily over the last six years, with 36 percent of all juniors and seniors (331 students) taking one or more AP class in 2009-2010 compared to 20 percent of juniors and seniors (143 students) in 2005-2006. The high school is offering 16 AP courses in 2009-2010 compared to 12 AP courses in 2004-2005.
- Data shows student participation rates in AP Exams have also increased. A total of 202 students took one or more AP Exams in May of 2009 for a total of 302 AP Exams taken compared to 95 students taking one or more AP Exams in 2002 for a total of 139 AP Exams. The majority of students continue to score at a level 3 or higher, which can earn them potential college credits, advanced placement in college, or both. In 2009, 83 percent of the AP Exams taken by Avon Grove students received a grade of 3 or higher. Grades are reported on a 5-point scale.
- Data shows 77 percent of Avon Grove seniors took the SAT in 2008-2009, compared to 71 percent statewide and 46 percent nationally. Avon Grove’s scores were above state and national averages in all three areas in 2008-2009. Avon Grove’s average reading score was 512, 499 for writing, and 525 for mathematics. Starting this school year, all tenth-graders will be required to take the PSAT which will be offered in school on October 14. Taking the PSAT helps prepare students for the SAT and can therefore help students perform better on the SAT. In addition, PSAT results can be used to help place students in appropriate-level courses. Data shows a 96 percent graduation rate for 2007-2008. In addition, 87 percent of seniors graduating in 2009 went on to postsecondary school, with 82 percent attending a college of any type and 63 percent attending a four-year college.
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A copy of the full report is available online.
Posted:
Wednesday, September 30, 2009 11:44 AM
