Published: April 02, 2008 10:57 pm         

13 Vigo County schools show improvement in at least one category

TERRE HAUTE — Thirteen out of 27 Vigo County schools have improved at least one category this year under the state’s five-tier ranking system, which is based on ISTEP performance and improvement.

The so-called “category placement” system is part of Indiana’s Public Law 221, the accountability law for public education.

The categories are exemplary progress; commendable progress; academic progress; academic watch and academic probation. Six schools — Davis Park, Fayette, Hoosier Prairie, Lost Creek, Riley and Sugar Grove — achieved exemplary status, the top category.

Davis Park, which was on probation last year, improved four categories.

Only Chauncey Rose Middle School is on probation this year. Last year, five schools — including Chauncey Rose — were on probation.

Of the 27 Vigo County schools subject to category placement, three schools were placed in the commendable category, six in academic progress and 11 in the watch category.

The school district as a whole improved by one category and is now considered academic progress. Last year, it was academic watch.

“It is significant that Davis Park improved four categories; Lost Creek and Sugar Grove improved three categories; and Franklin, Fayette and Rio Grande improved two categories,” said Rex Ireland, the school district’s curriculum coordinator of assessment.

Last year, both Davis Park and Franklin were on probation. This year, one-third of Vigo County schools are in the top two categories.

“There really was a great deal of improvement here, and the school district improved one category as well,” said Karen Goeller, Vigo County School Corp. deputy superintendent. “Our ISTEP scores are much higher this year, which resulted in more of our schools being in higher categories.”

Statewide data released Wednesday showed that just 21 percent of Indiana’s public schools improved their standing in the state’s five-tier ranking system. In Vigo County, nearly half improved their ranking. “We were pleased we had a greater percent of schools improve this year than the state average,” Goeller said.

Dallas Kelsey, Davis Park principal, said the school’s Reading First grant has helped make a difference in students’ academic achievement and ISTEP scores. The school has had the federal grant for six years. Reading First provides funding for professional development, a reading coach and a Reading First intervention specialist who tracks data related to student academic progress. The grant also funds a four-week summer school program.

The school has a 90-minute “protected reading block” each day in which interruptions are discouraged.

Also, there are intervention groups every day for K-3 students; the groups provide both remediation and enrichment in language arts.

Davis Park also has a reading comprehension program available before and after school two days a week that targets second-graders. The computer-based program also is available to other students in grades 1 through 5 during the school day.

The school has focused attention on working with struggling students and has made “huge strides” in the academic progress of special needs students, Kelsey said.

The grant “has given us a lot of money for teacher professional development,” Kelsey said. Under the state’s Public Law 221, schools such as Chauncey Rose that are in the academic probation category are required to conduct a public hearing. It is the second year the school is in the probation category.

Goeller said that Chauncey Rose recently qualified as a Title 1 school, which means its students can receive additional services in English/language arts and math instruction.

Title 1 is a federal program that provides assistance to school corporations with significant numbers of students from low-income homes.

“They will continue to look at language arts and math as part of their school improvement plan,” Goeller said. The school will continue to have intensive programs targeting those students who don’t meet the ISTEP academic standards.

Statewide, more than 20 percent of Indiana’s public schools improved their standing in the state’s five-tier ranking system. The bad news — more than 800 schools still fell into the lowest two categories.

The classifications show that 21 percent of public schools earned a higher ranking in 2007 than 2006. A total of 55 percent earned the same ranking and 23 percent fell to a lower category.

Nearly one-third of Indiana’s public elementary schools were in the top category of exemplary progress compared with just 9 percent of middle and high schools.

Meanwhile, just 3 percent of elementary schools were in the lowest category of academic probation. That category includes 12 percent of middle schools and 14 percent of high schools.

Associated Press contributed to this report

Sue Loughlin can be reached at (812) 231-4235 or sue.loughlin@tribstar.com.