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(This article, reprinted with permission, featuring the Bexley schools, appeared in Bexley News on July 9, 2008) 7/25/08 Bexley chalks up eighth “excellent” The Bexley City School District `received an “excellent” rating on Ohio Department of Education report card for the eighth year in a row, placing Bexley among the very few school districts in the state to maintain such a stellar record.During the 2007-08 school year, Bexley met 29 out of 30 benchmark indicators. Bexley’s performance in eighth-grade social studies fell short of the standard set by the state of Ohio by one half of 1 percent. The school district met state benchmarks in attendance; graduation rate; and in all subjects tested at grades 3-8, 10 and 11. Our rating was made possible because teachers dedicated themselves once again to the needs of all of our students. The school district and each school in the district received an excellent “performance” score. In order to be recognized as excellent, a performance score of 100 or higher must be achieved. The Bexley City School District’s overall performance score for this past school year was 104.3. The district’s performance score has improved every year for the past three years. Bexley High School met 12 out of 12 indicators and had a performance score of 110.4. Bexley Middle School met seven out of eight indicators with a performance score of 102.3. Cassingham Elementary School met all 12 indicators and had a performance score of 104.6. Maryland Elementary School had a performance score of 100 and met 10 of the 12 indicators. Montrose Elementary School also met all 12 indicators and had a performance score of 102.1. Two years ago, the district was rated as excellent with an “At Risk” qualifier, because Bexley failed to meet the standards set in the special education and African-American Adequate Yearly Progress subgroups. During the past tow years, student performance has exceeded state standards in all AYP subgroups. The two-year perfect AYP performance is a remarkable accomplishment and allows the school district to maintain its unqualified excellent rating. Our eighth consecutive excellent rating was achieved as result of some very focused and intentional interventions on the part of faculty and staff. Students performing below targeted standards are identified and receive additional academic support during the school year and in summer school. Teams of educators at every school have developed intervention plans designed to ensure that each child gains the necessary knowledge and skills to successfully perform well on state tests. Teachers have also varied instructional strategies and have grouped and re-grouped the students around the identified performance standards needing improvement. Their professional work combined with intervention strategies initiated two years ago have allowed student proficiency passage rates in all subject areas to increase significantly. Administration and staff at the high school continue to focus their efforts on students needing additional support and intervention. The passage rate on the Ohio Graduation Test and other performance indicators are at record levels. Our special education teachers continue to accomplish what most school districts can only dream of achieving. They have been able to meet every proficiency standard set by the state in reading and math at all grade levels. It is extremely rare that such a feat is accomplished in any single year at the school district level, but the special education department has been able to meet this goal for two consecutive years. I would like to congratulate our faculty, staff and administration for ensuring that our students achieve at such high levels. Our teachers, school administrators and staff are among the best in the business. We are so fortunate to be able to attract and retain such highly trained and professional staff members. This column was provided by Michael Johnson, superintendent of Bexley City Schools. |
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