School official gives Clark County an ‘A’ grade for NCLB results

By Emily Richmond

Thursday, July 24, 2008 | 3:23 p.m.

For the second consecutive year, the Clark County School District overall met the student achievement requirements of the federal No Child Left Behind Act.

Of the School District's 350 schools, 186 made AYP (adequate yearly progress requirements) this year, compared with 213 last year. District officials downplayed the drop, noting that the results were better than expected given the state had raised the bar for student achievement this year.

Schools must show achievement in 37 areas, both campuswide and by student subgroups, including ethnicity, special education, and students from low-income households.

Overall, the district met 94.2 percent of the law's various requirements, said Lauren Kohut-Rost, deputy superintendent of curriculum and instruction.

"From an educator's standpoint that's an `A' grade," Kohut-Rost said. "And that's what we're giving ourselves."

The announcements came today at a press conference held at the Greer Education Center on East Flamingo Road. The AYP rankings are considered preliminary until the Clark County School Board approves the results when it meets later today.

Two schools, John Miller Elementary School and Walker International Elementary School, were identified as "exemplary," the highest possible designation under the education law. Miller serves 120 of the district’s most medically fragile students.

Additionally, 17 schools were named "high achieving," for either significantly reducing the percentage of students scoring in the lowest bracket, or for posting high scores overall.

At the elementary and middle school level, schools are graded using statewide standardized tests. High school students must meet achievement benchmarks on the statewide proficiency exams, a requirement for graduation.

Last year, Clark County was the only one of the nation's 10 largest school districts to show adequate progress.

The federal law requires schools to show regular gains in achievement, with 100 percent of students demonstrating proficiency by the 2013-14 academic year. Schools that fall short of AYP are placed on the state's "watch” list. After two consecutive years of low scores, a school is labeled "needs improvement." With each successive year of low scores, sanctions increase, including the possible takeover of a campus by the state and finally the federal government.

Schools must show overall progress, as must each identified student subgroup, including those categorized by ethnicity or special-education status, as well as non-native English speakers and students from low-income families. Schools that do not meet the threshold but reduce the number of non-proficient students by at least 10 percent are granted "safe harbor."

At least 95 percent of all students - and each subgroup - must participate in the tests. The school's average daily attendance rate must be at least 90 percent.