17 days ago
Last year's Department of Education's Adequate Yearly Progress or AYP report showed 100 percent of Houston County schools met AYP, Bibb county schools about 63 percent and Peach and Pulaski hit 50 percent or below.
81 percent of Houston county students graduated. For Pulaski and Peach students, more than 70 percent and Bibb county about 63 percent.
During the 2007-2008 school year, average SAT scores for Houston county reached just over 1500. Bibb, Pulaski and Peach scores rank in the 1300s.
Houston County Schools Superintendent David Carpenter says a number of reason attribute to their success.
He says instead of waiting until the end of the year to analyze student assessment scores, several years ago they began taking a different approach. He says they started taking a closer look at the numbers and monitoring student individual scores throughout the school year.
"Breaking your test scores down to sub-populations and then you see the gaps in learning," said Carpenter.
Carpenter says to close those gaps, they began teacher 'Benchmark Assessments' to show the best way for each student to approach a subject and identify those who need help. Plus, they added academic opportunities that use a couple shorter periods a week to help students in problem areas, like SAT prep.
This year, he says they also moved from six to seven periods in high schools to allow students to take more classes and avoid summer school.
"The military connection in our community definitely brings in more money, just for bringing in more people," said Carpenter.
In fiscal year 2009, about 10 percent of Houston students had parents on active service in the military. Since Robins Air Force Base is federal property and can't be taxed, the government provides money to help pay for their education.
Carpenter says that provides an average of $1.3 million a year to the district's general fund.
Carpenter says student success is a team effort and credits quality teachers and the community.
Pulaski County Schools Superintendent Janis Sparrow says they switched to seven periods this year.
She says they do have benchmark assessments but no longer have the academic opportunity program.
Peach County Schools spokeswomen Sara Mason says they have 'four-block' schedules and says they do offer academic opportunities.
She says they have had benchmark assessments at Elementary and Middle schools for a few years and will begin at the high schools in November.
Bibb County Schools Director of Teaching and Learning Suzanne Spaid says they have a 'four-block' schedule and says in December they plan to begin benchmark assessments a few times a year.
Spaid says some of their schools offer advisement time during school hours and all their middle schools offer an extra academic class in exchange for electives, like physical education, for students who struggle in certain academic classes.
All four school systems say they offer free tutoring a couple days a week.
Carpenter says he prefers to compare Houston schools to other systems with comparable demographics, like Fayette County.
He says Houston was one of only three school systems in Georgia with a population over 20,000 where every school made AYP.
Both Hawkinsville High School and Northside High School in Warner Robins received the State Champions Governor's Cup Award this year that honors SAT growth over three years.
Carpenter also says at a recent job fair more than 700 teachers applied for Houston County teaching jobs. He says they hired 50 teachers and says their ability to pick from a large applicant pool helps them get high-quality teachers.
