Greenville County Schools Meet 95% of Federal No Child Left Behind Objectives
For the third consecutive year, the school system met nearly all of its AYP performance objectives. In 2010-11 Greenville County Schools met 35 of 37 (95%) of the federal targets. Objectives met for 2011 improved over the prior two years from 92 percent (34 of 37) to 95 percent (35 of 37). The two objectives missed were for learning disabled students in the areas of English/Language Arts and mathematics.
Under the No Child Left Behind Act, schools and school districts must meet 100 percent of their federal “proficiency” objectives each year to achieve AYP. If just one student subgroup fails to meet one of the performance targets or percent tested targets, the school and/or the district does not achieve AYP. For elementary and middle schools targets increased from 57.8% to 79.0% in mathematics and from 58.8% to 79.4% in English-Language Arts. For high schools, targets remained the same at 70.0% in mathematics and 71.3% in English-Language Arts.
Fifteen (31%) of Greenville County elementary schools met AYP in 2010-11, down from thirty-six (73%) schools in 2009-10 and thirty-two (65%) schools in 2008-09. Across the state 262 of 947 (28%) elementary schools met AYP. No middle schools met AYP, down from three middle schools in 2009-10. Only about 16 middle schools across the state made AYP. Seven elementary schools missed making AYP by only one objective. An additional 19 elementary schools missed making AYP by two objectives.
Riverside High School was the lone Greenville County high school that met AYP. Across the state only 13 of 180 high schools met all of the federal requirements for AYP.
The more diverse a school or school district is in student population; the more challenging it is to achieve AYP. Greenville County Schools serves more than 69,000 students, which comprise the following AYP subgroups: All Students, White, African-American, Asian/Pacific Islander, Hispanic, American Indian/Alaskan, Limited English Proficiency, Disabled, and Subsidized Meals (students receiving free or reduced lunch). Fifty of 67 (75%) GCS’s elementary and middle schools are accountable for more indicators than half of all elementary and middle schools in the state. Thirty-three or almost half of GCS’s 67 elementary and middle schools are accountable for more indicators than 75% of all elementary and middle schools in the state. Thirty-six elementary and middle schools (55%) scored in the top half of the state on “percent indicators met.” Seven or half of GCS’s high schools are accountable for more indicators than 75% of all high schools in the state. Eight high schools (57%) scored in the top half of the state on "percent indicators met."
Performance Indicators
The State’s Palmetto Assessment of State Standards (PASS) is used to assess elementary and middle school students’ achievement in grades three through eight. The High School Assessment Program (HSAP) - first attempt, assesses high school students’ achievement in 10th grade. Both the PASS and HSAP, along with other indicators are used to calculate the school district’s AYP performance. Other indicators for school and district level performance include a 94.0% attendance rate for elementary and middle schools and a graduation rate of 88.3% for high schools. A 95 percent student participation rate must be attained as well as the student performance objective.