The Schools of Promise program, administered by the Ohio Department of Education, recognized 113 schools in Ohio this year for demonstrating high achievement in reading or mathematics, despite having 40 percent or more of students come from low-income backgrounds.
Our Schools of Promise prove that students can meet and exceed high standards and expectations
no matter where they live or how wealthy their families are said State Superintendent Susan Tave Zelman. Good teaching committed leadership and a positive school culture can help all students succeed.
Of the 113 recognized schools, 38 were in Appalachian counties. Nelsonville-York High School was the only school in Athens County to meet the criteria.
Students at Nelsonville-York High School exceeded the state standard of 75 percent passage in reading with nearly 84 percent of economically disadvantaged students passing that part of the Ohio Graduation Test. About 50 percent of the total student body at Nelsonville-York is considered economically disadvantaged.
The program was created to fulfill a recommendation made by the State Board of Education's Closing Achievement Gaps Task Force.
John Costanzo, superintendent of the Athens-Meigs Educational Service Center and a member of the task force, said he thinks the programs of the task force have improved students' test scores and overall achievement in the past years.
There are lots of ways students can have success
not just academically. They are successful by showing they make informed choices
Costanzo said.
While family income is a predictor of student achievement, it is not the only one, he said.
You shouldn't be able to look at any specific demographic and predict achievement
Costanzo said.
The schools alone can't have a significant impact; they need support from parents, alternative educational resources and the community, he said.
There are many people in this region who are working very hard to improve not only opportunities in learning
but opportunities throughout lives
Costanzo said.
The Ohio Department of Education will conduct case studies on the practices in those schools to use in school improvement efforts and technical assistance initiatives to low-performing schools across the state.
-Skye Agnew
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