School districts in Athens County either showed improvements during the 2005-2006 school year or kept their rankings from the previous year, according to district report cards released by the Ohio Department of Education. The report card measures the percentage of students performing at and above the proficient level on state achievement tests and the 10th- and 11th-grade Ohio Graduation Tests. The report cards also measure overall performance on a 120-point index, based on student test performance. Districts then are designated excellent, effective, continuous improvement, academic watch or academic emergency rankings.With a three-point index score increase, Athens City School District continued its effective ranking but saw a drop in student scores of between 2 percent and 11 percent in each category on the 10th-grade OGT. Superintendent Carl Martin said the district was doing in-services with teachers and updating its curriculum models to help improve its designation from effective to excellent.This isn't a test where you can just do something small and pass it
Martin said. These are high-stakes tests. Nelsonville-York City School District improved its rating by 10 points and was named an effective district, as was Alexander Local Schools, which increased by seven points.Federal Hocking and Trimble school districts improved their index scores by more than 11 points each and improved their district designations from academic watch to continuous improvement.We still did well. Any time you can double the standards in a year's time that's progress Trimble Superintendent Cindy Johnston said. Trimble used several methods to improve its scores, including short-cycle assessments, which measure students' performances every few weeks. The Trimble Local Textbook Foundation purchased new social studies and science textbooks to replace books that dated from the '60s and '70s. Federal Hocking Local Schools Superintendent James Patsey said several programs, including a Reading First Program and Kids on Campus after-school tutoring, helped improve student's test scores. Both programs are funded through grant money. Alexander also has a Reading First grant to provide 90 minutes of uninterrupted reading every day and also uses short-cycle assessments to improve scores. When you have an increase
sometimes you don't really know what's really working
what isn't working
said Alexander Superintendent Robert Bray, adding that the district would continue using the same programs in hopes of seeing further progress.
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Casey Westlake
