The Athens City School District received an 'effective' designationon the state-given report cards for the 2007-2008 school year, butschool officials said there is room for improvement.
Athens School District Superintendent Carl Martin said he ispleased with the district's performance but wants to improve itsoverall designation next year.
The report card designation is based on four different measuresof performance including standardized achievement tests, graduation andattendance rates and federally required progress for minority students.
Designations range from 'academic emergency' to 'excellent withdistinction.' Athens City Schools earned its 'effective' designationfor exceeding state requirements with nearly 95 percent attendance lastyear and more than 99 percent of Athens High School seniors graduating.
The district also met or exceeded all state requirements for the 11th and 12th grade Ohio Graduation Tests.
The Ohio Department of Education has added a new measure that rates the progress students have made since last school year.
The 'value-added' measure is intended to help school districtswhose students make progress each year but still score below statestandards, according to an Ohio Department of Education news release.
This new measure accounts for the new 'excellent with distinction' designation, added for the 2007-2008 school year.
Athens City Schools' overall 'value-added' score was belowexpected growth, meaning that students in 5th through 8th grades didnot meet or exceed the state's expected growth in reading andmathematics.
Martin said he isn't concerned with the district's ratingbecause the 'value-added' measure doesn't consider students whoconsistently score above the proficient level each year.
Many students are already performing above grade level so it'shard for them to improve that score
which makes it seem like theyaren't improving he said.
However, Martin said he is concerned about the district'sadequate yearly progress, which is a federally require measure thatsets standards and goals for all students as well as minority students.
Athens City Schools did not meet federal standards for economically disadvantaged students and students with disabilities.
More than 30 percent of Athens City Schools students come from economically disadvantaged families, Martin said.
Most of students struggle at the elementary level so that'swhere the focus will be for this year so we can improve our score hesaid, adding that the district will provide more intervention trainingfor teachers.
Statewide, 32 percent of school districts were below expectedgrowth, but 85 percent of districts received an effective or higherdesignation, according to an Ohio Department of Education news release.
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