Federal Hocking and Trimble high schools joined the ranks of 102 schools in Ohio given the title of State Superintendent's Schools Of Promise by the Ohio Department of Education for the 2003-04 school year.
Schools of Promise are schools across the state in
low-income areas that showed high academic achievement on the state proficiency tests. The department announced last week which schools made the list.
What we're seeing is those schools are using their funds more wisely
said Dottie Howe, spokeswoman for the department. They're using their resources where they're needed most.
Teachers and principals from the Schools of Promise are invited to participate in workshops across the state, where they teach other professionals what techniques they are using in their district that are working to improve performance, she said. The schools also are featured on instructional CD-ROMs on the department's Web site and receive a banner to display showing they are a School of Promise.
I think anytime you are recognized by the state department of education for doing good work it's important especially for the teachers and students that are doing good things
said John Wryst, a chemistry teacher at Federal Hocking High School. It's nice for the school building.
The criteria used to determine what schools make the list is based mainly on the results of the proficiency tests. In the case of Federal Hocking and Trimble high schools, it was based on the ninth-grade proficiency tests, something Wryst said might not be a completely accurate depiction of the work a school is doing.
It's based on one test (series)
so it's really only like taking a snapshot. You can't see the full Federal Hocking
Wryst said. You just get one out of the 180 days a year.
Trimble High School Principal John Abdella said there's more
to a school's achievement than high scores.
I don't think just one test on just anything is a fair determination
Abdella said.
The title of a School of Promise does not come with any financial reward or incentive.
It's not always about money
Abdella said. It's about doing your best.
The department believes that in Ohio, where there are large achievement gaps with minority groups and students in economically disadvantaged areas, programs like the Schools Of Promise are an important way to recognize and promote the districts that have been able to defy the demographics, Howe said.
It's the attitude of the teacher and administrators
she said. They don't make excuses for poor performance. Instead
they have a real
'We can do it' attitude.
