FeedsDistrict praised for student achievement
State report cards for schools issued last week indicate that Wayne-Westland District met Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) at every school.
“The majority of our schools have achieved AYP in the past,” said Gregory Baracy, superintendent of the Wayne-Westland Community School District. “This year, we were successful at every school.”
Each year, Michigan Educational Assessment Program (MEAP) scores and other performance indicators are scrutinized as education officials determine which schools and districts met federal standards for (AYP).
In the past, Baracy said, a few schools have occasionally failed to reach the AYP standard, usually because of problems experienced within specific subgroups of students. Baracy credited the teachers, administrators, and district staff for their efforts to bridge those gaps, noting that they have helped students succeed through focused efforts to establish more consistency between teachers and between grade levels, improved training, and a constantly evolving curriculum.
Statewide, the data showed that the number of schools that did not achieve the federal standard rose from 436 last year to 544 this year.
The good news continued as the results of the Michigan Department of Education 2006 Education Yes! school report cards became available. Designed as a state-level way to monitor progress at the individual schools, the report cards issued virtually every school within the district either an A or a B for their efforts. The one exception was John Glenn High School, which received the lone C in the district in part because one subgroup of students did not meet AYP requirements on the math exams. In comparison, 36 percent of schools statewide received an A while about 40 percent received a B on the report cards. About one in every five schools received a C.
Overall, Baracy said, the results are heartening.
“We’re really happy with our report card,” he said.” It shows that we offer a rigorous and strong program.”
He added that the scores rate the Wayne-Westland district among the best in the state.
At the same time, however, he said that although he is proud of what the district has accomplished, he would like to see the bar raised even higher.
“There’s always room for improvement,” said Baracy. “Our job is never done.”
Baracy added that his ultimate goal for the district is to have every school earn all As on its report card.
To help the district maintain and build Additional information is available online at www.michigan.gov/mde.
