By Clif Knight

Hartselle Enquirer

Hartselle City Schools ranked among the top 12 school systems in the state based on report card grades released by the Alabama Department of Education Feb. 1.

Hartselle’s score of 91, based on the average of all five of its schools, was good enough for an A grade, the 10th best overall.

“I was excited for our administrators, teachers, parents and students,” said Superintendent Dee Dee Jones. “But not for a minute, after I learned what our grade was, did I think we had done our best. Instead, I started looking for ways to improve.”

In individual school scores for Hartselle, Barkley Bridge Elementary School led the way with a 97/100 score for an A.

Other school grades are as follows: Crestline Elementary, (B) 88; F. E. Burleson Elementary, (B) 86; Hartselle High, (B) 87; Hartselle Intermediate, (A) 91; and Hartselle Junior High, (B) 89.

Grades for neighboring school systems trailed Hartselle. Athens City and Limestone County earned Bs, while Decatur City, Morgan County and Lawrence County received Cs.

Annual letter grades for schools were implemented this school year under a 2012 state law sponsored by Rep. Terri Collins (R-Decatur).

Jones said several components, including student attendance, were used in determining letter grades. The largest component was student scores on the ACT Aspire tests, which were given in grades three through eight and 10th grade in the spring of school year 2015-16.

Student achievement in college and career courses was also included.

“To maintain and improve the school system’s high academic standing, strong emphasis will continue to be focused on math and reading and professional development of our teachers.” Jones said. “We will have teachers visiting local industries this summer to learn what they are looking for in the recruitment of high school and college graduates.”

Jones said she reviewed the results of the report card with principals “and challenged them to discover ways we can help our schools and their students be the best they can be,” she added.

Jones said students learned about their school system’s report card grade from their principals and teachers and were congratulated for the part they played in making it happen. Parents received e-mail and text messages to further spread the good news.