Hartselle Schools get some good news for start of year

By Staff
Leada Gore, Hartselle Enquirer
Results from the 2005-06 school year have landed the Hartselle City School System on an enviable list.
The school system was one of 1,194 across the state to achieve 100 percent approval on the Achieved Yearly Progress goals. The results of the 2005-06 AYP were released this week by the Alabama Department of Education.
Every Hartselle school met its goals, ranging from Hartselle Junior High School's 19 out of 19 score to Barkley Bridge Elementary's nine out of nine score. Each school has its own number of goals based on student population and performance. Hartselle High had nine goals; Crestline and F.E. Burleson Elementary each had 13.
This is the first time the entire system achieved all its goals since the AYP system was instituted three years ago.
Superintendent Dr. Mike Reed credited the achievements to the hard work of teachers, staff, parents and students.
"Without the teachers' good work and the support we receive from the homes, we couldn't do it. I commend all the teachers and employees. I can't say enough about the good things that are going on here."
Reed said he believes schools are seeing dividends for work done in recent years.
"The emphasis on testing and testing skills are being recognized, not just here but across the state," he said.
These latest results come on the heels of the more detailed school report cards issued in June. Those scores were generated by the 2004-05 testing results.
Schools earn AYP status based on test participation, proficiency in reading and math and attendance rates.
Based on these factors, goals can change every year.
"What's remarkable is that depending on the different groups of student populations across the state, schools have anywhere from five to 39 goals," State Superintendent of Education Joseph B. Morton said. "Under No Child Left Behind law, if a school does not meet just one of those goals it doesn't make AYP. That's an incredibly high standard by anyone's measure…and more than 87 percent of our schools met that extremely difficult challenge."
Missing just one goal can knock a school off the AYP list.
Also earning 100 percent AYP were several county schools. Among those were: Brewer High School, Danville-Neel Elementary, Danville Middle, Danville High, Eva School, Falkville Elementary, Falkville High School, Priceville High School, Priceville Elementary School and Ryan School.