City schools meet all state-mandated goals

By By Leada Gore, Hartselle Enquirer
Imagine getting all A’s on your report card before the school year even started. That’s what’s happening for Hartselle City Schools, as school leaders celebrate perfect scores on the state’s annual yearly progress report.
For the third consecutive year, all of the city’s schools reached their annual yearly progress goals as outlined by the Alabama Department of Education. The goals span test scores, attendance and graduation rate and include subgroups of students, such as those taking special education classes and those receiving free or reduced lunches.
To achieve AYP, each subgroup must meet participation requirements and show scoring improvements.
Hartselle’s schools sailed through each category, including graduation rate. Hartselle High posted a 90 percent graduation rate, beating last year’s total and the state average. The city system joins 83 percent of the state’s 1,367 public schools in achieving 100 percent.
Most county schools also posted 100 percent scores, including Danville Middle, Danville-Neel Elementary, Eva School, Falkville Elementary, Falkville High School, Priceville Elementary, Priceville High, Priceville Junior High, Sparkman Elementary, Union Hill, West Morgan Elementary, West Morgan High, West Morgan Middle, Cotaco School and Lacey’s Spring School.
Danville High just missed its goal for graduation rate, scoring 87 percent instead of the needed 90 percent. Brewer High School scored 70 percent out of 90 for graduation rate, but the 70 percent was an improvement from last year so the school is considered achieving AYP in that category.
A school must fail to achieve AYP for two consecutive years in order to be placed on the list of those needing improvement.
The State Department of Education will release more detailed information, including school and grade level scoring breakdowns, by the end of August.