Six county schools miss AYP standards

Six of Culpeper County’s eight public schools failed to meet Adequate Yearly Progress standards for the 2007-08 school year, according to preliminary reports released earlier this month.

The final numbers are expected next week.

AYP is a federal government measurement to determine how every public school nationwide is achieving academically.

A.G. Richardson, Pearl Sample, Sycamore Park and Emerald Hill elementaries, along with Culpeper Middle and Floyd T. Binns Middle, did not meet the standard benchmarks mandated by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.

School Board Chairman George Dasher said the board plans to review the latest numbers during Monday’s work session, which starts at 6:45 p.m. at the central office, 450 Radio Lane.

“We’ll discuss what actions need to be taken then,” he said.

AYP ratings are based on student achievement tests in grades three through eight and at least one in high school measuring reading and math skills.

For a Virginia school division to achieve AYP during the 2007-08 school year, at least 77 percent of students overall and students in all subgroups must have demonstrated proficiency in reading, and 75 percent in mathematics, according to the Virginia Department of Education.

Subgroups include: students with disabilities, limited English proficiency, economically disadvantaged and students who are white, black or Hispanic.
Farmington and Culpeper County High are the only two schools that met the required targets, according to Jim Allen, interim director of curriculum and instruction for Culpeper County Public Schools.

NCLB requires all students to be 100 percent proficient in reading and math by the school year 2013-14.

Most school officials consider AYP only one way to measure a child’s academic proficiency.

In order to achieve AYP, schools must meet or exceed at least 29 benchmarks in reading, math, attendance/graduation and student participation. Missing a single target may result in a school or division not making AYP.

Schools that don’t meet AYP repeatedly must implement a school improvement plan.

Last year, five public schools in the Culpeper district failed to meet the required benchmarks.

However, if a Title I school — one that receives federal money to help students in high poverty areas — fails to meet AYP two consecutive years in the same subject, certain steps must be taken.

Those schools must notify parents of their status before school starts, according to VDOE.

Those schools must also offer students the opportunity to transfer to a school within the division that is not under corrective improvements.

Culpeper has three Title I schools: Pearl Sample, Farmington, and Sycamore Park elementaries.

Rhonda Simmons can be reached at 825-0771 ext. 125 or