by Sarah Gilbert

Academic growth in Cornelius, Davidson and Huntersville schools topped district and state averages for the 2010-11 school year, with 85.7 percent of schools making high or expected growth, but proficiency rates fell at nine of 14 schools.

Calculating academic growth involves measuring the rate at which students learned over the past school year, with the standard for expected growth being equal to a year’s worth of growth for a year of instruction. At high growth schools, students grow more than one year academically during a year of instruction.

All of the area high schools made either high or expected growth. Proficiency rates fell at Hopewell, from 78.3 percent in 2009-10 to 74.8 percent in 2010-2011; and at North Mecklenburg, from 86.6 percent to 78.3 percent; and both schools were named Schools of Progress.

During the first school year at Hough, the school made high growth and posted a proficiency rate of 90.2 percent, earning a School of Excellence designation.

Test results at local middle schools were mixed, with scores rising at two of four schools. Proficiency rates fell slightly at Alexander, from 73.3 percent to 69.1 percent; and Davidson IB, from 98.7 percent to 98.5 percent; and rose slightly at Bailey, from 88.5 percent to 89 percent; and Bradley, from 83.1 percent to 83.6 percent.

Davidson IB, named an Honor School of Excellence, closed in June and the International Baccalaureate program moved to J.M. Alexander Middle. Bailey and Bradley were named Schools of Distinction, while Alexander did not make expected growth and received no recognition.

Two of the six local elementary schools saw increases in test scores. Scores rose at Cornelius, from 87.3 percent to 88 percent, and Huntersville, from 92.9 percent to 94.2 percent. Scores dipped at Blythe, from 78.6 percent to 76.1 percent; Davidson, from 94.6 percent to 91.4 percent; J.V. Washam, from 88.6 percent to 87.3 percent; and Torrence Creek, from 93.6 percent to 92.2 percent.

Huntersville and Torrence Creek were both named Honor Schools of Excellence, while Barnette and Cornelius were named Schools of Distinction. Blythe was named a School of Progress, and J.V. Washam failed to make expected growth and did not receive a designation.

Both of the local charter schools, which receive state money, saw increases in proficiency rates: Community School of Davidson, from 95.4 percent to 95.8 percent, and Lake Norman Charter School, from 94.7 percent to 95 percent.

Community School of Davidson was named a High Growth Honor School of Excellence, while Lake Norman Charter made expected growth and earned a School of Excellence designation.

The calculations for academic growth include results of end-of-grade tests in reading and math for fourth- through eighth-graders and results of end-of-course tests in English I, Algebra I, Biology, U.S. History, Civics and Economics for high school students. For high schools, the dropout rate is also a factor.

Under the state standards, schools making expected or high growth where 90 to 100 percent of students pass the end-of-grade or end-of-course tests are named Honor Schools of Excellence if Adequate Yearly Progress is made and Schools of Excellence if Adequate Yearly Progress is not made.

Schools where 80 to 89 percent of students are proficient are named Schools of Distinction, schools where 60 to 79 percent of students are proficient qualify as Schools of Progress and schools where 50 to 59 percent of students are proficient are named Priority Schools.

Schools with less than 50 percent are considered Priority Schools if they make expected or high growth, and Low-Performing Schools if they make less than expected growth.

Adequate Yearly Progress is a component of the federal No Child Left Behind program, which sets target goals for all racial, ethnic and income level subgroups. The 2010-11 targets for elementary school students were 71.6 percent proficiency in reading and 88.6 percent proficiency in math. For high school students, the targets were 69.3 percent proficiency in reading and 84.2 percent proficiency in math.

High Growth Schools

Honor Schools of Excellence
Davidson IB Middle
Huntersville Elementary

Schools of Excellence
Davidson Elementary
Hough High

Schools of Distinction
Bailey Middle

Schools of Progress
Blythe Elementary
North Mecklenburg High

Expected Growth Schools

Honor Schools of Excellence
Torrence Creek Elementary

Schools of Distinction
Barnette Elementary
Bradley Middle
Cornelius Elementary

Schools of Progress
Hopewell High