(August 6, 2007) - The State of Tennessee released Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program results today based on No Child Left Behind benchmarks, and Knox County schools data show both exceptional successes and challenges to meet. (Download AYP Report)

Forty-five of Knox County's 50 elementary schools and 12 of the system's 14 middle schools are in good standing based on the NCLB benchmarks. This is a marked improvement over the results from 2006.

"Dogwood and Norwood Elementary schools are the only elementary schools we have on the states high priority list," said Dr. Mike Winstead, Knox County Schools Director of Accountability and Instruction. A high priority school is one that has not made adequate yearly progress (AYP) toward the NCLB benchmarks for two consecutive years. "Both Dogwood and Norwood made AYP this year and if they continue this level of performance next year they will be in good standing," he said.

Belle Morris, East Knox County and Springhill Elementary Schools are targeted by the state for not making AYP this year. Targeted schools are those that do not make AYP in a single year.

"These schools will return to good standing when they make AYP next year," said Winstead.

"We are very excited about the great performance that our middle schools and elementary schools are showing as a group," said Dr. Donna Wright, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction. "However, seven of our twelve high schools did not make the state's 90% graduation requirement, for the second year and they are now on the state's high priority list. One high school is also on the targeted list for the same reason."

"The challenge with our high school graduation rates is that many of our schools lose seven or eight percent of their eligible students before the rates are even calculated," said Winstead. "Students who earn a GED and leave school early count as dropouts against the state standard. Also, special education students who have met the goals of their individual education plans but who have not met all standard requirements for graduation are counted against the total number."

According to Winstead, five of the eight high schools identified by the state also need to address the reading performance of one or more groups of students.

"Literacy instruction at our middle schools and high schools is a weakness that we are beginning to address this year," said Wright. "Everything we do hinges on student literacy, and we have reduced these programs at the middle and high school level over the years due to fiscal constraints. The infusion of new BEP money this year will help us begin to restore our literacy programs at this level."

Wright explains that the system has challenges with literacy at all student performance levels. "Literacy is not just reading," she said. "It is much more. Our approach to restoring literacy to our middle and high school curriculum will benefit both our struggling and our high performing students."

"What we have learned with our high school students is that we do not lose graduates as seniors. We lose them as freshmen," said Wright. "If students do not earn enough credits their freshman year to academically become sophomores, the chance of them overcoming that deficit and graduating is remote. That is why we are working very closely with our freshmen to get them a helping hand before they get in a credit deficit situation."

The vast majority of students in Knox County are doing very well and moving on to meet success in either the workforce or post secondary education according to Wright. However, she wants to make sure that every student achieves all that he or she has the ability and desire to achieve.

"I think we are on the right track," said Wright. "We are seeing great results in our elementary schools, and we are redesigning our approach to middle schools and high schools so that we are teaching students and not just subjects. We are just beginning to see results and I expect great things for all of our students in the future."