For Immediate Release

TUESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2000 AT 10:00 AM.

Council reports show little improvement among Georgia's low-performing schools

ATLANTA – Georgia's lowest performing schools have shown little improvement over the past year, according to analysis released today by the Council for School Performance, which is housed in the Applied Research Center of Georgia State University.

Using selected criteria from three years of the Council's School Performance Reports, the Council identified 88 elementary, middle, and high schools that have consistently performed poorly over the last three years—1996-97, 1997-98, and 1998-99. Sixty-two of the schools appeared on a similar list released last March. Georgia has a total of approximately 1,800 elementary, middle, and high schools.

"This analysis shows that many of the same schools perform poorly year after year. Releasing their names to the public is not enough--these schools need extensive, focused technical assistance, or their student achievement will continue to stagnate," said Dr. Gary T. Henry, research director of the Council for School Performance and director of the Applied Research Center.

Based on selected test scores, absenteeism, and dropout rates, 41 elementary schools, 40 middle schools, and 7 high schools are considered low-performing, from 1996-97 through 1998-99. To appear on the list, schools had to fall below all of the criteria every year, for the past three years.

Council chair and BellSouth Director of Community Affairs Pat Willis remarked, "The Council's analysis shows the critical need for an accountability system that establishes meaningful standards by which state and local policymakers can measure progress. Schools consistently performing poorly will require targeted assistance to help them improve toward expected standards."

To determine if a school was considered low-performing, the Council for School Performance selected criteria based on available data for each school level. For elementary schools, the criteria included having fewer than 50% of the school's 3rd and 5th graders score above the national median on ITBS reading and math tests and having an absentee rate above that of the typical Georgia elementary school. For middle schools, the criteria included having fewer than 50% of the 8th graders score above the national median on ITBS reading and math, if the percentage scoring well on the 8^th grade writing assessment fell below the state median; and if the absenteeism rate was higher than that of the typical middle school. The criteria for high schools included having a passing rate below the state median on each of the high school graduation tests, having less than 50% of 11^th graders above the national median on the SAT, and having absentee and dropout rates above those of the typical Georgia high school. Schools were "low-performing" if they fell below all of the criteria each year for the past three years.

These findings were compiled from the fifth annual Council for School Performance School Performance Reports, report cards for 1,836 Georgia schools, and from previous Council reports. Parents, teachers, and school administrators can use these impartial and accurate reports to assess a school’s performance on over 50 indicators, including teacher development, school safety, and academic preparation. In the coming weeks, performance reports on school systems will be released as well.

Those interested in their school’s performance should contact their school principals or PTA/PTO presidents, or access the Council for School Performance reports at http://www.arc.gsu.edu/csp/csp_schools.htm.