Dr. Scales Says Schools Making Progress

   Dr. Jim Scales congratulates his staff on their achievements. East Lake and Orchard Knob Elementary schools improved their test scores and are now in good standing. Orchard Knob Elementary principal Marthel Young says to help students learn, you have to understand their background.
   Young, The culture that we work with and have cultural competence where we say, these children are no different than any other children that we would work with."
   New Orchard Knob ElementaryThis fall, students will walk the halls of a brand new school with 37 classrooms.
The principal says many of her youngest students don't attend pre-K or day care.
   Young, "The readiness for school puts so many of our students behind and of course the economically disadvantaged population that we serve."
   But with help from the district and state, the school was able to hire specialists to help improve parental involvement and attendance.
   Dr. Scales says most of the high schools landed on the list because of graduation requirements. If one student is held back or drops out, that counts against the school. Soddy-Daisy had 9 students, Ooltewah 15,  Lookout Valley and Howard High schools each had one.
   Dr. Scales, "Very few of our high schools have deficiencies in terms of academic achievement. We have to make sure we address the issues at Howard, last year in the middle of the year we added some additional staff at Howard, this year we changed the start  time. What we're doing is working, if Howard Middle School, if it was a stand alone unit, it made AYP."
   Administrators and teachers say improvement takes time, but they're determined to succeed.
   
    For 2008:
    -The district made AYP along with nearly 80% of all schools in Hamilton County.
    -59 schools are in Good Standing and 11 schools are in Target Status.
    -Orchard Knob and East Lake Elementary schools moved from State Reconstruction to Good Standing.
   -East Side Elementary moves to Improving Status.
   -Three schools moved from Target to Good Standing, Brainerd High, Brown Middle, and Hixson Middle
   -High Priority Schools are East Side Elem., Howard School of Academics and Tech, Lookout Valley Middle/High, Ooltewah High, and Soddy Daisy High (some of these schools missed their goals because of graduation rates)