Vernon schools earn top marks from state
Published 9:05 am Friday, October 24, 2014
Vernon Parish schools received top marks from the state Department of Education earlier this week, with more than 12 of its 18 schools receiving an A performance score.
The parish received an A for overall district performance, placing it again among the state’s top school systems. The score reflects a slight improvement from last year, with six additional schools earning A’s.
An A grade now indicates meeting grade-level standards. The state aims to have an A indicate mastery by 2025, as it moves toward higher standards. To offset more rigorous assessments during this school year, the state has graded on a curve for this year and will again for next year.
Elementary schools are graded solely by assessment in core studies; 95 percent of middle school scores are based on assessment, and the remaining 5 percent on credits earned by students at the end of the ninth-grade year.
High schools are evaluated based on 25 percent ACT composite scores, 25 percent end-of-course test scores, 25 percent graduation rates and 25 percent quality of diploma.
The biggest school improvements were seen at Fort Polk schools. South Polk and North Polk elementary schools each earned more than 11 points from their total scores last year, bumping them into the top category. Vernon Middle, Rosepine Elementary, and Pickering and Pitkin high schools also moved from a B to an A.
Assistant Superintendent Jimmy Funderburk said the parish tried to engage the weaker parts of the parish over the course of the year to bring their scores up.
“(Our success) is directly related to administrators and teachers and their willingness to accept suggestion and direction,” he said. “We’re real proud of our schools.”
Leesville High had the lowest score in the parish, with 89.6 and an overall B letter grade. Funderburk said curriculum directors have begun meeting with the school several times per week.
He said the overall goal is to eventually bring all parish schools to the A level.
Five parishes scored higher than Vernon; 10 school systems earned an A district performance score.
