Schools not making the grade
8:57 p.m. Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Some Topeka schools are not making the grade.
Three Topeka Schools in the 501 district are on a list from the State Department of Education for not making adequate yearly progress or AYP.
Once a school gets a failing grade it has to have a passing mark for two years to get off the list.
Two of the three schools passed this year and have another year to get off the list.
So which schools made the list?
Chase Middle School and Scott Computer Technology Magnet passed this year, but still made the list.
Lundgren Elementary was new to the list with a failing grade.
What do parents think of the State's report.
With a failing score on the AYP, parents have the option to have their children bussed to a school in the district with a passing grade. So why did so many parents pass up on that opportunity?
James Turner says it's partly convenience,
"We really like the neighborhood setting. We live a couple of blocks away so being able to have him here is really helpful to us," Turner said. "Overall we really like the school."
Out of nearly 1,200 students in the three schools affected, 501 officials say only 30 took the option to bus to another school. Parents like Nikki Ramirez-Jennings say the problems with the school aren't black and white.
"I decided we're going to stay and we're going to be part of the change that needs to happen," Ramirez-Jennings said. "It's a great school and great teachers. The problem is our teachers teach all day long, our teachers don't follow us home."
Parents were asked at the Tuesday night meet and greet to donate two hours of time during the year. Nikki Ramirez-Jennings says that's a great start.
"Parents need to step up and do our part so the schools can make AYP," she said.
If a parent does choose to move their child to another school, the school district will only cover transportation costs while the school is on the State's list. Once it's off, the transportation cost is up to the parent.
To see how any of the schools in Kansas scored, tap in here.
Adequate yearly progress school breakdown
Below are the school districts identified by the state Department of Education as being "on improvement." The designation means they've failed to make adequate progress toward improving students' scores on reading and math tests for two consecutive years. However, some of them could be removed from the list next year, because they made sufficient progress in 2008 after not making sufficient progress in 2007.
They are listed by Unified School District number.
| USD | County | Name | Area | Off in '09? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 202 | Wyandotte | Turner | Math, reading | No |
| 214 | Grant | Ulysses | Reading | No |
| 253 | Lyon | Emporia | Reading | Yes |
| 257 | Allen | Iola | Reading | No |
| 259 | Sedgwick | Wichita | Math, reading | No |
| 261 | Sedgwick | Haysville | Reading | Yes |
| 290 | Franklin | Ottawa | Reading | No |
| Saline | Salina | Reading | Yes | 352 | Sherman | Goodland | Reading | No |
| 420 | Osage | Osage City | Reading | No |
| 445 | Montgomery | Coffeyville | Reading | No |
| 453 | Leavenworth | Leavenworth | Reading | No |
| 457 | Finney | Garden City | Reading | No |
| 464 | Leavenworth | Tonganoxie | Math | Yes |
| 480 | Seward | Liberal | Math, reading | No |
| 490 | Butler | El Dorado | Math | Yes |
| 500 | Wyandotte | Kansas City | Math, reading | No |
| 501 Shawnee | Topeka | Math, reading | No | |
| 503 | Labette | Parsons | Reading | Yes |
Here are the individual schools on improvement:
- Turner Elementary in Turner
- Kepley Middle in Ulysses
- Ridgeview Elementary in Olathe
- Clark Elementary in Wichita
- Cloud Elementary in Wichita
- Curtis Middle in Wichita
- Enterprise in Wichita
- Hamilton Middle in Wichita
- Harry Street Elementary in Wichita
- Irving Elementary in Wichita
- Jardine Technology Middle in Wichita
- Marshall Middle in Wichita
- Mead Middle in Wichta
- Pleasant Valley Middle in Wichita
- Truesdell Middle in Wichita
- Lakewood Middle in Salina
- Everest Middle in South Brown County
- Alta Brown in Garden City
- Liberal South Middle in Liberal
- Argentine Middle in Kansas City
- Banneker Elementary in Kansas City
- Bertram Caruthers Elementary in Kansas City
- Central Middle in Kansas City
- Chelsea Elementary in Kansas City
- Grant Elementary in Kansas City
- Lindbergh Elementary in Kansas City
- Mark Twain Elementary in Kansas City M.E. Pearson Elementary in Kansas City
- New Stanley in Kansas City
- Northwest Middle in Kansas City
- Quindaro Elementary in Kansas City Whittier Elementary in Kansas City
- Chase Middle in Topeka
- Lundgren Elementary in Topeka
- Scott Computer Tech Magnet in Topeka
- Nieman Elementary in Shawnee Mission
Source: Kansas Department of Education
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