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(This article, reprinted with permission, featuring the Bexley schools, appeared in Bexley News on July 1, 2009) 7/15/09 District extends its run of excellence into ninth yearSUPERINTENDENT'S NOTEBOOK The Bexley City School District has achieved an "excellent" rating from the Ohio Department of Education for the ninth consecutive year. Such a distinction is held by only a few school districts in the state of Ohio. The overall performance index for the school district has increased for the third consecutive year. The school district's performance index on a 120-point scale was 103.9 in 2007, 104.5 in 2008 and 104.6 in 2009. This value is calculated from a weighted average of the test results from all of the schools in the school district. More than 90 percent of our students performed at or above the "proficient" level on the state tests. Bexley's high school students continue to pass the test at very high levels. More than 97 percent of Bexley High School students performed at or above the "proficient" level. A remarkably high 85 percent of the high school students taking the test this year performed at the "accelerated" or "advanced" levels. The high school's performance index moved from 108.0 in 2007 to 112.6 in 2009. This is just 7.6 points away from a perfect performance index score. I believe the high school's impressive gains in student performance are correlated highly with efforts by faculty and administration to offer accelerated learning opportunities through the Advanced Placement classes to more students each year. Henry Levin, a Stanford University professor, states that accelerating the learning opportunities for all students will have a significant impact on student performance and will prepare them for success after high school. Historically, only the top 10 percent of the students were allowed to enroll in AP classes. At Bexley, more the half of juniors and seniors are enrolled in AP classes and an impressive number of students are passing the AP test with a score that allows them to earn college credits. Such success can be attributed to the efforts of faculty and administration in actively recruiting and encouraging students to challenge themselves by enrolling in AP and honors classes. These students are able to experience the rigor associated with classes taken at the college or university level. The concept of accelerating instruction is also being used in the school district to deliver math instruction at the elementary level. Identified students in grades 3-6 are accelerated ahead through the elementary math curriculum. It is interesting to note that the school district this year met state standards in math performance at all grade levels. Overall, students who are economically disadvantaged, Asian or Pacific Islander, African American, Hispanic, White, in special education, and who are English language learners did well on the test. The school district did not receive a perfect score this year on the state report card, specifically in reading proficiency; however, I am confident that we will continue to work hard to ensure that we deliver instruction to students not achieving at proficient levels. On behalf of the Board of Education and administration, I want to commend the faculty and staff for a job well done and for maintaining the school district's "excellent" rating. This column was provided by Michael Johnson, superintendent of Bexley City Schools. |
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