Area schools among best at bridging learning gap
By Karen Bair The Herald, June 11, 2005

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The S.C. Education Oversight Committee will recognize five York County schools on Monday as being among the state's best for improving 2004 test scores in at least one disadvantaged demographic group.
In Rock Hill, Rosewood Elementary School, and in Clover, Bethany, Bethel and Griggs Road elementary schools and Crowders Creek Elementary and Middle School, were singled out for "reducing the achievement gap."

Out of 833 elementary and middle schools looked at statewide, 132 will be recognized for improving scores for black children and those living in poverty on the 2004 English/language arts and math sections of the PACT test, a standardized test given each spring to S.C. students in grades three through eight. The 2004 achievement gap study also looked at Hispanic students, but there was no data available for those students in prior years.

The 132 schools total 16 percent of the 833 elementary and middle schools studied statewide. Some schools were not included because they did not have sufficient numbers of children in the subgroups taking the test.

In a press conference Friday, EOC Executive Director Jo Anne Anderson pointed out progress in English/language arts scores at the basic achievement or above levels among disadvantaged students has been minimal since 2002, although progress in reducing math performance gaps has been "consistent and encouraging."

"We're doing a good job in moving students at the bottom up to basic levels, but we're not doing as well in moving them up to proficient and advanced levels," she said.

At the current pace of progress, the state will not reach its goal of being in the top half of the nation in student achievement by 2010. School districts nationally are under pressure from federal No Child Left Behind legislation, which requires schools and districts to make Adequate Yearly Progress in the various demographic groups. NCLB requires that all children reach proficient levels by 2014.

Poverty is a factor that runs among all the underachieving subgroups, Anderson added. The EOC has recommended a change in the way schools in poverty are funded.

"One in four African-American students attend schools where 94 percent or above of the children live in poverty," she said. "I think that's a real issue."

Conversely, only 32 percent of white students were on free or reduced lunch, compared to 81 percent of black children and 76 percent of Hispanic students.

She urged educators, families, legislators and communities to "take our blinders off."

"It is amazing how easy it is to drive through our state and be blind to poverty and the disadvantaged," she said.

An EOC map showed that schools closing the gap were located in areas with a strong economic foundation of industry. The map showed few rural districts, particularly along the interstate corridors, that were improving achievement levels for disadvantaged children.

Schools making a strong performance also tended to have strong literacy programs, a constant creative exchange among teachers and a positive environment among students, parents and teachers. Anderson described them as "relentless in their pursuit of achievement."

Of the schools studied, 38 had made the EOC's achievement gap list in at least one area for three consecutive years. State officials plan to take a closer look at them.

Bethany Elementary was one of the schools making the list for the past three years. Bethel and Griggs Road closed the gap for two consecutive years, and Crowders Creek had also made the list in 2002.

In 2004, Bethany's students on free and reduced lunch tested in the top 25 percent of children achieving the highest level -- proficient and advanced -- in English/language arts across the state. Bethel and Griggs Road students on assisted lunch did the same in math. Black students at Crowders Creek scored in the top 25 percent of those achieving basic and above levels in math across the state.

Pam Cato, principal at Bethany for six years before moving to Griggs Road two years ago, has been a Clover principal for about 17 years. She cites the district's strong math program and a literacy program that begins in preschool.

"When the kids get to first grade, we have reading recovery for kids who need help," she said. "We can provide one-on-one help. By second grade, they have a strong foundation. We emphasize reading."

Clover schools also have a climate of community support and don't look at disadvantaged children differently. About 30 to 40 percent of the children at Griggs Road and about 40 percent at Bethany are on free or assisted lunch.

"We try to educate every child," she said. "We believe all children can learn."

Cato also acknowledges Clover has a strong economic base, particularly with Duke Power's Catawba Nuclear Station housed within its district. Clover spent $7,935 per pupil in 2004, compared to $6,800 per child for Rock Hill schools.

"I truly believe it goes down to the teachers," she said. "Our job is to give them the tools. Clover is able to do that. We are more fortunate than some districts."

Rosewood, with about 37 percent of the students on assisted lunch, made the list for the first time with its 2004 scores. Both black children and those on free and reduced lunch achieved the top 25 percent of students statewide scoring at basic or above levels in math.

Principal Stephen Ward attributes it largely to the International Baccalaureate Primary program the school has worked toward for the past five years.

"They aren't teaching math skills in isolation, but they're teaching math processes through real life application," he said of teachers. "They spend an exorbitant amount of time each day collaborating and talking about how the day went and how tomorrow can be better."

Rock Hill schools superintendent Randy Bridges also believes the IB "holistic approach" and the amount of training teachers took to achieve IB designation has paid off.

"If you've been at Rosewood during the day, you see parents in the building, teachers interacting creatively," he said. "They have a concerted effort to reach every child."

Karen Bair • 329-4080

kbair@heraldonline.com
Copyright © 2005 The Herald, Rock Hill, South Carolina