The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction released the 2011-2012 ABC’s of Public Education on August 2, 2012.  The results show Cumberland County Schools are making great strides in student achievement and increasing the graduation rate.

Cumberland County Schools saw an increase in proficiency in every subject and every grade.   Tested subjects included:  Reading in grades 3-8, Mathematics in grades 3-8, Science in grades 5 and 8, Algebra 1 in grades 8-12, English 1 in grades 8 and 9, and Biology in grades 9-12.   Of the schools in Cumberland County, 91% met at least the expected growth standard.   Of these schools, 62% met the high growth standard.

The Reading Composite score in grades 3-8 has risen from 52.5% in 2008 to 71.6% in 2012.  The Mathematics Composite score in grades 3-8 has risen from 61.4% to 80.1% during the same time period.  Science scores have risen as well.  In 2008, 34.0% of fifth graders and 44.1% of eighth graders were proficient in Science.  The 2012 results show 79.2% of fifth graders and 78.5% of eighth graders are now proficient in Science.  Algebra 1 scores have risen from 61.6% in 2009 to 80.0% in 2012.  Biology scores have risen from 66.7% in 2009 to 82.5% in 2012.  English 1 scores have risen from 73.5% in 2009 to 83.9% in 2012.

The chart below shows the number and percentage of Cumberland County Schools by ABC Status.  A comparison to the state of North Carolina data is also included.

Honor Schools of Excellence are schools that made at least expected growth, had at least 90% of their students’ scores at or above Achievement Level III, and met all designated Annual Measurable Objectives (AMOs).

Schools of Excellence are schools that made at least expected growth and had at least 90% of their students’ scores at or above Achievement Level III but did not meet all designated AMOs.

Schools of Distinction are schools that made at least expected growth and had at least 80% of their students’ scores at or above Achievement Level III (but were not Honor Schools of Excellence or Schools of Excellence).

Schools of Progress are schools that made at least expected growth and had at least 60% of their students’ scores at or above Achievement Level III (but were not Honor Schools of Excellence or Schools of Excellence or Distinction).

Schools Receiving No Recognition did not make their expected growth standards but have at least 60% of their students’ scores at or above Achievement Level III.

Priority Schools are schools that have less than 60% of their students’ scores at or above Achievement Level III, irrespective of making their expected growth standards, and are not Low-Performing Schools.

Low-Performing Schools are those that failed to meet their expected growth standards and have less than 50% of their students’ scores at or above Achievement Level III.

Individual schools, county, regional and state ABC’s data may be found by clicking the following link:  http://abcs.ncpublicschools.org/abcs/.

The graduation rate has shown an increase in each of the last seven years.  In 2005-2006, 64.7% of the students who began 9^th grade four years prior graduated in 2006.  In 2011-2012, 80.7% of the students who began 9th grade four years prior graduated in 2012.  The state graduation rate in 2011-2012 was 80.2%.  Below is a chart showing the graduation rate from 2005-2006 to 2011-2012.

Under the No Child Left Behind law and the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), schools had been required to meet Adequate Yearly Progress Goals.  North Carolina is one of 33 states who have been granted an ESEA waiver which allows the state to reset targets to focus on each individual subgroup of students.  In order for a subgroup to have a target, there must be a minimum of 40 students enrolled in the school in that subgroup for the full academic year.  Cumberland County met 85 of 88 or 97% of their AMO targets.  In Cumberland County, 52% of the schools met 100% of their targets.  Information on the AMO targets can be found by visiting the following Website:  http://www.ncpublicschools.org/accountability/reporting/fedreports.