RRPS 2006 AYP Report
On Tuesday, August 1, the New Mexico Department of Public Education released its school ratings for 2006. These ratings are based on the results of the New Mexico Standards-Based Assessments (NMSBA), achievement tests given to students in grades 3-9 and grade 11 in the spring of 2006. Be sure to view the different reports.
Overall, students at all Rio Rancho schools did well on the tests, and we are very proud of our children and our teachers and staff."
Dr. Sue Cleveland, Superintendent
Schools may achieve a rating of “Meets AYP” or “AYP Not Met”. AYP stands for “adequate yearly progress”, and refers to the federally-mandated goal that all students demonstrate proficiency in reading and math by the year 2014. The academic data is reported in terms of the percentage of students the state finds demonstrated proficiency on the new tests in mathematics and reading.
In order for a school to meet AYP, ALL of the following criteria must be met. If a school fails to meet any one of the 37 data points set down in the criteria, the school is rated “AYP Not Met.”
- All students in the school, and students in each of eight “subgroups” (Caucasian, African-American, Hispanic, Asian/Pacific, Native American, English-Language Learners (ELL), special ed students, and students qualifying for free and reduced lunch benefits (FRLP)), must meet the state’s targets for percent testing proficient or above in reading and math
- A minimum of 95% of students in the school and 95% of students in each subgroup must take the tests. This is called “participation rate.”
- Finally, elementary and middle schools must meet attendance targets, and high schools must meet graduation rate targets.
DON’T LET THE LABEL FOOL YOU
The state’s accountability system makes no distinction among schools that are providing a strong overall education but have issues in one or two areas, those with a weak overall educational program, and those with both weaknesses and strengths -- the same label, “AYP Not Met” is applied to them all. It is therefore important for parents to look beyond the label to determine how well schools and districts are educating children. Overall, students at all Rio Rancho schools did well on the tests, and we are very proud of our children and our teachers and staff.
It is important to note that achievement tests like the NMSBA are a snapshot of how our students performed at one particular point in time. This test provides us with useful information about where our instruction is effective and where students need extra help. We use this data, along with information from the NWEA “levels tests” and student performance on assignments throughout the year, to adjust our instructional strategies for your child and our children in general. Individual data about each child’s performance and more information on each school’s performance will be available to parents early in the school year.
WHY DID SOME SCHOOLS NOT MAKE AYP?Ten of the 15 Rio Rancho schools rated in 2006 -- including all elementary schools -- achieved ratings of “Meets AYP:” Of those who did not meet AYP:
- One school, Rio Rancho Cyber Academy (a new school opened in 2005-06) did not make AYP based solely on the participation rate. Had two additional students completed the tests in math and reading, the Cyber Academy would have made AYP.
- Two schools (Eagle Ridge MS and Rio Rancho Mid-High) did not make AYP based on special education results on the reading test. The schools made AYP in all other areas.
- Rio Rancho High School did not make AYP based on special education results in reading and math. It made AYP in all other areas.
- Independence High School did not make AYP based on student results in mathematics. We are pleased to note that the school’s graduation rate -- the cause of the school’s failure to make AYP last year -- has significantly improved.
To find out how your school did, please click here for your child’s school:
WHAT IS A “SCHOOL IN NEED OF IMPROVEMENT,” AND WHAT DOES IT MEAN?When a school fails to meet AYP for two consecutive years, regardless of the reason, it becomes designated as a “school in need of improvement.” Four Rio Rancho schools fall into this category: Eagle Ridge Middle School, Independence HS, Rio Rancho Mid-High, and Rio Rancho HS. To learn more about this designation and what it means, please click here.
If you have questions about your child’s or school’s test results, please feel free to contact your child’s teacher or the school principal. They will be glad to work with you and your child to help you understand the results and apply them to help your child achieve academic success.