HAMLET — Richmond County Schools continues to increase in academic achievement, as 87.5 percent of its schools met or exceeded growth expectations for 2015-2016.
The N.C. Department of Public Instruction’s annual growth report measures where a student started from and how far he or she moved by examining historical test data among his or her peers.
The indicators for elementary and middle school performance grades are the percent proficient on End-of-Grade and End-of-Course tests. At the high school level, EOC data is looked at in addition to ACT outcomes, WorkKeys results, math course rigor and the four year cohort graduation rate.
Student achievement and growth are combined to calculate each school’s overall performance. The school performance grade is made up of 20 percent growth and 80 percent student achievement.
According to the Educator Value Added Assessment System, seven schools in Richmond County exceeded state growth expectations, and seven schools met them, bringing the district’s composite school to 87.5 percent In North Carolina, 73.6 percent of schools met or exceeded growth, while 78.6 percent did so in the Sandhills Region.
Since the NC READY Model began, educators have become more familiar with curriculum and state standards. They understand that rigor must increase if students are to academically compete on a global scale.
The district is focused on closing the gap between overall North Carolina performance and Richmond County.
In 2012-2013, there was an 11.5 percent difference, while the most recent data shows the state’s overall performance composite score is 58.3 percent. Richmond County Schools is only 4.2 percent lower at 54.1 percent.
Across Richmond County, the school performance composite increased at 87.5 percent of its schools.
“These results reflect the hard work of our students, teachers and administrators,” said Richmond County Schools Superintendent, Dr. Cindy Goodman. “I am so proud our district is outpacing both the region and State in growth and increased proficiency.”
Additionally, both Richmond Senior High School’s and Richmond Early College’s graduation rates were well above the 85.8% State average.
From the 2016 Graduation Cohort, 100% earned a diploma at REaCH, while 87.4 percent successfully completed high school at RSHS. Under its alternative school model, Ashley Chapel Educational Center’s graduation rate rose from 61.2 percent in 2015 to 75 percent in 2016.
The district’s overall graduation rate was its highest ever at 81.2 percent.
While each of these numbers is an important indicator of how Richmond County Schools is performing, officials say it is important to note that no single number is an accurate reflection of all the effort that is put forth each year by the district’s students, teachers and staff.
Ashley-Michelle Thublin is the public information officer for Richmond County Schools.