The Webster Progress-Times

Both Webster County high schools are now tops in academics.

The state Education Department released 2005-06 accreditation levels last week. Schools are rated from Level 1, the lowest, to Level 5, the highest, based on state test scores. Level 3 is successful and Level 4 is exemplary.

East Webster and Eupora high schools each received Level 5 "superior-performing" ratings under the Mississippi Accountability System. This was the first year for EWHS to reach Level 5, up from Level 4 last year, and the third year for Eupora High to maintain the highest rating.

The Webster County School District's two elementary schools maintained the same performance classifications for the third year: Level 4 for East Webster Elementary and Level 3 for Eupora Elementary.

"We're really, really proud of our performance classifications in a school district this small," said David Faulkenbery, the school system's director of special services. "That's really good to be two 5s, a 4 and a 3."

He said all four schools are working to maintain their level or reach the next level, and that the central office staff is working to help students learn and achieve all they can.

Superintendent of Education Jimmy Pittman said, "I'm just extremely proud to be part of the Webster County school system."

The schools, he said, have great students, teachers and parents, and great support from the community. Pittman also expressed appreciation to the School Board, stating, "It gives us the freedom to do our job and supports up 100 percent."

A personal goal when he became superintendent, said Pittman, was for all the schools to be Level 5 districtwide and he observed that they are moving toward that. Having two Level 5 schools will help economically in attracting prospective businesses, he added.

"This is the best educational staff I've ever worked with," Pittman said. "As educators, I think we're working hard to reach maximum potential."

ALI Scale

Under the accountability standards, schools are graded individually on improvement and achievement using scores from the Mississippi Curriculum Tests in elementary and middle schools, and subject tests in Algebra I, Biology I, English II and U.S. History in high school (see related story).

The ratings were approved by the Commission on School Accreditation on Aug. 31 but were unofficial pending approval by the state Board of Education, which meets today and Friday.

Each school now has an "achievement level index" that defines how well a school's students are performing on state tests with even more precision. Those numbers range from 100 - the worst - to the top score of 600.

The minimum score for Level 5 schools is 500. East Webster High School's ALI was 501 and Eupora High's was 502. East Webster Elementary's was 475 and Eupora Elementary's was 378.

EES Plan

Although Eupora Elementary did not move up in its classification, Faulkenbery pointed out that it was a "high (Level) 3" on an accountability scale of 300 to 399.

During a presentation to the Eupora Rotary Club on Aug. 22, he said Eupora Elementary Principal Dr. Wanda Porter has developed a plan to advance the school to Level 4 with the promise of full support from Pittman.

Faulkenbery said Porter reassigned all but nine teachers this school year so they would bring a fresh approach to the curriculum for their grade level. The school has also received a grant from Johnson & Johnson to promote parental involvement.

Additionally, Faulkenbery pointed out that each elementary school now has a full-time counselor, when they previously shared one.

"We feel like that's going to make an impact for both schools," he told Rotarians.

AYP, Growth Status

Ratings show if schools meet federal No Child Left Behind "adequate yearly progress" goals for increasing the percentage of students at the proficient level in reading/language arts, math and other indicators from spring 2005 to spring 2006. All Webster County schools met AYP standards.

Each school is also assigned a growth status (not met, met or exceeded) based on student improvement. The 2006 accountability report shows that East Webster Elementary exceeded growth status while the others did not meet it. None of the local schools met growth status last year.