Sewing Belief and Reaping Success!
For the last three-and-a-half years, school system staff members have purposefully and intentionally ensured that individual students know that their teachers believe in them. The message of belief is not limited to students. It extends to faculty, staff, and administration as they also hear that they are believed in. This belief in others has caused individuals to believe in themselves and has begun to permeate the culture of the school system.
Belief in the efficacy and abilities of students, staff, parents, and the community has led to great success. Although much remains to be done, there is much to celebrate!
The latest EVAAS Report from the state revealed that EVERY K-5 elementary teacher in our school system met or exceeded growth.
Every. Single. One!
This is a monumental feat that is a direct result of the collaborative culture that has been established in the schools. Teachers are helping teachers and consequently, every teacher is succeeding which, in turn, means that students are succeeding.
In a recent EdExplainer article, Alex Granados defined academic growth as “a measurement of how much a student has learned. It is determined by measuring expected progress against actual progress.”
Every elementary teacher in the school system meeting or exceeding expected growth means that on average every elementary school student in the system is meeting or exceeding expected growth. On the whole, each of the elementary schools exceeded growth.
EVAAS data is not the only data source showing that student academic performance is continuing to improve.
School Performance Grades
State assessment results from the 2016-2017 school year show that our schools are making progress in several areas with increases in the proficiency rate and student growth.
In 2013, the NC General Assembly passed legislation to assign grades to schools. The School Performance Grades issued by the state are an imperfect measurement of the complexity of the work, the intensity of the challenges, and the depth of the dedication of our teachers and staff. They do more to identify areas of high-poverty in our state than actually measure the performance of the school, the staff, or the students.
During the first year, the students and staff of D.F. Walker Elementary were assigned a "D," along with 536 other schools. Undaunted, they publicly declared that "D" stood for “Determined” during a School Board meeting. With no change in demographics and an unquenchable desire to succeed, they became the only school in the state to Exceed Growth the last two years and rise from a "D" to a "B!" The students and staff of D.F. Walker Elementary School have shown the power of believing in yourself and each other.
Students at DF Walker Elementary School increased their overall performance; their performance in reading, their performance in math, and their performance in science.
At Chowan Middle School, we have experienced similar academic success with the school improving from a D to a C.
Students at Chowan Middle School increased their overall performance; their performance in reading, and their performance in math. Chowan Middle School has met or exceeded growth ten out of the last eleven years.
According to the state results, the students at John A. Holmes High School improved their overall performance, their performance in English, their performance in History, their performance in Chemistry, their performance in Physical Science, their performance in Physics, and their performance on Biology. The school earned a school performance grade of C.
Cohort Graduation Rate
I believe that the cohort graduation rate is one of the strongest metrics for how well a school system is doing in grades Pre-K through 12th. If we are doing our job in every classroom, in every grade, and in every school, our students will graduate fully prepared for college and career.
Although the Edenton-Chowan Schools’ four-year cohort graduation rate dropped from 2016 to 2017, it still remains the second highest graduation rate in the district’s history. The last three years represent the three highest cohort graduation rates in school system history. The graduation rate for the last three years has been 82.2%, 90.5%, and 84.1%.
EVAAS data is not the only data source showing that student academic performance is continuing to improve.
School Performance Grades
State assessment results from the 2016-2017 school year show that our schools are making progress in several areas with increases in the proficiency rate and student growth.
In 2013, the NC General Assembly passed legislation to assign grades to schools. The School Performance Grades issued by the state are an imperfect measurement of the complexity of the work, the intensity of the challenges, and the depth of the dedication of our teachers and staff. They do more to identify areas of high-poverty in our state than actually measure the performance of the school, the staff, or the students.
Students at DF Walker Elementary School increased their overall performance; their performance in reading, their performance in math, and their performance in science.
At Chowan Middle School, we have experienced similar academic success with the school improving from a D to a C.
Students at Chowan Middle School increased their overall performance; their performance in reading, and their performance in math. Chowan Middle School has met or exceeded growth ten out of the last eleven years.
According to the state results, the students at John A. Holmes High School improved their overall performance, their performance in English, their performance in History, their performance in Chemistry, their performance in Physical Science, their performance in Physics, and their performance on Biology. The school earned a school performance grade of C.
I believe that the cohort graduation rate is one of the strongest metrics for how well a school system is doing in grades Pre-K through 12th. If we are doing our job in every classroom, in every grade, and in every school, our students will graduate fully prepared for college and career.
Although the Edenton-Chowan Schools’ four-year cohort graduation rate dropped from 2016 to 2017, it still remains the second highest graduation rate in the district’s history. The last three years represent the three highest cohort graduation rates in school system history. The graduation rate for the last three years has been 82.2%, 90.5%, and 84.1%.
Arts
The John A. Holmes High School and Chowan Middle Band Programs have been revitalized. During the past year, the Marching Aces won Best in Show and Best in Class honors during Marching Competitions. The band also received straight superior scores (the highest available) during their last concert contest.
The vocal programs across the district are also much improved with regular performances from every school. White Oak Elementary students sang at graduation along with their high school peers; D.F. Walker Elementary students have sung at multiple community events; and Chowan Middle School students have sung with outside groups and are now giving regular community performances. The vocal program at John A. Holmes High School is the strongest that it has been recently and continues to improve.
Athletics
The John A. Holmes High School student-athletes completed what is arguably the finest year in the history of the Aces during the 2016-2017 school year. They earned several Conference Championships. Additionally, the football team, won the Eastern Regional Championship and played in the State Championship for the first time since the late 1960’s. The baseball team won the State Championship for the first time in the history of the school system.
Already this year, the Women’s Tennis Team and the Football Team have won Conference Championships and are set for deep state play-off runs. The Men’s Soccer Team finished second in the conference, while the Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Teams each finished third in the conference.
Community Support
Support from the community is crucial for a school system to be successful. Our school system enjoys incredible support from the community. The Back-to-School Bash is a perfect example as businesses joined with churches and faith-based groups to come together to provide approximately 750 book bags for students, along with a great meal, entertainment, and helpful information to kick-off the school year. Volunteers serve in each of the schools and are making a difference.
Support from Vidant Hospital helps to provide a certified athletic trainer to help keep student-athletes safe. The Edenton and Rocky Hock Lions Club have partnered with the school system to provide a new state-of-the-art Spot Vision screener to help detect vision difficulties early.
This great success in academics, the arts, and athletics is indicative of the leadership of the Board of Education and the dedication of school system staff members. There is much for the community to be proud of.
The John A. Holmes High School and Chowan Middle Band Programs have been revitalized. During the past year, the Marching Aces won Best in Show and Best in Class honors during Marching Competitions. The band also received straight superior scores (the highest available) during their last concert contest.
The vocal programs across the district are also much improved with regular performances from every school. White Oak Elementary students sang at graduation along with their high school peers; D.F. Walker Elementary students have sung at multiple community events; and Chowan Middle School students have sung with outside groups and are now giving regular community performances. The vocal program at John A. Holmes High School is the strongest that it has been recently and continues to improve.
The John A. Holmes High School student-athletes completed what is arguably the finest year in the history of the Aces during the 2016-2017 school year. They earned several Conference Championships. Additionally, the football team, won the Eastern Regional Championship and played in the State Championship for the first time since the late 1960’s. The baseball team won the State Championship for the first time in the history of the school system.
Already this year, the Women’s Tennis Team and the Football Team have won Conference Championships and are set for deep state play-off runs. The Men’s Soccer Team finished second in the conference, while the Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Teams each finished third in the conference.
Support from the community is crucial for a school system to be successful. Our school system enjoys incredible support from the community. The Back-to-School Bash is a perfect example as businesses joined with churches and faith-based groups to come together to provide approximately 750 book bags for students, along with a great meal, entertainment, and helpful information to kick-off the school year. Volunteers serve in each of the schools and are making a difference.
Support from Vidant Hospital helps to provide a certified athletic trainer to help keep student-athletes safe. The Edenton and Rocky Hock Lions Club have partnered with the school system to provide a new state-of-the-art Spot Vision screener to help detect vision difficulties early.
This great success in academics, the arts, and athletics is indicative of the leadership of the Board of Education and the dedication of school system staff members. There is much for the community to be proud of.
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