Tuesday, March 9, 2010

 

NUMBER OF LOUISIANA SCHOOLS EARNING HIGH-PERFORMING,
HIGH-POVERTY DISTINCTION NEARLY DOUBLES

 

BATON ROUGE, LA - For the last three years, the Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) has sought to identify and honor schools that are overcoming the challenges associated with educating large populations of poor and minority children. Today, the Department released the latest list of High Performing, High Poverty Schools. While twenty schools made the list each year in 2008 and 2009, this year 35 schools in 18 districts across the state have earned the distinction.

 "We want to congratulate the students, families, teachers and administrators at these schools," State Superintendent of Education Paul Pastorek said. "In each of the previous two years, we were able to identify 20 schools that met the criteria. And to have 35 schools make the list this year clearly illustrates that across the state the education community has embraced the fundamental idea that all children can learn, regardless of their race or socio-economic status. These 35 schools in particular have effectively overcome the complex challenges that have historically plagued a majority of Louisiana public schools. They are finding ways to meet the needs of their students so that the conversation is no longer about why we fail, but what w e are doing to achieve success for our children."

 

To earn the High-Performing, High-Poverty (HPHP) designation, schools must meet the following criteria:  

  • A baseline School Performance Score of 100 or higher for two consecutive years, based on the state's accountability system. School Performance Scores (SPS) are determined based on student scores on state assessments, attendance, non-dropout and graduation rates, depending on the grade configuration of each school. Schools in Decline are not eligible for the designation, even if their SPS remains above 100. Schools in Decline is a label assigned to schools with an SPS below 110 that drop by 2.5 points or more in one academic year.  
  • At least 65 percent of the school's population must be enrolled in the federally-funded free or reduced-price meal program. Student participation in the free or reduced-priced meal program is a national indicator used to measure poverty.   

Through a partnership with the Board of Regents, LDOE is conducting an analysis of the 35 HPHP schools to determine what factors contribute to their success. Department officials will make site visits and conduct interviews with members of these school communities in an effort to identify best practices that could potentially be replicated in schools with similar demographics.  

The HPHP program was launched in 2008, when the Department set out to identify schools that had achieved high academic success, despite having to overcome the social challenges associated with high-poverty student populations. In 2009, the Department raised the criteria for schools to qualify for the HPHP title.   

"Because we made it harder to quality for the HPHP designation, we are extremely pleased that the number of schools making the list almost doubled from last year to this year," State Deputy Superintendent of Education Ollie Tyler said. "Through careful observation and study of these outstanding schools and their programs, we intend to identify instructional strategies and supplemental resources to help support other high-poverty schools and their students. We realize that educating students who live in poverty may require additional effort or a unique approach. However, the educators and students in these 35 schools are achieving at high levels, and the Department commends them for their exemplary success."  

The 35 High-Performing, High-Poverty schools are in the following school districts: Caddo, Calcasieu, Catahoula, East Baton Rouge, Evangeline, Jefferson, Livingston, Orleans, Ouachita, Plaquemines, Rapides, St. Landry, St. Martin, Terrebonne, Vernon, Washington, West Carroll and the City of Monroe.   

Of the 35 schools recognized this year, 18 schools made the list last year, while one of the schools-Forest Hill Elementary in Rapides Parish-has made the list all three times. Two of the schools are charter schools, while three of the HPHP schools are magnet schools.  

The HPHP schools announced today will be honored in the spring.  

"We look forward to honoring these school leaders, teachers and communities in the next several months," Keith Guice, President of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education said. "Their success is an inspiration to us and reminds us of the good work being done in schools and classrooms across our state." 

The 2010 HPHP schools are: 

  • Claiborne Fundamental Elementary School - Caddo Parish
  • LeBleu Settlement Elementary School - Calcasieu Parish
  • Western Heights Elementary School - Calcasieu Parish
  • Westwood Elementary School - Calcasieu Parish
  • Sicily Island Elementary School - Catahoula Parish
  • Forest Heights Academy of Excellence - East Baton Rouge Parish
  • Glasgow Middle School - East Baton Rouge Parish
  • McKinley Middle Magnet School - East Baton Rouge Parish
  • W. W. Stewart Elementary School - Evangeline Parish
  • James Stephens Montessori School - Evangeline Parish
  • Greenlawn Terrace Elementary School - Jefferson Parish
  • Springfield Elementary School - Livingston Parish
  • Mary Bethune Elementary Literature/Technology - Orleans Parish
  • Edward Hynes Charter School - Orleans Parish
  • Lake Forest Elementary Charter School - Orleans Parish
  • Benjamin Franklin Elementary Math-Science Magnet - Orleans Parish
  • Boley Elementary School - Ouachita Parish
  • Boothville-Venice Elementary School - Plaquemines Parish
  • Cherokee Elementary School - Rapides Parish
  • Pol! and Junior High School - Rapides Parish
  • Rosenthal Montessori Elementary School - Rapides Parish
  • Tioga Elementary School - Rapides Parish
  • Forest Hill Elementary School - Rapides Parish
  • East Elementary School - St. Landry Parish
  • Eunice Elementary School - St. Landry Parish
  • Glendale Elementary School - St. Landry Parish
  • Park Vista Elementary School - St. Landry Parish
  • Port Barre Elementary School - St. Landry Parish
  • Breaux Bridge Primary School - St. Martin Parish
  • Bayou Black Elementary School - Terrebonne Parish
  • Dularge Middle School - Terrebonne Parish
  • Pickering Elementary School - Vernon Parish
  • Enon Elementary School - Washington Parish
  • Goodwill Elementary School - West Carroll Parish
  • J.S. Clark Elementary School - City of Monroe School District