Conway School District presents annual report to public

The Annual Report to the Public was recently presented by the Conway Public School District. 

The purpose of the presentation was to inform the school board and the public about the performance of students in our school district. This article will summarize a portion of the information that was presented that evening. 

The school district is required by No Child Left Behind (NCLB) to test all students in grades three through eight. Tests in literacy and in math are given. 

Students are then deemed to be either “Advanced,” “Proficient,” “Basic,” or “Below Basic” in each of these two areas. School–wide and district–wide information is then aggregated by what are called sub–populations. If there were at least 40 students in each subpopulation, information on those students is reported.

In grades 3–8 across the district, the percent of students who scored proficient or advanced in mathematics, during 2009, are as follows: Grade 3– 88 percent. Grade 4– 87 percent. Grade 5– 82 percent. Grade 6– 91 percent. Grade 7–82 percent. Grade 8– 77 percent. 

In grades three through eight across the district, the percent of students who scored proficient or advanced in literacy are as follows: Grade 3– 75 percent. Grade 4– 80 percent. Grade 5– 78 percent. Grade 6– 77 percent. Grade 7– 72 percent. Grade 8– 82 percent. 

NCLB also requires that end of course or end of level assessments be given at the secondary level. Tests are given in literacy in the 11th grade, algebra 1, and geometry at the completion of the course. 

On the Literacy 11 End of Level exam, 61 percent of the combined population scored proficient or advanced. On the Algebra I End of Course Exam, 85 percent of the combined population scored proficient or advanced. On the Geometry End of Course Exam, 70 percent of the combined population scored proficient or advanced. 

In addition, the number of students taking advanced placement exams was 489; the percent of students making a 3, 4, or 5 on advanced placement exams was 353. The graduation rate was 84.8  percent, grade inflation rate was 2.3  percent, drop–out rate for Grades 9 through 12 was 3  percent, and college remediation rate was 35.1  percent. 

For a complete review of the 2009 annual report, please feel free to visit www.conwayschools.org and click on the link to the right of the home page which reads “Annual Report to the Public”. 

Students consistently score significantly above the state average in virtually every category. It is a credit to our wonderful teachers and 

Principals as well as a reflection of this great community of Conway that we call home.