Principals Praise District Programs For State Report Card Improvements

CHARLESTON - Surrounded by principals and district administrators, Assistant Superintendent James Winbush hit several highlights for the Charleston School District contained in the 2011 S.C. State Report Card data released earlier Thursday.

Four more CCSD schools earned "Excellent" Absolute ratings this year (30) over last year (26). Additionally one more school earned a "Good" Absolute rating this year (six) than last year (five).

There were also two fewer schools earning "Average" Absolute ratings, down to 25 from 27 the previous year, and two fewer receiving "Below Average" Absolute ratings, down to 12 from 14. The number of schools receiving "At Risk" Absolute ratings remained unchanged at 12.

The district also saw an increase of 5 percentage points in its graduation rate up to 72.2 percent from 67 percent in 2010, however it still remains below the state average of 73.5 percent of high schoolers graduating on time within four years.

"We know we still have work to do, but we are a long way ahead of where we used to be," Winbush said.

He added the district's success wouldn't be possible without the principals and teachers working in the schools every day. Many of those principals, including those leading the 11 CCSD schools that saw improved absolute ratings, were present for the press conference.

"We're really excited about the all the progress," James Simmons Elementary School Principal Lynn Owings said.

Owings credited her teachers for her school's rise from "Below Average" to "Average."

"We have to meet the children where they are academically," she said.

Continuing that theme, Pepper Hill Elementary School Principal Tanya Underwood said the district's Response To Intervention (RTI) program was key to maintaining the gains already achieved.

"We target the students that are not on grade level and give them the support they need," she said.

Haut Gap Elementary School Principal Paul Padron, who leads the only school to jump two Absolute ratings from "Below Average" to "Good" said constant vigilance and "leaving nothing to chance" was key to the success.

"Instead of focusing on testing we focus on the child," Principal John Cobb said.

Drayton Hall has maintained an "Excellent" Absolute rating over the past three years.

"Once a child know what is expected of them, they will perform and do better," Cobb said.

First-year Principal LaCarma Brown-McMillan agreed that individualized efforts directed at helping struggling students through the RTI program is a major factor in improving education within the district. West Ashley Middle School was another of the 11 CCSD schools to post better Absolute ratings, moving from "Below Average" to "Average."

In addition to the RTI program Brown-McMillan said rigorous ongoing teacher training, Saturday Academies and after-school enrichment programs have also contributed to the district's improvements.

"Everything we use we base on the individual student data to match them appropriately with the intervention they need," she said.

Such interventions include help in subjects where students are struggling in addition to their regular course work.

Among those schools earning "Excellent" Absolute ratings are , Drayton Hall Elementary, and in West Ashley, and Wando High School, Moultrie Middle School, Laing Middle School, East Cooper Montessori Charter School, Thomas C. Cario Middle School, Buist Academy, Mamie Whitesides Elementary School, Charles Pinckney Elementary School, Mount Pleasant Academy, Jennie Moore Elementary School, James B. Edwards Elementary School and Belle Hall Elementary School in Mount Pleasant.