Background Information on Student: racial/ethnic background, class size

Total Enrollment= 751 Students

Avg. Class Size= 28 Students
Racial/Ethnic Background
- White= 63.5%
- Black= 10.4%
- Hispanic= 10.9%
- Asian= 9.3%
- American Indian= 0%
- Multi Racial/Ethnicity= 5.5%
- Pacific Islander= .04%
Low-Income Students= 35.3%
English Language Learners= 2.8%
Homeless Students= 1% (7.5 Students)
Students with Exceptionalities= 13.3% (100 students with IEPs)
Chronically Truant Students= 0.8%

Instructional Expenditure: per student, district, state
District: $5,419 per student
State: $6,974 per student

Operational Expenditure: per student, district, state
District: $9,473 per student
State: $11,842

Academic Performance and Performance on State Assessments: Review the sections
and report and comment on the data.

New Cut Scores: 64% meets and exceeds
Old Cut Scores: 85% meets and exceeds (2012)
The data that I found was quite alarming to me. By the new cut scores, there were 23% more
students who did not meet or exceed the expectations on the state assessment. I wish I had
more context to the entire situation so I could make more sound conclusions. The whole thing
raises some questions about how this is all helping the students. What is the new cut score?
Why is that number the new score that determines whether a child is meeting or exceeding
expectations? What are the expectations? Do the expectations lead every child to a
successful life out of public education? Are more resources being provided to students after
the expectations have been raised?

I would like to focus on this last question. As mentioned before, I cant make any harsh
accusations without the entire context. But I think it is important to think about this so I know
how to analyze the information once I obtain it. From year 2012 to year 2013, there was a
significant change in the number of students that passed the state test. And that was for the
reason that the expectations were simply raised. Can a student be expected to perform better
on a test simply because the expectations are higher? My experience is telling me that the
answer to that question is a resound no. I highly doubt that students were given more
individual support in preparing for the ISAT in order to perform higher. And that right there
tells me that the test itself is most certainly another way of separating the haves from the
have nots.

Of course I need more background information to support my claims. But I do think that they
tests are putting undue stress on the kids, as displayed by their exasperating sighs.

Adequate Yearly Progress: Did school make adequate yearly progress? In what areas did
the school meet or not meet AYP?
Reading- Growth Value of 106
Mathematics- Growth Value of 99

Evans Jr. High did not make adequate yearly progress