Effingham Middle School Principal on AYP

The state Department of Eduation released the AYP or Adequate Yearly Progress results for school districts a few weeks ago.

We already told you how Savannah-Chatham schools did, but what about our neighboring school districts?

Last year, all Effingham County schools made AYP.  This year, however, two did not; South Effingham High and Effingham County Middle School.

3 On Your Side education reporter, Randi Hempel, found out how the middle school plans to make AYP next year.

“Well, we’re very disappointed that we did not make AYP,” explains Robert Porterfield, principal at Effingham County Middle School.

It only took two students not hitting the mark on the English/language arts area of the CRCT for the whole school to not make AYP under No Child Left Behind.

Robert Porterfield, principal at Effingham County Middle School says when you look at the average scores in each subgroup, they did better than last year.

“So if there are any parents out there who are concerned saying oh my gosh, my child’s school didn’t make the grade, what would you say to them?” I ask.

“Well, I would say that 10 of the 11 subgroups did make the grade and just this one and we’re going to work on that one in particular and try to maintain where we are and ah we feel like we’ve made improvement over the last 2 years and we want to keep working in that direction,“ says Porterfield.

“Talk about some of the plans that you have to that the school makes AYP next year?”

“Well there are several things.  First, the one I mentioned the reading and writing that we’re going to put in.  There will be reading and writing across the curriculum in all subject areas so we should make improvement with those programs.  And we are going to continue doing some of the same things that we’ve been doing,“ continues Porterfield.
Increasing math scores among other things.  Porterfield tells me that everyone will be pushing for high expectations this year.

School starts for Effingham County students next Wednesday.  For those who will be attending Effingham County Middle School, there will be an open house at the brand new school on Sunday from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.