Standard & Poors school evaluation services announced today that Plymouth Community Schools is one of 19 Indiana districts that has been identified for significantly narrowing the gaps of achievement between economically disadvantaged students and their higher-performing classmates while simultaneously raising the average proficiency rates of the student groups being compared.
To be recognized in Standard & Poors Analytical Report, the districts must serve all grades K-12, enroll 30 students on average, per student sub group being compared per grade, reduce the achievement gap in overall reading and math proficiency rates by at least five percentage points between 2002-2003, and 2003-2004 school years, and simultaneously raise the reading and math proficiency rates in both the sub groups being compared over the same period.
“Closing the achievement gap is one of the most persistent challenges in American education today” said William Cox, executive managing editor of Standard & Poors evaluation services. Given the complex nature and extreme difficulty in closing these gaps, Standard & Poors believes its important to pay tribute to those districts that have made progress in this area.
Congratulations to all staff for your efforts.
5 comments:
2nd paragraph, 2nd sentence-
"Reduce the achievement gap and overall reading and math proficiency rates by at least five percentage points..."
William Madden would never have approved of such sloppy writing. (Meant to be playful ribbing.)
Ron Bowen, class of '55
Thank you
Your article (paragraph 2, sentence 1) claims that to be recognized "the districts must...reduce the achievment gap AND the overall math and reading proficiency rates by at least five percentage points..."
Are you really that proud of reducing the overall math and proficiency rates by at least five percentage points?
Referring to the last anonymous blogger......
First of all....Did you read what you wrote? The purpose was to reduce the achievement (which you spelled incorrectly) gap by at least 5 percentage points. Believe it or not, that is an achievement and deserves to be acknowledged. Might I add, a little tangible financial reward, rather than an impersonal thanks in a blog, might be more appreciated by the teachers who have worked so hard to accomplish this.
Reducing the overall math proficiency rates is not what we want to happen.
re: the last response. Sorry for the spelling. The quote was from the article and was accurate. In response to my comment, the article has been revised.
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