School Connection
Dec. 19, 2003Here is a listing of the major events for the first half of the 2003-2004 school year:
49 WCPSS SCHOOLS RECOGNIZED AS SCHOOLS OF EXCELLENCE
In the state's largest recognition of academically successful
schools, State Superintendent of Education Mike Ward honored
49 Wake County schools as Schools of Excellence in a ceremony
at the RBC Center Nov. 19. Ward presented a banner to each
school principal, thanking them for their school's hard work
and success. The school leaders were congratulated by Superintendent
Bill McNeal, Wake County Commission Chair Herb Council and
Wake Board of Education Chair Susan Parry. The celebration
was the first time all Wake County Schools of Excellence were
recognized together. State education leaders visited individual
schools until this year when so many earned recognition.
MORE THAN 100 WAKE SCHOOLS EARN RECOGNITION IN 2003 ABCS
REPORT
Student academic performance at 110 Wake County Schools earned
the schools recognition as Schools of Excellence and Schools
of Distinction, according to the results of the 2002-2003
state ABCs of Public Education announced Sept. 11. Twelve
of Wake County's schools had ABCs performance composite scores
above 95 and eleven of the twelve exceeded the high growth
standard. Green Hope Elementary had a near perfect 99.7 and
Kingswood Elementary had 98.1. Pleasant Union Elementary had
97.9 and Davis Drive Elementary had 97.8. Other schools with
both high growth and performance composites over 95 were Baucom,
Brassfield, Heritage, Leesville Road, Lockhart and Olive Chapel
elementary schools and Davis Drive Middle.
SAT SCORES REMAIN AT RECORD HIGH MARK FOR SECOND YEAR
SAT scores for 2003 Wake County Public School System seniors
remained at the same record high level achieved in 2002, and
the Wake average score was still far above the state and national
average. The average SAT score for Wake seniors was 1067.
The average national score was 1026 and average North Carolina
score was 1001. Participation of the 2003 Wake senior class
remained remarkably high inching up to 80 percent, far above
North Carolina and national participation rates. Our state's
rate was 68 percent, and the national rate was 48 percent.
SUPERINTENDENT MCNEAL CALLS FOR CELEBRATION
At a June news conference, Superintendent Bill McNeal reported
the success of WCPSS in achieving Goal 2003 and students in
the five year effort on the latest congratulated a group of
third-graders for their success on the state's End-of-Grade
tests in math and reading. In the math test, 93.5 percent
of Wake County third-grade students scored at or above grade
level. In the reading test, 89.0 percent of Wake County third-grade
students scored at or above grade level.
The math results are 18.1 percentage points higher than 1998
when 75.4 percent of Wake County third-graders were at or
above grade level. The reading results are 9.7 percentage
points higher than 1998 when 79.3 of Wake County third graders
were at or above grade level.
In 1998, Wake County education supporters held the county's
first education summit and called on the Board of Education
to establish a goal to boost academic achievement. The board
created Goal 2003, a goal that challenged the school system
to help thousands of students move up to grade level work
over five years and measured student success through the state
End-of-Grade accountability test.
The goal states, "By 2003, 95 percent of students tested
will be at or above grade level as measured by NC End-of-Grade
testing at grades 3 and 8."
In the 2003 reading test, 92.2 percent of eighth-graders and
89.0 percent of third-graders were at or above grade level.
In the 2003 math test, 88.6 percent of eighth-graders and
93.5 percent of third-graders were at or above grade level.
BOARD OF EDUCATION APPROVES GOAL 2008
After an 18-month community effort, the Wake County Board
of Education approved a challenging new academic goal at its
meeting Nov. 5.
Goal 2008 states, "WCPSS is committed to academic excellence.
By 2008, 95 percent of students in grades 3 through 12 will
be at or above grade level as measured by the State of North
Carolina End-of-Grade or Course tests, and all student groups
will demonstrate high growth."
"In pursuit of this goal, we will:
· Increase challenging educational opportunities for
all students.
· Increase student participation and success in advanced
classes at the high school level.
· Increase the percent of 9th grade students graduating
from high school within four years.
· Recruit, develop, support and retain a highly qualified
workforce to ensure student success.
· Identify and seek resources necessary to support
student success.
· Build a consensus of support through community collaboration."
The new goal is ambitious and challenging, seeking to boost
student achievement in elementary, middle and high schools.
The previous five-year goal focused on elementary and middle
schools. The new goal seeks to have 95 percent of students
at grade level and achieving high growth.
GOAL 2008 ENDORSED
The new Wake County Public School System academic goal has
been endorsed by the board of Wake Education Partnership and
the executive board of the Wake County PTA Council. John Mabe
congratulated the Board of Education members at their Nov.
19 meeting for passage of the goal. Mabe read a resolution
from the partnership's board endorsing Goal 2008 and calling
for the entire community to join in support of it. At the
Nov. 20 meeting of the Wake County PTA Council executive board,
PTA leaders gave their endorsement to Goal 2008. The council
board urged all business, civic, education and parent groups
to become actively involved in supporting efforts to achieve
Goal 2008.
VOTERS SUPPORT SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION REFERENDUM
Sixty-four percent of Wake County voters gave their support
to the $450 million school construction bond referendum Oct.
7. The funding will help build 13 new schools and a pre-Kindergarten
center, provide comprehensive renovations at 16 schools, and
repair and re-roofing projects at 61 schools.
BOARD OF EDUCATION ELECTIONS
After the Oct. 7 elections, three of five incumbents will
return to the Board of Education. Chair Susan Parry was re-elected
to the District 5 seat. Beverley Clark was re-elected to District
6. Rosa Gill was unopposed in District 4. Newcomer Carol Parker
was unopposed for the District 3 seat where Tom Oxholm decided
not to seek re-election. In District 8, newcomer Ron Margiotta
defeated Jeff York who was named to the board after Wray Stephens
stepped down in mid-term.
MCNEAL NAMED FINALIST FOR NATIONAL SUPERINTENDENT OF THE
YEAR
Superintendent Bill McNeal is one of four finalists for the
National Superintendent of the Year award. McNeal was named
2004 Superintendent of the Year in October by the North Carolina
Association of School Administrators and became North Carolina's
nominee for the national honor, coordinated by the American
Association of School Administrators. McNeal and the other
finalists will go to Washington D.C. with their spouses in
early January for two days with the judging committee and
others who will make the choice for this honor. The 2004 Superintendent
of the Year will be presented at the association's conference
in February in San Francisco.
COMBS ELEMENTARY NAMED 2003 NATIONAL SCHOOL OF CHARACTER
Combs Elementary is one of ten schools in the nation named
a 2003 National School of Character by the Character Education
Partnership of Washington, D.C. Combs was recognized for the
school's exemplary work to encourage the social, ethical and
academic development of their students through character education.
Guided by Stephen Covey's "seven habits," A.B. Combs
Leadership Magnet Elementary School made a commitment to leadership
development and placed this goal at the heart of its character
education program. With an emphasis on developing job skills,
inclusion of special needs students, service learning, and
curriculum integration of core ethical values, this multicultural
school reinvented itself into a model magnet school with 95
percent of students performing at or above grade level on
student achievement tests.
WAKE TEACHER NAMED FINALIST FOR STATE TEACHER OF THE YEAR
At the Dec. 16 meeting of the Board of Education, Superintendent
Bill McNeal announced good news for teacher Johnny Gatlin,
Wake County's Teacher of the Year. McNeal said Gatlin is one
of the 10 finalists to be considered for North Carolina Teacher
of the Year. The State Superintendent of Education will recognize
the state Teacher of the Year in April of 2004.
189 WCPSS TEACHERS EARN NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFICATION
A record-setting 189 teachers from the Wake County Public
School System earned certification from the National Board
of Professional Teaching Standards this year. The 189 teachers
earning National Board certification were the most of any
school district in the North Carolina, which led the nation
in the number of teachers earning certification. Salem Elementary
had 10 teachers earn certification this year, the largest
number of any WCPSS school. There were 59 high school teachers
earning certification, including eight at Millbrook High and
52 middle school teachers including seven at Durant Road Middle.
PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR NAMED
The Wake County Public School System named the 2003 Principal
of the Year and Assistant Principal of the Year in ceremonies
Oct. 9 at the Exploris Museum in Raleigh. Lloyd Gardner, principal
of Enloe High School, was named Principal of the Year. Camille
Miller, assistant principal of Willow Springs Elementary was
named Assistant Principal of the Year.
HUNDREDS ATTEND GROWTH MANAGEMENT MEETINGS
Hundreds of parents and concerned citizens attended the community
engagement meetings Nov. 5 at Leesville Road High and Nov.
6 at Southeast Raleigh High to discuss the WCPSS Growth Management
Department's preparations for opening seven new schools next
year. This is the third series of meetings held to talk with
parents and concerned citizens about plans for opening new
schools.
ENROLLMENT JUMPS
Enrollment grew by 4,600 students this year. On the 20th day
of school in Wake County, the school system's 127 schools
had 108,970 students. That compares to the 104,373 last year.
NEW YEAR BEGINS SMOOTHLY
Superintendent Bill McNeal met news reporters in front of
Millbrook High School before the sun rose on the first day
of school. McNeal talked live during morning television news
about Celebration 2003, the Oct. 7 vote for school construction
bonds and the excitement of the first day of students returning
to school. It was a smooth opening. Two new schools opened
in Holly Springs, and several schools opened in swing spaces
for the year.
TWO NEW SCHOOLS OPEN
Holly Ridge Elementary and Holly Ridge Middle opened this
year. Principal Pam Peters opened Holly Ridge Elementary with
kindergartners through fifth grade.. Principal William Crockett
opened Holly Ridge Middle with sixth through eighth grade.
SCHOOLS RETURN TO RENOVATED CAMPUSES
Four schools began the year in newly renovated facilities
after spending a year in a swing space school. Apex Elementary,
Cary Elementary, Underwood Elementary and Fuquay-Varina Middle
returned to their renovated campuses
REEDY CREEK MIDDLE OPENS
East Cary Middle moved to Reedy Creek Middle and became Reedy
Creek Middle School. The East Cary campus will be renovated
to serve as a temporary ninth-grade center for two years before
serving as a year-round middle school.
SOUTH CENTRAL AREA CREATED
The continuing growth of the school population has led the
Wake County Public School System to reorganize into six geographic
areas. The reorganization was recommended last year by the
Citizen's Advisory Committee, which indicated area assistant
superintendents were being asked to work with too many schools.
Under the new assignments, area assistant superintendents
will work with no more than 23 schools. When there were five
areas, they may have worked with as many as 26.
APPOINTMENTS
Two new area assistant superintendents have been named. Donna
Hargens who has served as principal of Green Hope High School
has been named area assistant superintendent for Western Wake
County Schools. She fills the opening left by Luther Cherry's
appointment as associate superintendent for operations. Cherry
will organize the new south central area until October 1 when
he moves to the associate superintendent's job. Julye Mizelle
who has served as principal of West Lake Elementary School
has been named area assistant superintendent for South Central
Wake County Schools.
WAKE SCHOOLS WEATHER ISABEL, RESCHEDULE FOOTBALL, SET
MAKE-UP DAYS
Sept. 19, 2003 - Wake County schools were closed Thursday
and Friday and all activities at schools were cancelled because
of Hurricane Isabel. WCPSS administrators found school facilities
weathered the severe weather well. At some schools' mobile
classroom siding and shingles were damaged and several reported
minor roof leaks. Campuses were littered with debris from
trees and some trees were felled by the high winds. Power
problems were reported at 11 schools Friday morning. By noon,
three schools remained with no power and eight others had
partial electric service. Approximately 980 people went to
four Wake County emergency shelters, which were set up in
WCPSS high schools.
We hope the holidays are a happy time for you and your family. We'll have more to report in 2004.
School Connection is published electronically every other week for everyone interested in the Wake County Public Schools. Is what you read in this edition helpful? What information would you like to see in future editions? Contact me by calling 850-1829 or e-mailing bposton@wcpss.net.
Bill Poston
Wake County Public School System
Communications Department
3600 Wake Forest Road
Raleigh, North Carolina 27611
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