School Connection
Mid-year report
Goal 2008: 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.
January 6, 2006
2005 SAT SCORES INCREASE 12 POINTS FOR WCPSS STUDENTS
SAT scores for 2005 Wake County Public School System seniors averaged 1075,
an increase of 12 points above last year and a record high for Wake County.
WCPSS math scores this year increased nine points to 548, the highest they
have ever been. Wake students scored an average of 527 on verbal, after
averaging 524 for the past three years. WCPSS provided test takers the chance
to participate in the College Board SAT Readiness Program last year. More
than 2,200 students took part, 500 more than 2003-04 when a different online
preparation service was offered.
61 WCPSS SCHOOLS NAMED 2005 SCHOOLS OF EXCELLENCE
The Wake County Public School System had a record number of schools honored
by the state including 61 named Schools of Excellence, according to the
results of the 2004-05 state ABCs of Public Education. The 104 schools honored
as Schools of Excellence or Schools of Distinction is the largest number
of WCPSS schools the state has ever honored. Green Hope High School was
named one of the state's Top 10 Most Improved High Schools. Salem Middle
School was named one of the state's Top 25 Most Improved K-8 Schools. Fourteen
of Wake County's schools had ABCs performance composite scores above 95
percent, and 9 of those 14 schools also met the high growth standard. Highcroft
Road had a composite score above 99 percent. Davis Drive, Green Hope and
Morrisville elementary schools had scores above 98 percent. Brassfield and
Washington had scores above 97.
WAKE STUDENTS CONTINUE HIGH LEVEL OF PERFORMANCE ON 2005 TESTS
For the third year in a row, more than 90 percent of Wake County elementary
and middle school students scored at Levels III or IV on state End-of-Grade
tests and 83 percent of high school students scored at Levels III or IV
on state End-of-Course tests. Five years ago, 84.9 percent of elementary
and middle school students scored at Levels III or IV on the EOG and 75.2
percent of Wake County high school students scored at Levels III or IV on
the EOC. The percent of Wake County student scores at Levels III or IV on
state End-of-Grade tests was slightly down from, the previous year, End-of-Course
tests held steady and VoCATS tests continued to climb.
FIVE NEW SCHOOLS OPEN FOR 2005-06
Five new schools opened for 2005-06, one school returned to a campus that
underwent major renovations and several wrapped up major renovation and
addition projects. Cedar Fork Elementary, as well as the three temporary
modular campuses - Forest Pines Drive Elementary, Harris Creek Elementary
and Wakelon Elementary - opened in August 2005. Northwoods Elementary has
returned to its renovated campus after spending last year in swing space
at the Cedar Fork campus. Major renovations were completed at Broughton
High, Daniels Middle, Douglas Elementary, Ligon Middle, Longview, Millbrook
High and North Garner Middle. An office building on New Bern Avenue was
renovated and opened in October 2005 as the new River Oaks Middle. The school
will provide short-term intervention for middle school students whose patterns
of behavior have put them at risk for long-term suspension.
WCPSS STUDENT ENROLLMENT SURGES
Students have been pouring into the Wake County Public Schools at a rate
never seen before. When the 2005-06 20-day enrollment was reported, WCPSS
had 6,400 more students than the 20th day of 2004-05. In the last three
years, the number of students has grown by 16,120.
Each of the last three years has set a new record for increased student
enrollment with 4,597 in 2003-04, 5,098 in 2004-05 and based on the tenth
day enrollment, 6,439 in 2005-06.
2006-07 GROWTH MANAGEMENT PROPOSAL FILLS SEVEN NEW SCHOOLS
The WCPSS Growth Management Department has been listening to the community
as it prepares a growth management proposal to fill seven new schools opening
in 2006-07. WCPSS held a series of 12 community engagement meetings across
the county last fall. Feedback from the community provided in those sessions
was used in developing a proposal published in December for a two-week comment
period. These comments will help the Growth Management staff refine their
proposal for presentation to the Board of Education in February. The proposal
fills two new high schools and five new year-round elementary schools, two
of which will be started early in temporary facilities. Wake County schools
are expected to gain more than 7,000 new students next year, bringing total
enrollment to 127,513.
PLANNING CONTINUES FOR NEXT SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM
The Board of Education and County Commissioners have been meeting monthly
to shape the next school construction program that will go to voters in
November 2006. They are discussing options that include new construction,
expansion and converting schools to the year-round calendar. School board
and commission members have updated student enrollment projections and discussed
planning assumptions for new schools.
SUPERINTENDENT MCNEAL ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT
Superintendent Bill McNeal announced Nov. 15 he plans to retire from
the system to become the Executive Director of the NC Association of School
Administrators. His retirement will be effective June 30, 2006. He will
assume his new duties on July 1, 2006. McNeal is the longest serving Superintendent
of the Wake County School System since the merger of the Raleigh City Schools
and the Wake County Public Schools in 1976. McNeal began his career with
the Wake County Public School System in 1974 as a Social Studies teacher
at Carroll Middle School. He served in the roles of Assistant Principal,
Principal, Assistant Superintendent, and Associate Superintendent. McNeal
was named Superintendent in 2000. In 2004, the American Association of School
Administrators named McNeal "National Superintendent of the Year."
BOARD BEGINS SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH DISCUSSION
In December, Board of Education members began to discuss the process for
finding a new superintendent. The board agreed to follow its policy and
provide an opportunity for internal candidates to apply for the job, as
it works to develop a candidate profile. The board has contracted with the
NC School Board Association to help in the search process. An online survey
is being used to seek comments from staff and the community on the characteristics
of leadership expected of the next superintendent. Board chair Patti Head
said the selection of a superintendent is one of the most important decisions
the school board will make for the next 4-5 years. Head said she wants the
transition from Bill McNeal to the next superintendent to be seamless.
SWEARING IN HELD FOR NEWLY ELECTED BOARD MEMBERS
The newly elected members of the Wake County Board of Education were sworn
into office Dec. 6. Chief Justice I. Beverly Lake of the North Carolina
Supreme Court administered the oath of office to Patti Head, Eleanor Goettee,
Lori Millberg and Horace Tart as they began their four-year terms. After
the oath was administered, there was a reception for the board. Then the
nine-member panel returned to hold their first meeting.
BOARD APPROVES CONTRACT WITH SUMMERFORD ACCOUNTANCY, PC
At its Nov. 1 meeting, the Board of Education hired Summerford Accountancy,
PC, to conduct an audit of WCPSS. The action follows negotiations between
board chair Patti Head, board attorneys and the firm to finalize the scope
of the audit. The firm will audit the school system's finances and analyze
the school system's vulnerability to fraud. The Summerford firm specializes
in fraud. The school system found irregularities in the Transportation Department
that it reported to the District Attorney. The DA found former school system
employees colluded with employees of a parts supplier to defraud the school
system. The district attorney has received guilty pleas in the case and
has worked with the school system to recover $1.8 million.
WAKE KIDS FOR KATRINA COLLECTS MORE THAN $293,000
More than $293,000 in Kids for Katrina contributions from Wake County school
students were presented at the Oct. 18 Board of Education meeting to the
American Red Cross to help the victims of Gulf Coast hurricanes. Students
and principals joined Superintendent Bill McNeal, Chair Patti Head and Wake
PTA Council Chair Derrick Byrd in presenting a check for $293,928.16 to
Triangle Chapter of the American Red Cross executive director Barry Porter
and board member Paul Phillips. The fund drive took place in schools Sept.
12-23. It was organized by the Wake County Public School System and the
Wake County PTA Council. Schools were encouraged to develop their own fund
raising efforts and coordinate with their PTA leaders for collections and
disbursement to the Red Cross.
MORRISVILLE ELEMENTARY NAMED BLUE RIBBON SCHOOL
Morrisville Elementary was named a No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon School
and principal Robin Swaim attended the National Recognition Ceremony Nov.
10-11 in Washington, DC, where the school received a plaque and a flag.
The school celebrated by having an aerial photo taken of the entire student
body and staff, lined up in the shape of an "M" in the bus parking
lot.
WCPSS NAMES OVERMAN 2005 PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR
The Wake County Public School System named James Overman of Creech Road
Elementary the 2005 Principal of the Year and Susan Spivey of Cary Elementary
2005 Assistant Principal of the Year. Overman received $1,000 and will go
on to compete in North Carolina Regional and State Principal of the Year
competitions sponsored by Wachovia Corporation. Spivey received $500. Principals
and assistant principals are voted finalists by WCPSS principals and assistant
principals. Then a team of school officials reviews the finalists - visiting
their schools and reviewing a portfolio prepared by each finalist.
165 WAKE TEACHERS EARN NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFICATION IN 2005
The Wake County Public School System had 165 WCPSS teachers and counselors
earn certification in 2005, the second largest number of teachers in the
nation to earn certification from the National Board of Professional Teaching
Standards. The 165 teachers and counselors earning certification were the
most of any school district in the NC, which once again led the nation in
the number of teachers earning certification.
WCPSS SCHOOL COUNSELING PROGRAMS EARN NATIONAL HONORS
Leesville Road High and Wakefield High are two of only 13 schools across
the nation with counseling programs that have been designated as Recognized
ASCA Model Programs (RAMP). The ASCA National Model is a framework for a
results-based, comprehensive school counseling program designed to improve
academic and student success for all students. It focuses school counseling
programs on showing measurable results in improving student achievement,
attendance and behavior. WCPSS will be implementing the ASCA National Model
district-wide over the next five years.
WCPSS COUNSELORS HONORED
WCPSS has selected the 2005 School Counselors of the Year. Aimee Allen of
Lincoln Heights Elementary; Belinda Harris of Holly Ridge Middle; and Jeanette
Boone of Enloe High were selected for the honor by their peers. The three
will now be considered by the NC School Counselors Association Professional
Recognition Committee for state awards.
WEST MILLBROOK TEACHER NAMED MILKEN EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR
Aimee Niebaur was surprised when state Superintendent of Education June
Atkinson called her to come forward at a West Millbrook school assembly.
To the cheers and applause of teachers and students, Dr. Atkinson announced
that Niebaur was a 2005 Milken National Educator. Niebauer is among 100
teachers in the U.S. this year to receive the Milken Family Foundation National
Educator Award, which carries with it an unrestricted financial award of
$25,000. Niebauer was the only NC educator to receive the award this year.
BB&T ECONOMIC EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR AWARDS
A Leesville Road High teacher was named the state's first BB&T Economic
Educator of the Year. Susan Stewart Taylor, social studies teacher, earned
the top honor and a $5,000 cash award for her work in helping her Civics
and Economics students learn and apply economic concepts to their daily
lives. Taylor had her students participate in a "Standard of Living"
activity in which each student was assigned a job, received a monthly income
and had to create a realistic budget.
WCPSS READING PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTED
The National ERF Office has recognized WCPSS Project Enlightenment's Early
Reading First (ERF) Program! The federally-funded program, "The Literacy
Connection," was featured in presentation at the National Early Reading
First Conference this month. After a review of the program by the Washington
office, Mary Ashe, Coordinator of the program, was asked to be the key note
conference speaker and to relate the experiences of Project Enlightenment
in developing and implementing this exciting research-based literacy program
for pre-kindergarten children, teachers, and families.
MOORE SQUARE EARNS NATIONAL ARCHITECTURAL AWARD
Moore Square Museums Magnet Middle School has been honored with a national
award from School Planning and Management magazine and the Council of Educational
Facility Planners International, winning in the category of Specialized
Learning Spaces. The Impact on Learning award was presented at the council's
national conference in San Antonio
School Connection is published electronically every other week for everyone interested in the Wake County Public School System. 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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