“Let’s take a closer look at AYP in our high schools. Graduation rates and the graduation tests are the big deal here as mentioned in the article. http://www.gainesvilletimes.com/news/article/21112/
It seems that there is now a practice (last 2 years or so) where the students who may be graduating without an actual diploma, but with a Certificate of Performance, (these students would count against the graduation rate and passing rates for the graduation tests and therefore AYP for the schools) are systematically being transferred to the Lanier Career Academy right before graduation (a matter of days in some cases).
This increases all the other 6 high school’s graduation rates artificially. The Career Academy is small and is never expected to do all that well any way so no biggie on AYP there. In fact on the State AYP site it reads “There are not enough students in this school for the AYP determination to be
statistically reliable, therefore an AYP determination has not been made for this
school. These students are included in the District and State AYP reports.” in reference to the Career Academy. (http://public.doe.k12.ga.us/ayp2008/overview.asp?SchoolID=669-0105-a-1-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0)
Interesting. Let’s look at some numbers found on the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement site regarding Hall County students receiving Certificates of Performance over the past few years now ( http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/ReportingFW.aspx?PageReq=111&PID=62&PTID=69&CountyId=669&T=0&FY=2008 ) (look under the Report card tab for each school and then under the “Indicators” tab for information on High School Completers).
Numbers for the 2005-06 school year for the Lanier Career Academy show 12 students graduating with a Certificates of Performance. In 2006-07 The Career Academy had 16 students graduating with a Certificates of Performance. In 2007-08 (the same year Hall County finally made AYP in all High Schools I believe) The Career Academy has a whopping 47 students graduating with a Certificates of Performance. Wow! What is that – something like a 48% increase from 2006-07? HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN?!
Good question. Let’s look at the other 6 High Schools now.
If you look at the 6 combined (excluding the Career Academy) in 2005-06 they had 97 students graduating with a Certificates of Performance. In 2006-07 the 6 reported 91 students graduating with a Certificates of Performance. In 2007-08 they reported 28, about a 48% decrease from the year before. Oh I see now. Tricky tricky!! It seems like they are transferring the kids that will hurt their scores to the Career Academy between the taking of the Graduation tests and actual graduation. Neat trick! Really helps to make that pass on AYP.
So in 2006-07 the Career Academy had 16 students out of the Hall County District’s 107 students receiving a Certificate of Performance. In 2007-08 The Career Academy had 47 out of the Hall County District’s 75 students receiving a Certificate of Performance. Unreal! Any statisticians out there want to compute those odds?
All schools were fairly consistent in their Certificate of Performance numbers between 2005-06 to 2006-07. However, from 2006-07 to 2007-08, West Hall High went from 17 students graduating with a Certificates of Performance down to 0. Johnson High went from 23 to 8. North Hall High stayed at 8 for both years (not going to pull that up there I guess). Chestatee High went from 17 to 2. Flowery Branch High went from 12 to 10 (after being at 19 the year prior) and East Hall High went from 14 to 0.
Haven’t looked at the numbers for 2008-09 yet, but I will bet quite a bit that they are low again at the 6 high schools and higher at the Career Academy as it seems they did the same thing.
Have to wonder how ethical this is? Is it cheating? Is it fraud? You be the judge.
Also have to wonder if a disproportionate number of these students are economically disadvantaged, special needs or of a certain minority status.”

@ Dr. Craig Spinks, unless an 8th grade student “exceeds expectations” on the 8th grade CRCT, s/he probably isn’t working anywhere near grade level in reading, math, or writing.

Our graduation coach is fantastic, but was also a fantastic classroom teacher. Unfortunately, the teacher who replaced the GC in the classroom is not fully certified and (IMHO) incompetent.

And wouldn’t you especially think that if that moderator claimed to have a “single lens focus” on “what’s best for Georgia’s students”? We are in agreement that widespread cheating isn’t what’s best for Georgia’s students, are we not?

Or are those thoughts just too unpleasant to contemplate on a sunny afternoon?

Or are they just too truthful for some to ever want to contemplate?

As far as grad coaches are concerned, it all depends on how the school uses the coach. Mine is absolutely amazing and is working wonders with at-risk students. However, if a principal chooses to put someone there just to get them out of the classroom or use that point in a different way, then of course that coach is going to be pointless.

We should be comparing apples to apples – and we need the national standards to go along with it. The days when industry varies from state to state are fading fast. We need to change to keep up with the global economy and adequately prepare our students.

Republican districts across Georgia have redefined ‘thank you sir, may I have another?’

There’s no need to pretend anymore. Stupid willingly manufactures more stupid.

In short, the assinine argument against the schools you laid out is totally bogus. However, those values that are reflected in the stats you list do speak loudly about the moral character of our country’s citizens. If our nation does not realize that it is vital for us to demonstrate more moral character, we will follow the path of other great civilizations and we will fall as Rome did.