August 30, 2011
08/31/11 As a corporation, the Plymouth Schools have achieved an “A” rating by the Indiana Department of Education for 2011. Ratings for the individual schools in the corporation ranged from “A” in all four elementary buildings to a “D” at Lincoln Junior High. Riverside Intermediate is ranked as a “B” school and Plymouth High School as a “C” school.
Lincoln Junior High Principal Dan Funston said, “We have seen a lot of growth on this measure over the past four years. We dipped down a little bit this year, but our percentage last year was the second highest percentage pass since the 2005 school ratings.”
LJH was on Academic Watch from 2005-2007 with their percentages ranging from 74 percent to 75 percent. By 2008, they had gained in percentages to 76.3 percent and were at Academic Progress.
In 2009, the state moved the testing from the fall to the spring and, therefore, there were no percentages released.
Last year, 2010, their percentage had risen to 80.2 percent, but the school remained on Academic Watch since students as a whole in the sub-group of free and reduced did not score high enough.
This year, 2011, the percentages were lower at 76.8 percent classifying them a “D” school.
Funston said, “As you can see, we have made significant gains here the last four years. Last year we dipped a few points, but it was also a big transition year for us with the beginning of the 1:1 program and the use of digital curriculums”
“The LJH staff is committed to being an ‘A” school as we have shown we are capable of and we can’t wait to display our students’ success on the 2012 ISTEP testing.” Funston said.
Superintendent Daniel Tyree said, “The invalidation of the math scores hurt them badly. They will rebound next year.” Math scores from 120 students were invalided after it was discovered by the LJH staff that some questions on the practice tests they were using actually appeared on the ISTEP test.
Tyree said, “Plymouth High School passed 18 of the 19 cells and did not pass AYP because of graduation rate.” Tyree had informed the school board last year that it could take two or three years to fix the problem since it is scored a year behind. Tyree said, “In PL 221 their score improvements would have made them an “A” school, but by missing AYP they are capped at a C.
Tyree said, “All other schools made AYP. “
Tyree said, “I can’t tell you how pleased I am with this results. All staff members and Board members should be congratulated for their hard work and determination. In 2006 we were a failing school. Now, we are an A school.”
But Tyree indicated that they will still be making efforts to improve. He said, “We still have work to be done – lots of it, but we will be celebrating our successes.”
We have done well again in AYP and PL 221. According to preliminary results Plymouth School Corporation passed AYP for the fourth consecutive time. In the first grade rating on the State’s new Grade PL 221 results, the corporation is rated an A School Corporation.