Battle sites ripe for tourism: But history is low on area’s official radar so far
October 28, 2014Trick-or-treaters urged to use caution on Friday night
October 28, 2014Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes improved in student performance scores as well as Compass teacher and leader evaluation ratings for the 2013-14 academic year, according to figures released last week by the state Department of Education.
Terrebonne improved from a 90.9 in 2013 to a 91.3 district performance score in 2014, while Lafourche’s score rose from 94.3 to 94.6 in that time frame.
Both districts retained their B grade. A 100.0 score or higher must be achieved to receive an A.
Ten Louisiana school districts earned an A, according to the data. Overall, Lafourche ranks No. 19 and Terrebonne No. 24 among 74 school districts statewide. The state average score was 89.2, up from 88.5 the previous year.
“I am extremely proud of our students, teachers, administrators, and all support staff who contribute to our district’s educational goals. Likewise, I appreciate the continued parental and community support given to our system,” said Lafourche Parish Superintendent Jo Ann Matthews in an email to The Times. “Our school community continues to work and move forward to increase our academic achievement by 5.4 points to become an A school district.”
Matthews and Terrebonne Parish Superintendent Philip Martin applauded students for improving their scores even though the testing was more difficult in the 2013-14 school year.
The parishes participated in a transition year into Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) testing in the 2013-14 academic year before fully embracing PARCC testing for the 2014-15 academic year.
“It involves more analysis, critical thinking on a student’s part, and our kids and our teachers did a great job on that. We anticipate that we’re going to get better at that,” Martin said. “PARCC is the real deal, and we’re confident our kids will continue to do well on that.”
The state Department of Education also split up the data for every school within districts.
In Lafourche, three schools – Chackbay Elementary, Sixth Ward Middle and Bayou Community Academy Charter – achieved an A; 16 received a B; 10 received a C; and one, W.S. Lafargue Elementary School, received a D.
In Terrebonne, two schools – Broadmoor and Mulberry Elementary – earned an A; 12 received a B; 12 received a C; six – East Houma, Grand Caillou, Legion Park, Southdown and Village East Elementary and Ellender Memorial High – received a D; and one, School for Exceptional Children, received an F.
Martin said the school district administration began meetings with the D and F schools last Wednesday, the day after the data was released.
“Those are the ones that we’re really focused on. Those are the ones that have the greatest challenges,” he said.
PARCC tests evaluate student performances, but the Compass evaluation rates teacher and leader proficiency in Louisiana’s school districts. Local districts improved by 1 percent among students scoring “basic and above.” Among students achieving “mastery and above,” Lafourche improved by .61 percent and Terrebonne by .86 percent.
According to the data, 38 percent of Lafourche’s teachers were highly effective; 57 percent were effective/proficient; 4 percent were effective/emerging; and less than 1 percent were ineffective.
“The Compass evaluation results reflect the high levels of energy and effort given by our staff members on a daily basis to improve educational outcomes for children,” Matthews said. “We continue to strive to improve the evaluation process for our teachers and administrators, while increasing academic achievement with higher educational standards.
“The Compass evaluation system captures many of the attributes necessary for effective performance; however, our educators provide much more for children than any instrument could possibly measure,” she added.
In Terrebonne, data indicates 45 percent of the teachers were highly effective; 47 percent were effective/proficient; 6 percent were effective/emerging; and 2 percent were ineffective.
“I knew the vast majority of our teachers are very, very good at what they do so that was not surprising to me,” Martin said. “It was refreshing to have it validated, but it’s something that I already knew that the vast majority of our teachers are outstanding and we’re very, very fortunate to have them. When you can have 92 percent of your teachers scoring well and evaluating well with the Compass instrument, that’s a good, positive, healthy sign.”
The state average was 43 percent highly effective; 49 percent effective/proficient; 6 percent effective/emerging; and 2 percent ineffective.
Additionally, 9 percent of Lafourche’s leaders were highly effective; 88 percent were effective/proficient; 3 percent were effective/emerging; and less than 1 percent were ineffective. Sixteen percent of Terrebonne’s leaders were highly effective; 78 percent were effective/proficient; 7 percent were effective/emerging; and less than 1 percent were ineffective.
The state average for leaders was 34 percent highly effective; 59 percent effective/proficient; 6 percent effective/emerging; and less than 1 percent ineffective.
