By Wilborn P. Nobles III, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune State Superintendent John White chats with student Mario Garetano during a geometry class at Alfred Bonnabel Magnet Academy High School in Kenner on Oct. 22, 2013. (Photo by Brett Duke, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune) By Wilborn P. Nobles III, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune The release of school performance scores is always a big moment for Louisiana school systems. Last week’s release, however, came with an extra layer of anticipation. The tension stems from the addition of new measures used this year to calculate a school’s results. The state’s new formula is intended to take into account how much progress students have made over the course of a school year, while still evaluating student performance metrics such as state test results, graduation rates and college credit attainment among roughly 700,000 students in public schools statewide. The scores matter more in New Orleans than anywhere else in Louisiana: All but two of the city’s 79 schools are charters, and school officials consider the scores when determining whether to keep those schools open. Several schools in the city are already on the chopping block, and the fate of their charter renewals will be decided by the Orleans Parish School Board Thursday (Nov. 15). Overall, the city’s score dropped under the new formula, but Orleans Parish still held onto its “C” letter grade. OPSB’s rank amongst other Louisiana parishes jumped four positions this year from 59th last year to 55th this year. A closer look… [Read full story]
Leave a Reply