Charles City schools meet AMOs, improve SOL scores dramatically

Charles City School Board members were all smiles after receiving positive news at their Sept. 16 regular meeting.

Charles City superintendent of schools David Gaston announced that schools have met all federal annual measurable objectives (AMOs) and improved dramatically on the state’s Standards of Learning (SOL) test scores.

Charles City Elementary and Charles City High School received full accreditation, while Charles City Middle School is accredited with warning in reading and mathematics. However, Gaston said the middle school missed accreditation by nine and six points respectively, compared to nearly 18 and 20 points the year before.

District-wide, school SOL scores beat the state average in writing, history, and science. Scores in reading and mathematics were below the state mean, but exceeded the 70th percentile.

Charles City schools exceeded the state average in three out of seven areas in reading and three out of eight areas in math. The system topped the state mean in two out of three writing areas and six out of nine areas in history, including a perfect 100 percent in World History I. In science, Charles City soared above the state average in all six areas, including a perfect passing rate in chemistry.

Gaston also emphasized dramatic jumps in the area of mathematics. Grade three math exhibited a pass increase rate of 42 percent, while grade five saw a 30 percent increase. Algebra I scores improved by 39 percent, while Algebra II scores improved by 40 percent.

District 3 representative Martha Harris praised the results, but emphasized the task is not done.

“I want to commend the students and the teachers for all their hard work,” she said. “I want them to know that we are proud of them.

“I also want parents to keep pushing them and get more involved with them,” Harris continued. “I know this board wants to see them achieve bigger and better things.”

Board members also received news that Charles City’s school system is exceeding federal AMOs at all three schools. Director of special services Patricia Alexander said all schools are passing targeted standards set by the federal government, with all subgroups scoring higher than the required score. Alexander also said that the school system is ahead of schedule regarding progress with AMOs.

In other Charles City school action, the board:

–Announced development of a school budget calendar. Gaston said he plans to start the budget process earlier. A pre-budget public hearing may be scheduled in November to receive input from parents on school needs.

–Received recommendations on what the 2015-16 budget should focus on. Among the requests from the school board are teacher salary increases, adding a nurse, adding an additional pre-kindergarten program, textbook adoption, increasing percentage of money going to instruction, reinstituting governor’s school spots, and adding elective courses.

–Announced student enrollment after 10 days at Charles City schools stands at 686 students. That number is six more than the projected 680 students. An average daily membership (ADM) report is expected to be released on Sept. 30.