Clinton City School recently released preliminary test scores, which included an increase in the graduation rate.
According to the data, Clinton High School’s graduation rate increased by almost 5 percent, based on a four-year group. During the 2013-2014 school year, the rate was 84.7 percent and 89.5 percent for 2014-15.
Dr. Mark Duckworth, assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction, presented the information to the Clinton City Schools Board of Education during a recent work session. During the report, Duckworth discussed the data based on set proficiency levels, s ome of which included reading, math, science and English.
Butler Avenue School’s third grade reading score increased by almost 1 percent at 59.1 percent for 2014-2015, while math was at 80.5 percent, a 17.4 percent increase from the 2013-2014 school period. For the math score, Duckworth gave credit to Principal Vanessa Brown and others involved.
“I really applaud Mrs. Brown at Butler Avenue school for making a big jump and inroads in mathematics,” Duckworth said. “I believe that our curriculum coach has also added to this endeavor.”
While addressing the board, he also credited other principals for the improvements.
Sunset Avenue School’s fourth-grade reading score increased by 2.2 percent, bring the total to 60 for the 2014-15 school year. In math, Sunset Avenue decreased by 5.1 percent, making the total 46.5 percent. Duckworth mentioned how the low areas will be addressed.
“We’ve identified those areas and have already begun to work on them,” Duckworth said referring to all decreases in the data.
In the fifth grade categories of reading, math and science, Sunset Avenue improved its scores. A 1 percent increase resulted in a 51.4 percent proficiency rate for reading. Math improved by 7.7 percent (65.4 total) and science increased to 63.2, a 5.1 percent increase from the previous school year.
Sampson Middle School also increased in several areas. Some included sixth-grade reading and math and seventh-grade math. One of the biggest jumps was in the eighth grade. Reading increased to 62.6 percent, 18 points more than the 2013-2014 school year. Another leap was in science, which increased from 65.9 percent to 74.7 percent.
For Clinton High School’s End of Course, math decreased to 43.4 percent from 49.6 percent (6.2 percent change). Biology was 48.3 percent, which was an increase of less than 1 percent. English II increased by 4.9, bringing the total to 56 percent.
During the work session, Duckworth mentioned several programs to help improve the scores. After receiving information about discipline rates, board member Diane Viser noted some of the positive aspects go hand in hand.
“We’ve got some good kids who come to school and get the job done,” Viser said.
Official numbers from the state will not be released until the fall period.