Performance Comparisons for Schools in Madison County Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama February 17, 2011
The PARCA Approach to Analysis of School Performance
DO DEMOGRAPHICS AND FINANCES MATTER? Yes, but they are not the controlling issues unless we fail to address them effectively. Size Poverty Local Tax Support Spending per Student Administrative Costs
HOW WE ANALYZE ARMT RESULTS We look for successes as well as challenges. We set expectations high, based on two important principles: Demographics do not determine destiny. 1. All students can learn at high levels. Demographics do not determine destiny. 2. All schools can improve. Every performance number can change for the better. Labels are inappropriate.
THE WAY WE LOOK AT THE DATA We make straightforward comparisons that all can understand. We recognize multiple levels of results, to avoid labeling. We analyze results for the four major student subgroups in Alabama schools, to monitor success for all. We use Level IV results as our benchmark. We believe these features help to create an improvement-oriented perspective.
COLOR-CODING THE RESULTS To recognize the range of performance and avoid labeling, we color-code results in five categories.
ARMT Data Tables For Madison County School Systems
School-Level Comparisons
Blossomwood Elementary School Huntsville City System
Blossomwood - White - Reading Blossomwood - White - Math
Blossomwood - Black - Reading Blossomwood - Black - Math
Blossomwood - Poverty - ReadingBlossomwood - Poverty - Math
New Market School Madison County System
New Market - White - ReadingNew Market - White - Math
New Market - Non-Poverty - ReadingNew Market - Non-Poverty - Math
Heritage Elementary School Madison City System
Heritage - Poverty - ReadingHeritage - Poverty - Math
Hampton Cove Middle School Huntsville City System
Hampton Cove - Black - ReadingHampton Cove - Black - Math
Hampton Cove - Poverty - ReadingHampton Cove - Poverty - Math
Hazel Green Elementary School Madison County System
Hazel Green - Non-Poverty - Reading Hazel Green - Non-Poverty - Math
Hazel Green - Poverty - Reading Hazel Green - Poverty - Math
Discovery Middle School Madison City System
7878 Discovery - Poverty - ReadingDiscovery - Poverty - Math 7878
Challenger Elementary School Huntsville City System
Challenger - Black - Reading Challenger - Black - Math
Meridianville Middle School Madison County System
Meridianville - Non-Poverty - Reading Meridianville - Non-Poverty - Math
Madison Elementary School Madison City System
Madison - Non-Poverty - Reading Madison - Non-Poverty - Math
Madison - Poverty - ReadingMadison - Poverty - Math
Westlawn Middle School Huntsville City System
Westlawn - White - ReadingWestlawn - White - Math
Westlawn - Black - ReadingWestlawn - Black - Math
Legacy Elementary School Madison County System
Legacy - Black - Reading Legacy - Black - Math
Liberty Middle School Madison City System
7878 Liberty - Poverty - ReadingLiberty - Poverty - Math 7878
Whitesburg Elementary School Huntsville City System
Whitesburg - Black - Reading Whitesburg - Black - Math
Rainbow Elementary School Madison City System
Rainbow - Black - Reading Rainbow - Black - Math
Rainbow - Poverty - Reading Rainbow - Poverty - Math
Mill Creek Elementary School Madison City System
Demographics don’t determine destiny: All students can learn at high levels. George Hall Elementary, Mobile Co. Brookwood Forest Elementary, Mt. Brook
Every school and system can improve.
Key Improvement Strategies 1.Count the results you are getting. 2.Own the data. 3.Celebrate successes. 4.Focus on areas needing improvement and set goals. 5.Count again, to see how you did, and repeat steps 2-5.