15 area schools make state list for achievement

At least 40 percent of a school’s pupils must be economically
disadvantaged.

YOUNGSTOWN — A total of 15 schools in the tri-county area have made this year’s “Schools of Promise” list compiled by the state superintendent of education.

Four of them made the list for the second year in a row.

Superintendent Susan Tave Zelman said 194 schools across the state met or exceeded the selection criteria.

The number of schools with more than 40 percent poverty that met or exceeded state standards in reading or mathematics for all groups of children went from 117 in 2006 to 194 this year.

Letters of recognition were sent to each of the school’s principals, who also will receive a banner later this month.

“At a time when schools are being held more accountable for all groups of children, both statewide and at the federal level, these Schools of Promise are solid evidence that students from low-income communities can beat the odds. They provide hope and promise to students and teachers in all Ohio schools,” said Zelman.

In Schools of Promise, all pupil groups meet the federal requirement of Adequate Yearly Progress. These schools highlight the achievement of all racial and ethnic groups, as well as pupils from low-income backgrounds.

Schools of Promise give special recognition to schools where 40 percent or more of the population are low-income, while more than 75 percent of the pupils are achieving or exceeding proficiency on state testing.

The high schools must also have met the minimum 80 percent graduation mark to be included.

The analysis of this year’s statewide data shows that high-poverty schools also can be high-performing schools, said Mitchell Chester, senior associate superintendent of policy and accountability at the Ohio Department of Education.

“People generally think that students of schools with high poverty levels will not perform as well as those in wealthier school districts,” Chester said. “These data confirm that great teachers and good schools can make a positive difference in the education of all students, no matter where they live.”