8 receive Schools of Promise designation in Mahoning Valley

By Harold Gwin

YOUNGSTOWN — Eight schools in the tri-county area are designated as Schools of Promise by the Ohio Department of Education.

A total of 134 schools earned the honor this year for high achievement in reading and mathematics last school year for all groups of students, despite having 40 percent or more of the students coming from low-income backgrounds.

Getting the School of Promise designation shows school commitment to closing achievement gaps and helping all students reach higher levels of achievement.

Local recipients of the honor are:

Watson Elementary School, Austintown: First year as a School of Promise; recognized for reading and math; 46 percent economically disadvantaged.

Struthers High School: Sixth year as a School of Promise; recognized for reading; 55 percent economically disadvantaged.

Youngstown Early College: Third year as a School of Promise; recognized for reading and math; 83 percent economically disadvantaged.

Bloomfield High School: Second year as a School of Promise; recognized for reading; 48 percent economically disadvantaged.

Brookfield Elementary School: Second year as a School of Promise; recognized for reading; 59 percent economically disadvantaged.

Prospect Elementary School, Girard: Fourth year as a School of Promise; recognized for reading and math; 58 percent economically disadvantaged.

Leetonia High School: first year as a School of Promise; recognized for reading and math; 46 percent economically disadvantaged.

Reilly Elementary School, Salem: Second year as a School of Promise; recognized for reading; 49 percent economically disadvantaged.

Watson Elementary has been rated as excellent on its state local report card for the last six years, but this is the first time it earned the School of Promise designation.

Principal James Carchedi said Watson never reached the 40 percent economically disadvantaged threshold until last school year. He credited the performance to the staff and said he believes that education must be expanded beyond the classroom to include parents and the community if children are to succeed. There are so many distractions, and “You just have to challenge your kids,” he said.

Watson also has the distinction of being named a U.S. Department of Education “Blue Ribbon” School in September.

“We are very proud and excited about the state and national recognition Watson Elementary has received,” Carchedi said.

“Our teachers work very, very hard,” said Mary Ann Meadows, principal of Struthers High School, explaining how her building has received the recognition six times.

“Some will hold morning tutoring sessions,” she said, explaining that some teachers come in an hour early on their own time every day to provide assistance to students who need it. Some will stay until 5:30 p.m. for the same purpose, she said. Teachers also have good communication with students’ families, she said.

In addition, Struthers High School offers peer tutoring during study-hall periods, and the student council launched its own tutoring Monday evening tutoring program this fall, Meadows said.

Bloomfield High School has always done well with its economically disadvantaged students, said Principal Steve Kobus. It was only last year that the high school reached the 40 percent threshold, making it eligible for the School of Promise award, he said.

As the fourth smallest school district in Ohio (Bloomfield-Mesopotamia has only about 350 students.), there is time and space to do a lot of one-on-one work with students, Kobus said.

And an excellent staff that takes a personal interest in the state local report card helps boost student achievement, he said.

“We have caring teachers and a positive school environment,” said Troy Radinsky, principal of Leetonia High School, one of only 48 schools to receive the designation for both math and reading.

The school provides a strong system of learning support that includes things such as intervention and tutoring, he said, adding that the recognition is an honor for the students and the staff.

The goal is to continue efforts to close achievement gaps and provide an excellent education to all of the students, he said.

gwin@vindy.com

SCHOOLS OF PROMISE

Criteria

Schools of Promise were selected based on these criteria:

Poverty: The schools served 40 percent or more economically disadvantaged students.

Adequate yearly progress: The school meet the AYP requirement on its annual state local report card for 2008-09.

Graduation rate: The 2007-08 graduate rate was at least 85 percent.

Student performance on Ohio Achievement and Ohio Graduation tests in reading or math: At least 75 percent of all students tested passed the 2008-09 OAT and/or OGT reading or math and at least 85 percent of 11th-graders passed OGT in reading or math. At least 65 percent of all students tested passed the 2007-08 OAT and/or OGT in reading or math. For low-income subgroups, at least 75 percent of those tested in each subgroup passed the 2008-09 OAT and/or OGT in reading or math, and at least 85 percent of 11th-graders in each subgroup passed the OGT in reading or math. For racial and ethnic subgroups, at least 75 percent of those students tested in each subgroup passed the 2008-09 OAT and/or OGT in reading or math, and at least 85 percent of 11th-graders in each subgroup passed the OGT in reading or math.

Value-added: The school received a “met” or “above” rating for its 2008-09 Value-Added Composite Score on its report card.

Source: Ohio Department of Transportation