Some school district officials are satisfied with their progress on the Adequate Yearly Progress report released Monday and others not so much.
Darlington School District officials are pretty satisfied with their progress on the Adequate Yearly Progress report released Monday, but their counterparts in Florence District One aren't so pleased.
The Darlington County School District Superintendent Dr. Rainey Knight says it was their goal this year to make improvements in AYP. "They began to start focusing on less about student schools and more about student achievement."
Dr Knight says they focused more on students growth and performance and it's made a difference.
14 of their 21 schools met AYP. The district as a whole fell short of meeting AYP, but met 93 percent of its objectives. That's up from 82 percent last year.
"In so many classrooms this year, I saw so many good things going on. Our principals really demanding more rigor in the classrooms," said Dr. Knight.
"We did not do as well AYP-wise as we did last year, and we're somewhat disappointed," said Randy Koon, Florence School District One Assistant Superintendent for Instruction.
Only 6 of 21 schools in Florence School District One made AYP. 16 of them just missed it by a few goals, specifically in the performance of their disabled and handicapped students.
District officials say budget cuts didn't help.
"Some of what not only Florence One and other districts have experienced is that with our reduction in funding, we have not been able to provide remediation programs and the intervention programs that would be necessary to help these children who are struggling somewhat," said Koon.
Koon says a group is working to address deficiencies in their curriculums for disabled students.
Timmonsville, Marion One and Two, Marlboro and Dillon Two School Districts rank near the bottom for AYP ratings.
Click here for AYP data for all schools and districts in the state from the SC Education Department.
