School district meets federal guidelines

The Carson City School District made adequate yearly progress as a district this year, while four schools fell below the mark required by the federal No Child Left Behind Act, according to a report released this week.

"The data indicates that we're showing growth," said Superintendent Richard Stokes. "It may not be exactly at the point needed for AYP, but we're starting to see improvements and that is paying off in the number of students we have walking across the stage for graduation."

Bordewich-Bray was designated high achieving for its improvements in math.

"That was tremendous news," Stokes said. "It's been a huge effort by the staff and students over there, and they deserve to be congratulated."

Seeliger Elementary School and Carson High School were placed on the "watch list," for slipping below the line after having met the requirements the year before.

Empire, which made the cut last year, failed to make adequate yearly progress again this year so was designated "in need of improvement" along with Mark Twain.

However, Stokes pointed out, Empire's students received the highest scores in the district on the writing portion of the exam.

"To have a population that has such a high percentage of students who are English language learners lead the district in writing is just phenomenal," Stokes said.

Fritsch Elementary School and Pioneer High School made adequate yearly progress as did Carson Montessori, a charter school sponsored through the Carson City School District.

Fremont Elementary School along with Carson and Eagle Valley middle schools met the bar this year, but because they did not last year they are "on hold" until they make adequate yearly progress for a consecutive year.

The report also showed an increase in graduation rates in Carson City. Carson High School improved from 88.1 percent to 91.89 percent. Pioneer graduation rates rose to 70.59 percent from 51.11 percent the previous year.

"That's really the end goal for all of our students," Stokes said.

Although some schools did not meet the federal standards, Stokes said, the district is doing well.

"The overall reaction is we're pleased with the growth," he said. "Anytime you see schools consecutively improve, you know we're doing things right in the classroom."

State education officials said achievement targets were raised this year as schools approach federally mandated 100 percent proficiency by 2013.

"Budget cuts and the significantly higher targets took its toll on the elementary and middle schools within each district in attempting to achieve the expected AYP requirements," the Nevada Department of Education said in a written release.

The report said 45 percent of Nevada elementary schools and 37 percent of middle schools met adequate achievement requirements, while 72 percent of high schools were in compliance.

Additionally, 46 schools were designated as "high achieving," and nine were given the highest designation of being "exemplary."

School performance is based on test scores of various student groups. If one of the subgroups doesn't meet the goals, the entire school is listed as not having made adequate yearly progress.

Detailed reports on each district and individual schools are available online at www.nevadareportcard.com.

- The Associated Press Contributed to this report.