Five C’s, seven D’s and a F. That’s the report card for Bladen County schools for the 2013-14 year in the state’s first School Performance Grades required under recently passed legislation.
Bladenboro Primary, Dublin Primary, East Bladen High, Plain View Elementary and West Bladen High had C’s in the report. Booker T. Washington Primary, Bladen Lakes Primary, Clarkton School of Discovery, East Arcadia Elementary, Elizabethtown Middle, Elizabethtown Primary and Tar Heel Middle received D’s. Bladenboro Middle had a F.
Statewide, 132 out of 2,424 schools (5.4 percent) received A’s in the report. There were 582 B’s (24 percent), 1,003 C’s (41.4 percent compared to 38.5 percent for Bladen), 561 D’s (23.1 percent compared to 53.8 percent for Bladen) and 146 F’s (6 percent compared to 7.7 percent for Bladen).
The letter grades are based on school achievement and growth, according to the N.C. Department of Public Instruction. Eighty percent of a school’s grade is based on the percentage of student tests scores that are at or above grade-level performance, and 20 percent of a school’s grade is based on academic growth, according to the law.
In addition, Bladen Lakes Primary and Dublin Primary exceeded their growth status, while Booker T. Washington Primary, East Arcadia Elementary, Elizabethtown Middle, Elizabethtown Primary, Plain View Primary and Tar Heel Middle met their growth status.
“Growth is the most important indicator of a school’s impact on students’ learning,” State Superintendent June Atkinson said. “I plan to work with legislators this session to see if we can modify the formula so that it provides a letter grade for both student achievement and growth.”
Two schools in adjoining rural counties received A’s in the report. They were PSRC Early College in Robeson County and Sampson Early College High School. Two Sampson County schools — Midway High and Plain View Elementary — received B’s.
In Columbus County, there were nine C’s, seven D’s and two F’s. In Robeson County, along with its one A, there were four C’s, 13 D’s, six F’s and an incomplete. In Sampson County, along with its one A and two B’s, there were 14 C’s and one D.
“North Carolina public school parents now have an easy-to-understand letter grade to help them evaluate school performance,” State Board of Education Chairman Bill Cobey said. “The State Board will be considering how to assist schools that received a letter grade of D or F. We have requested funding from the General Assembly to support school turnaround efforts and professional development for teachers so that we can continue intervention services for the lowest-performing schools.”
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