Half of V.I. public schools met the annual "Adequate Yearly Progress" standard for the 2009-2010 school year, according to a report issued Monday by the Department of Education.
That’s an increase from three years ago, according to Education Commissioner LaVerne Terry.
“Schools meeting Adequate Yearly Progress have shown an increase over the past two years stepping up from 10 schools in 2007-2008 to 16 in 2009-2010,” she said in the department’s news release.
Of the 16 schools that met the standard, only two are higher than the elementary level. 10 of the AYP schools are on St. Thomas and six are on St. Croix.
To meet the AYP standard, elementary and junior high schools must attain a 95-percent attendance rate for grades three through eight, a 95-percent participation rate, and meet the required Annual Measurable Objective for math (38.4 percent of students testing at proficient or above) and reading (37.7 percent proficient and above).
In addition, high schools must attain an increase in the graduation rate from school year 2007-2008 to 2008-2009, attain the 95 percent participation rate, and meet the measurable objectives—40.8 percent in reading and 36 percent in math—for all students "to include all subgroups,” the commissioner said.
The subgroups, which include special education, limited English proficient, Hispanic and black student groups, must attain the same attendance, participation and academic requirements.
Schools achieving the AYP standards are:
St. Thomas-St. John District – Charlotte Amalie High, Bertha C. Boschulte Middle, Leonard Dober, Joseph Sibilly, Ulla Muller, Evelyn Marcelli, Joseph Gomez, Gladys Abraham, E. Benjamin Oliver, and Guy Benjamin elementary schools
St. Croix District – Lew Muckle, Claude O Markoe, Pearl B. Larsen, Alfredo Andrews, Evelyn Williams and Ricardo Richards elementary schools
The 15 schools that failed to meet the standard are:
St. Thomas-St. John District – Ivanna Eudora Kean High School, Addelita Cancryn and Julius Sprauve middle schools, and Lockhart, Yvonne Bowsky and Julius Sprauve elementary schools.
St. Croix District – St. Croix Central and Education Complex high schools, John Woodson, Arthur Richards and Elena Christian middle schools, and Juanita Gardine, Charles Emmanuel, Eulalie Rivera and Alexander Henderson elementary schools.
