Mayfield High School maintained its Proficient/Progressing rating and received the distinction of being a High Progress School. According to the Kentucky Department of Education, a High Progress School is one that met its “AMO, participation rate and graduation rate, has a graduation rate above 60 for the prior two years and has an improvement score indicating the school/district is in the top 10 percent of improvement.” In fact, MHS was just shy of being rated as a School of Distinction. The data shows MHS increased its overall score 16.6 points to 74.8, placing it in the 88th percentile. “This year we had significant growth in CCR and in 4 of the 5 categories which are the highest scores to date for MHS,” Principal Don Hubbard explained. The school has been in the Proficient category in all three years of the accountability system. Hubbard added, “I am very proud of students and staff for working so hard to achieve at a continuing high level. While every year brings different challenges for students and staff, as long as we continue to work together and be responsible, good things will continue to happen at MHS.”
Mayfield Middle School not only improved its overall score and met its AMO goal, the school improved its overall score 4.3 points to move it from the 45th percentile to the 64th percentile. While the school is still in the Needs Improvement/Progressing classification, Principal Kim Reed is pleased with the steady progress. “We are excited about the continual improvement of our school and exceeding the goal set by the state,” stated Reed. She added, “This year, we are setting higher expectations for ourselves and our students academically as well as behaviorally. We are already seeing evidence of our efforts.”
Also meeting its AMO for 2013-2014 was Mayfield Elementary School. The school moved from the 40th percentile to the 56th percentile. Although classified as Needs Improvement/Progressing, Jeff Hill, school principal, commended the students and faculty for their hard work and dedication in meeting the goals set by KDE. Not only was the overall AMO goal met, but maximum points were achieved in science and for the school’s Program Review.
New to the accountability score this year are Program Reviews for Arts and Humanities, Practical Living and Career Studies, and Writing. Accounting for 23% of the overall AMO, all three schools received the maximum number of points available for the program review module.
Starting in spring of 2012, Kentucky public school students in grades 3-8 completed tests collectively named the Kentucky Performance Rating for Educational Progress (K-PREP), in five content areas: reading, mathematics, science, social studies and writing. With the exception of reading and mathematics, not all subjects are tested at every grade. In addition, students (primarily at the high school level) complete End-of-Course exams in Algebra II, English II, Biology and U.S. History. High school students also complete a writing test and language mechanics test (part of ACT Plan) in grade 10 and a writing test in grade 11.
The Next-Generation Learners portion of the Unbridled Learning Accountability Model includes student achievement growth measures with emphasis on college- and career-readiness, high school graduation rates, student achievement in the five content areas, and increased focus on closing achievement gaps. Additionally, the accountability model holds all schools and districts accountable for improving student performance and providing quality learning opportunities in a variety of program areas (Program Reviews). Schools, districts and the state are placed in one of three performance classifications: Distinguished, Proficient or Needs Improvement. Based on their classifications and overall scores, schools and districts are placed in categories for the determination of recognition, support and consequences.
“To meet the challenge is one of our axioms at Mayfield Independent,” explained Superintendent Lonnie Burgett. “I am so pleased with our faculty and staff as we continue meet the challenge and provide a high quality education for our students.”
