Schools

Tutoring Available for Central, Harvest Ridge Elementary Students

Students who attend Central and Harvest Ridge Elementary can choose to switch to different schools in the district.

Two elementary schools in the Francis Howell School District will have to offer students the option of attending a different elementary school, and pay for students to get additional tutoring this year.

Central and Harvest Ridge Elementary Schools failed to meet state benchmarks for achievement on the Missouri Assessment Program tests for 2011.

Schools had to have 72.5 percent of students test at grade level in math and 75.5 percent test at grade level in reading tests to meet the benchmarks.

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State officials look at how well different groups of students do on the test including white students, black students, students with low socioeconomic status and students with disabilities, among others. If just one group fails to meet the goals, the school is not classified as having met the benchmarks.

The scores were by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. The Francis Howell Board of Education discussed the results at the Thursday Board of Education meeting.

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Both elementary schools failed to meet the goals last year and made a series of changes required by the state. The schools had to revise the school improvement plan, offer students the option of switching schools, include information on the District’s website about the scores and spend 10 percent of Title 1 funding on professional development.

The two schools implemented those changes, and some additional moves that that weren’t required. This year, both schools saw improvements.

2010-11 MAP Scores

Central Elementary School had four of five groups of students meet the goals in math, showing its highest schoolwide math achievement since 2006 with a six percent gain. However, none of the subgroups met the goals for achievement in communication arts.

Harvest Ridge posted its highest scores in communication arts since 2006. Three of five subgroups of students met state goals on communication arts tests. Just one of five subgroups met goals in math.

The sanctions will once again be in effect this year, however, there will be some changes with the school choice program. In 2010-11, Warren, John Weldon, Castlio, Henderon and Fairmont were offered up as alternative schools for Central and Harvest Ridge students to attend. In 2011-12, the alternate schools will be Waren, John Weldon and Daniel Boone. The district will provide transportation to any students from Central or Harvest Ridge who chose to switch.

If a student opted to attend Castlio last year, he or she can still attend this year, but the district won’t provide transportation.

Francis Howell will host meetings to explain school choices to parents. Central’s will take place at 6 p.m. on Aug. 10. Harvest Ridge will meet at 6 p.m. on Aug. 11.

In addition to the sanctions imposed last year, Central and Harvest Ridge will have to offer students additional tutoring services.

Tutoring is offered to students who qualify for free or reduced lunch. Approved providers will supply the tutoring. Both schools have around 40 percent of students who qualify for free and reduced lunch, which is based on income.

If the two schools once again don’t meet the goals for achievement, year three sanctions aren’t much different than this year, Chief Academic Officer Mary Hendricks-Harris said.

Harvest Ridge Elementary MAP Test Scores 2010-11 Communication Arts Math State Goals* 75.5 72.5 School Total 68.7 52.9 Black 28.3 13 White 59.1 58.1 Free/Reduced Lunch 39.1 37.3 Students with a disability 34

37.7

Central Elementary MAP Test Scores 2010-11

Communication Arts Math State Goals* 75.5 72.5 School Total 52.6 56.1 Black 33.9 23.2 White 57 62

Free/Reduced Lunch

38 38.7 Students with a disability 33.9

45.8

*The state goals are the percentage of students expected to score proficient or advanced on the state test in a given year.

Other Notes

  • Chief Financial Officer Kevin Supple was recently awarded with the highest honor from the Association of Business School Officials. Supple won the International Award—a lifetime achievement award for his service with Francis Howell. 

“I admire his commitment and passion to education,” Superintendant Dr. Pam Sloan said during the school board meeting Thursday. “… He really does have a passion for our kids. “

Supple was give a $5,000 scholarship that will be awarded to a senior this year.

  • The Board approved 13 purchases of more than $7,500. Among the purchases listed are 20 new Apple computers for the Francis Howell High School yearbook program. The computers cost nearly $33,000.

Also on the purchase list is an offer to buy 145 Dell computers to spread between Francis Howell and Francis Howell Central. The computers will cost nearly $109,000.


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