High Schools Meet Goals On State Testing

All Schools in Calvert, St. Mary's Meet Targets

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By Jenna Johnson

Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, November 20, 2008; Page SM03

All three school systems in Southern Maryland met their adequate yearly progress goals for high schools based on standardized tests, according to data released Friday by the Maryland State Department of Education.

The data confirm that every school in St. Mary's and Calvert counties has met yearly targets for improvement. Scores for elementary and middle schools were released in August. Charles County did not earn the same distinction because one middle school did not meet its goals.

This is the first time St. Mary's has accomplished the feat since the testing and benchmarking began in 2003.

"I am absolutely ecstatic," St. Mary's Superintendent Michael J. Martirano said in a statement. "This incredible accomplishment is testament to the hard work and dedication of all school system employees and our students. These results confirm that we are a very high-performing school system."

The testing and annual tracking are part of the federal No Child Left Behind initiative, which mandates that all schools, school systems and states show progress in reading and math test scores across all demographics, including among special education students and those who speak English as a second language.

No Child Left Behind aims to have all students test at proficient levels and higher by 2014. The bar is raised each year, and schools must score higher on state standardized tests.

If a school does not make progress in all areas, including attendance, for two consecutive years, it is identified as needing special assistance and could be restructured with new staff members and curricula. At that point, parents can move their children to another school.

Mattawoman Middle School in Charles has been identified as needing "local attention" to improve the math proficiency of African Americans, special education students and those receiving free and reduced-price lunches. This year was the first time since 2003 that the middle school had missed its target.

School scores and data are available at http://www.mdreportcard.org.