Gus Farmer, left, and Carter Giles, right, read “Big Nate” books in Jennifer Lockwood’s third-grade readers workshop class at Thrasher Elementary School. Recent test scores show that Hamilton County is improving in math but still struggling in reading. Thrasher is an exception to this trend as it was one of three schools in Tennessee to be recognized for literacy growth and overall achievement.2013 TCAP SCORES
Here’s an in-depth look on how students fared on TCAPs:• 2013 TCAP Hamilton County Scores• 2013 TCAP Tennessee Scores
Jennifer Lockwood helps Amelia Sisson pick out a book to read during her third-grade readers workshop class at Thrasher Elementary School. Recent test scores show that Hamilton County is improving in math but still struggling in reading. Thrasher is an exception to this trend as it was one of three schools in Tennessee to be recognized for literacy growth and overall achievement.3 TRENDSHere are three other trends from the 2013 TCAP results and how they’re underscored by what’s happening in Hamilton County schools.Strong leaders, strong teachers, strong scoresNo one — teachers, students or the principal — escapes scrutiny at Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy. The school follows the data on each student’s performance intensely. Elaine Swafford, who earned her educational street cred years ago as principal of the Howard School, took over the charter school a year ago. After all teachers reapplied for their positions as part of a federal grant school turnaround model, about 10 were swapped out. The school day was extended and academic coaches were brought on. So far, scores are improving: The amount of students passing middle school math tests increased by 27.1 percentage points and reading was up by 13. 9 points. “Everybody knows in education there’s not a silver bullet,” Swafford said. “Schools go where leaders and teachers take them.”Arts and academicsEducators have long cited a relationship between the arts and academic performance. And as evidence, some point to the six Hamilton County reward schools that were recognized by the state for posting the highest overall academic achievement in Tennessee. Of those six, all have a visual arts program, though three of those are paid for by parents and community support. Yet only 15 of the county’s 44 elementary schools have a visual arts teacher. Neelie Parker, principal at Big Ridge Elementary, one of the district’s reward schools, said the school’s strong art and music programs are a big part of the school’s academic success. “I’m a firm believer that you have to look at the whole child,” she said.Inner-city renewalFive of Hamilton County’s lowest-performing schools — grouped together in the district’s iZone — are in the thick of what district leaders hope will be a transformation. And already one of those schools, Orchard Knob Elementary, is posting big gains. Though its overall performance placed it in the bottom 5 percent of Tennessee schools, Orchard Knob saw enough growth in 2013 to also be named a reward school for its improvement. Social studies scores moved up nearly 24 percentage points, while math improved 7.4 percent and reading scores inched up a point and a half. The iZone is pumping some $10 million into its five schools, increasing teacher pay, training opportunities and the length of the school day. Principal LaFrederick Thirkill says those things, together with the growth teachers are already realizing, will get Orchard Knob out of the iZone. “Money doesn’t raise test scores,” he said. “Effective teaching practices raise test scores.”
Third-grader Jahvonne Rolle glues down letters of his name, cut from magazine pages, as part of his montage self-portrait, during Catherine Gilreath’s art class, at Big Ridge Elementary School on Monday. The entire Big Ridge art program is funded by the Parent Teacher Association.TCAP SCORES
Here’s how students fared on TCAPs. Results show the percentage of students performing at grade level for grades three through eight.Hamilton County – 2011 – 2012 – 2013Reading – 44.6 – 45.7 – 46.9Math – 44.9 – 49.6 – 54.2Tennessee – 2011 – 2012 – 2013Reading – 47.5 – 49.9 – 50.3Math – 41 – 47.2 – 50.7Source: Tennessee Department of Education
The narrative about Tennessee’s public schools in the past few years has been dominated by reform and improvement. State officials contend that their policy shifts on everything from teacher accountability to state standards have been successful, as evidenced by growth on student test scores.
And by and large, test scores have slowly but surely improved statewide.