We made AYP! In every area.

[proud2BlibKansan]

And we closed for good on June 4th. :banghead:

[Catshrink]

1. WooHoo! That is great news!

But so sad...

:cry:

[proud2BlibKansan]

4. Frustrating beyond belief.

The staff is celebrating tonight on Facebook. And sharing the news of where we all will be when school starts.

Come join the party if you want. :)

[dsc]

2. sorry but at least you went out with a bang

My school's math scores went way up despite our principal but we ended up likely saving her.

[proud2BlibKansan]

5. Did you want to save her?

[dsc]

7. No we never would have gotten these scores but for the fact

we literally made her reverse course on her insane ways. We are happy for the kids but we are not happy we saved her.

[OmahaBlueDog]

3. How is Adequate Yearly Progress defined in this instance?

...and why were you closed? (which, I am very sorry to read)

[proud2BlibKansan]

10. It's a very complicated formula

Basically it means our kids in grades 3,4,5,6,7 and 8 are proficient (at grade level) in Reading and Math. And our 5th and 8th graders are proficient in Science. We've done this every year except one since NCLB came into our world (2002?) It's a remarkable achievement considering 100% of our kids are free lunch (poverty level) and about half are English language learners.

They closed us because the building is 96 years old. They closed 40% of the schools in our district because of declining enrollment.

[FBaggins]

12. That is remarkable. Congratulations!

And condolences of course.

What do you think set you guys apart? Obviously not the state-of-the-art facility.

[proud2BlibKansan]

14. A great principal, excellent teachers and a very supportive community

Plus years of work building the great staff and winning community support.

[FBaggins]

16. A poor community with many non-english speakers?

How was that support accomplished? Is the population far more stable than others that can be described that way?

[proud2BlibKansan]

17. No not any more stable than other similar communities.

[FBaggins]

18. Other schools in the area seeing similar success?

What I'm trying to get at is that it appears that you dealt with many of the same external problems that supposedly "failing" schools deal with... yet had success.

No special funding or new programs or tiny class sizes?

[proud2BlibKansan]

19. We were a Community School

We had at one time a health clinic and provided free health care to all of our kids. Then the state elected a republican governor and he cut Medicaid funding so we lost most of our clinic services.

No small class sizes or special programs. Just hard working teachers and an outstanding principal.

[OmahaBlueDog]

13. First - WOW

That is remarkable, given those stats! You should be proud - of yourself and the kids.

Second, I'm sorry for the closure, but I'm guessing if your building is 96, and enrollment is declining, some schools were consolidated. I know a Council Bluffs, IA just went through that with their elementary schools.

Third, in the same spirit that I thank active military DUers, I thank you and anyone here who teaches in schools where the kids don't have all of the advantages American life has to offer. It is a difficult and often thankless task, and most days you probably think "there must be an easier way to make a living."

[proud2BlibKansan]

15. Thank you. That's a very nice thing to say.

I'll be in Omaha tomorrow. I'll send my best vibes as I drive through town. :)

[Rabrrrrrr]

6. Average Yards of Poop? Annual Yokels Poked? Adjusted Yearning Percentil? What the hell is an AYP?

And I assume that whatever closing you speak of is a closing that you wished had not happened, since you have the headbang smilie?

[OmahaBlueDog]

8. Not to put words in the OPs mouth - I believe the reference is to Adequate Yearly Progress

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adequate_Yearly_Progress

[Rabrrrrrr]

9. Yes, that makes sense - I didn't realize this was the education forum.

I came in from the 'discuss' page based on the headline.

[proud2BlibKansan]

11. Adequate Yearly Progress

[proud2BlibKansan]

20. Just saw all the scores for our district

The schools that performed the best are all closed.

So there's the secret. Want your test scores to go up? Close the schools!!

[Catshrink]

21. Want your school closed? Have low test scores.

How does that song go?

Kick 'em when they're up, kick 'em when they're down
Kick 'em when they're up, kick 'em when they're down
Kick 'em when they're up, kick 'em when they're down
Kick 'em when they're up, kick 'em all around

[LWolf]

22. Where will you be next year?

:(

[proud2BlibKansan]

23. I was moved to a new school

Fortunately I have enough seniority that I get to keep my job. Also fortunately our contract is being honored and my seniority matters. But you know how it goes. I am one of the incompetent senior teachers so I should probably be put out to pasture. Or shot, depending on who's offering to fix our schools. :)

[LWolf]

24. I know how it goes.

We need to make way for the new (cheap, less qualified) blood. Because we're set in our ways and against change.

No wonder the message has been successful. It's the inner teen.

Meanwhile, I'm browsing through the notes I made at the end of the year, trying to decide what kind of changes to make for next year.

Just like always.

I hope you're welcomed into your new school, and that it's a positive year for you.