Friday, March 19, 2010

Three Camas Schools Recognized for Achievement

Camas High School, Liberty and Skyridge have been recognized by the state as schools that profoundly affect student learning and are being awarded for their efforts.

A total of 174 schools are receiving Washington Achievement Awards for 2009. This year, 70 elementary, 26 middle, 52 high schools and 26 comprehensive schools received awards.

The awards are being given by the State Board and the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Our schools will be recognized at a celebration at on May 5.

Assistant Superintendent Tanis Knight noted that this award is particularly encouraging because it recognizes the efforts of teachers to move ALL of their students to higher levels of achievement. "Camas educators believe that every student can benefit from clear learning targets and excellent instruction. This award is a validation of their hard work and commitment to their students," commented Knight.

The awards are part of the State Board’s accountability program, adopted in 2009. Under the program, all schools will be indexed according to outcomes and indicators from 2007 to 2009. The five outcomes are student performance in statewide reading, writing, math and science tests, as well as the school’s extended graduation rate, which includes those students who took longer than four years to graduate.
Those outcomes are each measured using four indicators:

  1. achievement of students who are not from low-income families;
  2. achievement of students from low-income families;
  3. achievement of all students when compared to “peers” (those with similar student characteristics, such as the percentage of students who have a disability, are learning English, are designated as gifted, come from low-income families, and are mobile); and
  4. improvement in the achievement of all students from the previous year.