Author Archives: Stan Jester

DeKalb Schools – 2019 Milestone Results Summary

Posted on July 26, 2019 | 51 comments

While DeKalb Schools Milestones results are abysmal, at least they are not as abysmal as they used to be.

Proficient Learners are at grade level. So over half the students in most measurements are below grade level. In many cases, almost half the students are Developing Learners, way below grade level.

However, the school district is making progress and the trends are improving. Fewer students are Developing Learners. More and more students are moving into the Proficient Learners and Distinguished Learners categories.

Spring 2019 and Final 2017 & 2018 – DeKalb Schools Milestones End-of-Course (EOC)
(Combined Winter and Spring Percentages)

DeKalb Milestone EOC Summary

Spring 2019 and Final 2017 & 2018 – DeKalb Schools – Milestones End of Grade (EOG)

Dekalb K-8 Milestones EOG

DEFINITIONS

Beginning Learners do not yet demonstrate proficiency in the knowledge and skills necessary at this grade level/course of learning, as specified in Georgia’s content standards. The students need substantial academic support to be prepared for the next grade level or course and to be on track for college and career readiness.

Developing Learners demonstrate partial proficiency in the knowledge and skills necessary at this grade level/course of learning, as specified by Georgia’s content standards. The students need additional academic support to ensure success in the next grade level or course and to be on track for college and career readiness.

Proficient Learners demonstrate proficiency in the knowledge and skills necessary at this grade level/course of learning, as specified in Georgia’s content standards. The students are prepared for the next grade level or course and are on track for college and career readiness.

Distinguished Learners demonstrate advanced proficiency in the knowledge and skills necessary at this grade level/course of learning, as specified in Georgia’s content standards. The students are well prepared for the next grade level or course and are well prepared for college and career readiness.
Additional performance levels help teachers better pinpoint where their kids are and give students more opportunities to succeed.

Wrap Around Services & Parent Engagement

DeKalb Schools spends a great deal of money on “Wrap Around Services”. The school district attributes much of the academic gaines to supporting the Whole Child. School Counselors, Psychologists, Nurses and Social Workers are in the school house to address barriers that impact student achievement utilizing wrap around supports. Postsecondary Transition Specialists, Student Engagement Coaches, and other positions and programs help to provide an additional intervention for our students and families with the intent of student success and high school graduation.

DeKalb Schools also spends a lot of money on “Parent Engagement”. The Parent and Engagement department has multiple initiatives to help parents help their kids’ academic outcomes. Workshops, webinars, training videos, and the Family IMPACT Hub, are used to provide resources to help parents support their kids. In addition, the school district spends hundreds of thousands a year assisting parents with obtaining their GED, enrolling in higher education or training programs, and training in workforce development, advocacy, leadership, and wrap-around services.

RESULTS

• The average scale scores for the Ninth Grade Literature and United States History EOC exams increased by 8 points and Physical Science increased by 4 points leading to significant increases in students scoring Proficient and Distinguished Learner, Ninth Grade Literature by 5.6%, United States History by 4.7%, and Physical Science by 5.1%.

• Across the District, all EOG-tested grades (3-8) showed average scale score increases in English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies.

• The percentage of students scoring in the Distinguished Learner category – the state’s highest performance category – in the English Language Arts EOG increased for every grade.

• From 2017-2019, the district-wide percentage of 8th grade students scoring Proficient and above increased in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science.

The following accomplishments were demonstrated by the thirteen (13) DCSD schools identified by the state as Turnaround Eligible Schools. Three (3) elementary schools saw growth on average scale scores across all eight (8) assessments (100%):

• Eldridge L. Miller Elementary School
• Murphey Candler Elementary School
• Stoneview Elementary School

Seven (7) schools decreased the percentage of students scoring Beginning Learner on at least six (6) of the eight (8) assessments:

• Eldridge L. Miller Elementary School
• Lithonia Middle School
• McNair Middle School
• Murphey Candler Elementary School
• Peachcrest Elementary School
• Redan Elementary School
• Stoneview Elementary School

Eight (8) schools demonstrated double-digit increases in the percentage of students scoring Proficient and Distinguished Learner on at least one assessment:

• Eldridge L. Miller Elementary School
• Fairington Elementary
• Murphey Candler Elementary
• Panola Way Elementary
• Snapfinger Elementary
• Stone Mountain Elementary
• Stoneview Elementary
• Toney Elementary

51 Comments

Posted in Milestones

Moving the Magnet and the Middle School In Chamblee

Posted on July 11, 2019 | 143 comments

More classroom space is needed at Chamblee Charter High School. On Monday, the school district proposed the possibility of closing Chamblee Middle School and moving the High Achievers Magnet Program from Chamblee Charter High School.

Can we have a healthy and constructive discussion about this?

Close Chamblee Middle School

DeKalb Schools administration threatened the Chamblee community with this option on Monday.

At the board meeting, I asked Dan Drake, interim Chief Operating Officer (COO), about the viability of this option. He said they haven’t done any research into this option.

This doesn’t appear to be a viable option for the same reason the school district isn’t considering a satellite campus instead of the Lakeside High School (LHS) building additions.

I suspect, the administration is using this option as a scare tactic to get the Chamblee community on board with the GO bond and building additions at the high school.

MOVE CHAMBLEE CHARTER HS MAGNET

DeKalb Schools administration presented this alternative to building additions at Chamblee Charter High School (CCHS). This alternative is driven more by the board than the administration.

Can we have a cordial dialogue about “moving the magnet from CCHS”? I’m an advocate for keeping the magnet at Chamblee and would like to hear more from those who would like to move it. These are the discussion points as I see them:

Move the magnet – You can’t “move” the magnet. What you can do is shut it down at CCHS and open up another somewhere else. Some of the students will go to the new one, but very few of the teachers will go.

Magnet success – Many people, including district school board members, believe the successes at Chamblee Charter HS are a result of something the school district is doing for CCHS that they are not doing for the other magnets. However, the success of the CCHS magnet program is a function of Chamblee and not the school district.

Distance – Moving the magnet from CCHS to the new Cross Key HS will severely increase the distance for many students. The board members I have talked to don’t think that distance is consequential. I don’t think most of the students from Doraville, Chamblee or Dunwoody will follow the magnet down there. This is taking the magnet away from them.

Teachers – The idea of moving the magnet is to fill those open spots at CCHS with resident students, so CCHS will still need teachers. I don’t anticipate most of those teachers will want to move.

Magnet is Unfair – I hate that the magnet program picks winners and losers. I think adding magnet programs is the solution, not completely destroying the program. I’m not a fan of the attitude, “If I can’t have one then nobody can have one”.

I’d like to know your thoughts. –Stan

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Posted in Chamblee High School