POINT PLEASANT — The West Virginia Department of Education has released data for schools and counties regarding Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) as defined in the No Child Left Behind legislation.

All students in grades 3-11 are required to take the revised form of the West Virginia Educational Standards Test (WESTEST 2), or the Achievement Performance Task Assessment (APTA). Both of these assessments measure student achievement based on criteria established by the West Virginia Content Standards and Objectives.

Adequate yearly progress for students, schools, and school systems in West Virginia is determined by WESTEST 2 and APTA student and school performance. In addition, secondary schools must have a graduation rate at or above 80 percent and elementary and middle schools must have annual rates of attendance at or above 90 percent.

Recent WESTEST 2 results reported for Mason County reflect achievement which was very close to state scores in all subtests administered across grade levels.

Student accountability information (WESTEST 2 and APTA scores) for each subgroup determined by ethnicity, socio-economic level, English Language proficiency and disability are assessed to determine school and school system AYP for the year. Current West Virginia AYP is calculated at each school for every subgroup totaling more than 50 students. If any subgroup’s scores do not reach mastery target percentages, then the school did not meet AYP.

The West Virginia Department of Education reported that three schools in Mason County achieved AYP as defined by the No Child Left Behind legislation. These schools are Leon, New Haven and Roosevelt, according to the official press release.

• Point Pleasant Primary School utilizes DIBELS benchmarking to guide student achievement. Due to the school’s configuration of PK-2, students do not take the WESTEST.

Schools that did make AYP, did so with improvement over the previous year. Despite exceeding state percentages of student proficiency, five schools did not meet adequate yearly progress.

• Point Pleasant Intermediate School’s WESTEST 2 scores exceeded the county average scores in Mathematics and Reading/Language Arts in ALL, Low SES and Students with Disabilities subgroups. PPIS scores also exceeded the state average scores in Mathematics in the ALL, LOW SES and Students with Disabilities subgroups. Reading/Language Arts scores were within one point of the state average in the ALL subgroups and were equal to or exceeded the state average in the Low SES and Students with Disabilities subgroups. AYP was not met in the area of Reading/Language Arts for the Students with Disabilities subgroups. Point Pleasant Intermediate School is committed to providing education to this subgroup of students. School Improvement grants are in place to address the needs of the school.

• Wahama High School did not make AYP in the Low SES in Reading and Math and ALL Math and White subgroup. Wahama has made AYP status for the last four years.

• Point Pleasant Jr/Sr High School did not make AYP in Special Education Reading and Math. They did show improvement in Low SES Math. PPJSHS has the services of two instructional coaches this year to improve core instruction and is working diligently with RESA II to improve student achievement.

• Hannan High School met AYP status by improvement, but did not make overall AYP due to graduation rate. Great strides have been made and continued progression through benchmarking with acuity, daily drills, and continued practice with core academics and intervention is taking place for ALL struggling students. Continued support is provided by RESA II, WVDE, the county, and building level capacity to enhance each student to maximum potential.

• Beale Elementary met AYP status in all areas except Math Low SES. They also have a School Improvement grant in place to address the needs of the school. Beale participates in a Professional Learning Community through Marshall University to improve student achievement.

Mason County’s students, teachers and principals continue to focus on student performance for the purpose of closing the achievement gap. All schools are using the results of APTA and WESTEST to revise their school’s Five Year Strategic Plan in an effort to improve student achievement.

Please contact Mason County Schools or the West Virginia Department of Education for additional information regarding the No Child Left Behind legislation or the Adequate Yearly Progress.