Lafourche schools offer plans to combat low scores

After failing to meet testing requirements in the state’s Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) subgroups, six Lafourche Parish principals had to present a game plan for improving test scores.

The AYP subgroups are classified by race, economic disadvantages or special education status.

Raceland Upper Elementary, East Thibodaux Middle, Lockport Middle, Thibodaux High, Central Lafourche High and South Lafourche High tested poorly last year on the state’s three high stakes tests: the Louisiana Education Assessment Program (LEAP), Integrated LEAP and the Graduation Exit Exam (GEE).

Students’ scores were deficient mainly in mathematics and English, causing the school board to call for improvement plans.

According to Julie Bourgois, Lafourche’s testing accountability supervisor, the low scores coincided with tougher AYP standards during the 2006-07 testing cycle. Prior to the standard hike, 48.7 percent of a school’s student had to pass English, and 41 percent had to pass math. After the increase, 57 percent of English students and 43 percent of those testing in math are required to pass, she explained.

“The district is up on what is happening in the schools and they are trying to provide assistance,” Bourgeois said. “Teachers and students today are really working hard.

“The accountability is here and it’s here to stay,” she added. “It is our goal to consistently look at what it is that we do as a district and to improve the instruction of our students.”

• Raceland Upper Elementary

Raceland Upper Elementary School is one three schools that showed minimal growth. The school posted a performance score of 75.4, falling slightly from its previous 74.2.

Principal Bernita Deville said the school’s economically disadvantaged subgroup, which constitutes about 80 percent of the student body, did not meet the AYP math standard.

“With 80 percent of our students being in that subgroup, our plan of action is focused schoolwide,” she said.

Early-intervention teachers are being assigned to work with fourth- and fifth-graders in math. Also, Deville said adding teachers to the staff will help reduce class sizes in those grades.

• East Thibodaux Middle School

East Thibodaux Middle School’s score dropped 7.2 points from 81.8 the previous year.

Principal Belinda Harry, who was appointed in July, said 241 of the 361 students tested – 66 percent – failed to meet the state standards. Among all three subgroups – racially, economically and special education – math scores were the lowest.

Harry said students will be immersed in math throughout the year, and teachers will receive more professional development to tackle the problem. Also, East Thibodaux will hold monthly “Math Nights” for parents.

“This will provide tutoring to the parents so that they can provide the students with assistance at home,” she said.

• Lockport Middle School

Although the numbers shifted in each subgroup, Lockport Middle School retained its 83.2 score.

Principal Nancy Curole identified the disabilities subgroup as the lowest scorers.

To bolster disabled students’ test-taking confidence, Curole is requiring teachers to meet twice weekly with those who scored poorly during physical education periods.

“We are going to ‘pre-teach’ and ‘re-teach’ the core academics,” she said.

• Thibodaux High

Thibodaux High improved 4.2 points – the largest gain between it, Central Lafourche and South Lafourche – with an SPS score of 85.4.

Over half of the students – 55 percent – ranked in the “advanced” category on the math portion of the GEE, according to Principal Kevin George. However, the school’s special education subgroup failed to meet the AYP standard.

Rather than targeting the subgroup, George said teachers will be focusing on improving scores schoolwide. In addition to providing GEE remediation, he said staff will urge parental involvement, calling or mailing letters to students’ guardians and even visiting students’ homes.

“We are going to aggravate (parents) until they come,” George said.

• Central Lafourche High

Central Lafourche High posted the lowest performance score among the parish’s three public high schools. The 79.9 reflects poor scores among each of the subgroups in English and math.

Principal Jimmy Ledet said he intends to have core teachers review their course plans to ensure they align with the material required on the tests.

• South Lafourche High

South Lafourche High’s AYP subgroups scored 94.1, up slightly from the previous year’s 93.5 figure.

Although the figure is slightly higher than Thibodaux High’s numbers, South Lafourche High Principal Mary Curole said the school’s special education subgroup failed to hit its mark in English.

To help the subgroup prepare for the GEE, Curole said an English and a math teacher will spend 45 minutes daily working with study skills classes.

Thibodaux High School 11th grader Derrick Horn and Lisa Knight, study skills and FastForward instructor, review exam material. * Photo by KEYON K. JEFF