The majority of Kokomo-area schools stayed in the same category ranking in school accountability rankings released Wednesday.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Bennett released the annual Public Law 221 category placements, which are based on performance on standardized tests, improvement on the state test over a three-year period, and making adequate yearly progress as determined by the federal No Child Left Behind act.

Schools are placed in categories including exemplary, commendable, academic progress, academic watch and academic probation.

Only academic probation carries any standards. No Kokomo-area schools were in the academic probation category.

In the 10 school corporations included in the Kokomo area, four improved their category placement, while five stayed the same. Only two, Kokomo-Center and Peru Community Schools, were in the academic watch category, the second-lowest category.

Among the 46 individual public schools, the majority, 24, stayed in the same category, while 10 improved in their category ranking. Twelve were in lower-ranking categories from 2007.

Eleven of the 46 schools made exemplary progress, including Tri-Central Elementary, Howard Elementary, Northwestern High School, Taylor Intermediate School, Maconaquah Elementary, Wallace Elementary, Maple Crest Elementary, Lafayette Park Elementary, Boulevard Elementary, Sycamore Elementary and Galveston Elementary.

An additional 11 made commendable progress. Six were in the academic progress category, while 18 were in the academic watch category.

In Howard County, four schools improved category, 15 stayed the same and 11 went down.

In the Kokomo-Center Schools, Bon Air Middle School, the only school to be on academic probation in 2007, improved to academic watch for 2008.

Five Kokomo-Center schools made exemplary progress, three made commendable progress, one was on academic progress and seven were on academic watch.

Eastern Superintendent Tracy Caddell said while he’s pleased with the progress Eastern students are making, he’s not as thrilled with the labels.

Eastern High School went from exemplary progress in 2007 to academic progress in 2008, because of a rule that a school that does not make adequate yearly progress, as defined by the federal No Child Left Behind Act, for two years cannot place higher than academic progress.

Eastern High School missed adequate yearly progress based on a dip in its graduation rate, Caddell said.

“We will have that from time to time based on the class that goes through,” he said, adding that the rate dropped from 95 percent two years ago to 89 percent.

“Though we’re not pleased with 89 percent, it’s above the state average. ... I’m not defending an 89 percent graduation rate, I think we can do better, and we will do better. By the same token, we’re still doing quite well.”

Western Superintendent Peter O’Rourke said he’s happy overall with Western’s performance, but especially the middle school. The middle school is in the academic progress category, but O’Rourke said it would have qualified for exemplary if not for the rule about not making AYP.

He said, though, the middle school just missed the AYP cut off.

“It’s so close percent-wise I’m not really upset. I could have liked not to have seen [the high school] on academic watch, but I understand. Overall the corporation went from watch last year to commendable. In the world of statistics, I’m happy.”

He said people need to remember when reading these statistics that a school’s product is people.

“I think I’m OK with the way they’re tracking us, as long as the world understands there are flaws in statistics, and these are human beings we’re dealing with. If we were building widgets, I would be more happy with applying statistical data. When you’re dealing with human beings, it’s really tough ... but I understand the need for accountability.”

• Danielle Rush is the Kokomo Tribune’s education reporter. She may be reached at (765) 454-8585 or via e-mail at danielle.rush@kokomotribune.com



How they did:

School        2008    2007

Corporations

Eastern commendable commendable

Kokomo-Center academic watch academic progress

Northwestern commendable  commendable

Taylor academic progress academic progress

Western commendable commendable

Maconaquah commendable academic watch

Peru academic watch academic watch

Northern academic progress academic watch

Tipton academic progress academic watch

Southeastern commendable academic progress

Schools

Eastern ES commendable commendable

Eastern HS academic progress exemplary

Kokomo HS academic watch  academic progress

Bon Air ES  commendable academic probation

Boulevard exemplary  exemplary

Columbian  commendable  exemplary

Darrough Chapel academic watch academic progress

Elwood Haynes ES academic progress academic progress

Lafayette Park ES  exemplary academic progress

Maple Crest ES exemplary  exemplary

Pettit Park  academic watch  academic progress

Sycamore  exemplary  exemplary

Washington commendable commendable

Wallace exemplary  exemplary

Bon Air MS academic watch  academic progress

Central MS academic watch academic progress

Lafayette Park MS academic watch academic watch

Maple Crest MS  academic watch academic watch

Howard ES exemplary  exemplary

Northwestern ES  commendable exemplary

Northwestern MS commendable commendable

Northwestern HS  exemplary commendable

Taylor PS academic watch exemplary

Taylor IS exemplary exemplary

Taylor MS  academic watch academic progress

Taylor HS academic watch academic watch

Western PS commendable  commendable

Western IS commendable academic watch

Western MS  academic progress academic progress

Western HS academic watch academic progress

MacEl exemplary  academic progress

Pipe Creek commendable academic watch

Mac MS academic watch academic watch

Mac HS academic progress academic watch

Elmwood academic watch academic watch

Blair Pointe  academic watch academic watch

Peru Jr H academic watch academic watch

Peru HS  academic watch exemplary

Tri-Central ES exemplary academic watch

Tri-Central HS academic watch academic watch

Tipton ES commendable  academic watch

Tipton MS  academic progress academic progress

Tipton HS  academic watch  academic watch

Galveston ES exemplary academic progress

Lewis Cass HS academic watch academic watch

Thompson ES commendable commendable

Private schools

Sts. Joan of Arc and Patrick commendable exemplary

Redeemer Lutheran exemplary NA

St. Charles Borromeo, Peru exemplary exemplary

St. John the Baptist, Tipton academic watch commendable