Parent Teacher Magazine Union County Public Schools Jan/Feb 2019 | Page 4

UCPS reports nearly 70 percent of schools earned A or B, no F schools in 2017-18 accountability report
Union County Public Schools (UCPS) announced historical
gains and improved academic measures in 2017-18 accountability
report. The results were announced
Wednesday, Sept. 5, as the State Board
of Education released a report about
School Performance Grades, Grade Level
Proficiency, State Assessments and School
Growth. The state reported that about 22
percent of North Carolina schools received
a grade of D or F.
For the first time since the 2013-14
school year, no school received a School
Performance Grade of F. Walter Bickett
Elementary has exited low-performing
status and the school exceeded growth in
2017-18.
In addition, nearly 70 percent of
schools earned a School Performance
Grade of an A or B for the 2017-18 school
year and approximately 70 percent of
schools either exceeded or met academic
growth during the 2017-18 school year.
“For the first time in five years, UCPS
does not have any schools labeled with an F
letter grade from the state,” said Dr. Andrew
Houlihan, Superintendent. “This is a quite an
accomplishment and I am extremely proud of
our teachers, principals and support staff who are thinking differently
about how to approach instruction for students.”
Over the last two years, UCPS has expanded strategies to
improve academic performance in several areas. For example,
last school year, the district hired math tutors to support fourth
and seventh graders at several
schools that needed additional
resources. As a result, fourth-
grade math proficiency increased
by an average of 12 points at
the four elementary schools—
Walter Bickett, Benton Heights,
East and Marshville. In addition,
seventh-grade math proficiency
increased by an average of 11
points at Monroe Middle and East
Union Middle.
“These results are proving
that UCPS is maintaining high-
quality instruction across the
county and that we are moving
in the right direction,” Houlihan
said. “We are always looking
at ways to strengthen teaching
and learning, share best
practices across schools and
grow our students.”
UCPS still leads the state
in graduation rates among the
largest school systems. The
district’s four-year cohort graduation rate slightly increased from
92.5 percent in 2016-17 to 92.6 percent in 2017-18. Nine of the
12 comprehensive high schools earned a graduation rate of 90
percent or higher.
Two high school graduation rates stand out in terms of major
gains. Forest Hills High earned an 84.9 percent in 2017-18,
compared to 81 percent in 2016-17. In addition, Sun Valley High
increased its graduation rate from 88.3 in 2016-17 to 92.7 in
2017-18, a difference of 4.4 percentage points.
Central Academy of Technology and Arts maintained a 100
percent graduation rate.
Due to changes to the state’s accountability measurements
required under the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA),
school grades and growth results for the 2017-18 school year are
not comparable to past performance during the five years the
state has assessed schools using A-F letter grades and 13 years
reporting the Cohort Graduation Rate.
Schools are now accountable for the progress of non-English
speaking students in mastering English skills and are also subject
to a number of other changes affecting School Performance
Grades, growth calculations and the graduation rate.
UCPS 2017-18 READY Accountability Data Snapshot:
During the 2017-18 school year, no school received a School
Performance Grade of F.
UCPS increased its graduation rate from 92.5 percent in 2017-18 to
92.6 percent in 2017-18.
Two high schools, Forest Hills and Sun Valley, showed a significant
increase in graduation rates.
Since the adoption of the current School Performance Grade
Accountability Model, UCPS has the fewest number of schools receiving
a School Performance Grade below C (five schools or 10 percent of all
schools)
For the second consecutive year, UCPS has not had an increase in the
number of schools designated as low performing by the state of North
Carolina. Four schools are designated low performing.
2 • Nov/Dec 2018 • Parent Teacher Magazine