Pathways to the Prize, District Winner | Page 12

District Profile Superintendent – Dr. Dale Lynch Grades served – PK-12 Enrollment – 9,615 Economically disadvantaged students – 62% White – 76% African American – 7% Hispanic – 15% Other – 2% Attendance rate – 96% TVAAS growth estimates (2012) Math: 3.2 Reading: 0.2 Algebra I: 13.9 English II: 2.2 TCAP Proficient/Advanced (3 year average) Math/Algebra I: 51% Reading/English II: 55% College readiness data ACT Composite (2 year average): 19 AP enrollment as percentage of all high school course enrollments: 39% Graduation rate 2012: 90% College-going rate 2010: 57% 11 Pathways to the Prize Lessons from the 2012 SCORE Prize District Winner Hamblen County Schools, a rural, high-poverty district in East Tennessee, has not let demographic challenges stand in the way of its commitment to academic excellence. More than 60 percent of the district’s student population qualifies for free and reduced priced lunch, up from 40 percent only a decade ago. The district also has one of the largest English language learner populations in the state. The district’s Hispanic population has grown from 1 percent to more than 16 percent over the past decade, with the majority of these students speaking Spanish as their primary language. Despite these challenges, the district