The number of Alexandria public schools meeting federal requirements in 2005 increased from 2004, according to data released Thursday by the Virginia Department of Education.
Under the Federal No Child Left Behind act requirements, the number of students passing standardized math and reading tests must increase annually in order to show what the federal Education Department calls “adequateyearly progress.”
“I am extremely pleased with our progress,” said Alexandria public school Superintendent Rebecca Perry. “Last year, three elementary schools did not make [adequate yearly progress]. This year, all three of those schools — Mount Vernon Community School, James Polk Elementary, and Jefferson-Houston School for Arts and Academics — demonstrated dramatic increases in student achievement.”
Despite these improvements, Cora Kelly Elementary School and three unnamed secondary schools did not meet annual federal requirements. School spokeswoman Amy Carlini said these schools missed the benchmarks because of changing federal requirements.
“I think that the idea of No Child Left Behind is a good idea,” she said. “I don’t think anyone argues with having goals for children to succeed. The way it’s been implemented by the federal government is not really realistic. It may not have been well thought out.”
