While seven Prince George’s County public high schools made progress necessary to exit a state list of struggling schools, 12 of the county’s 24 high schools remain on the list, according to state data released Friday.
“To have more than a third of the high schools that were on [the list] exit is a phenomenal accomplishment by our students,” schools spokesman John White said.
Schools are put on the “improvement” list when they fail to meet state standards — adequate yearly progress — for two consecutive years.
The state says a school has made adequate yearly progress when students in all subgroups — including divisions by race, special education needs, limited English proficiency and economically disadvantaged student categories — are successful in attaining Maryland targets for algebra and English. Graduation rate is also factored into the equation.
No Prince George’s high schools were placed on the “improvement” list this year.
Schools are removed from the list by making adequate yearly progress for two consecutive years.
“You can tie this year’s results to a program that began last year called ISIS,” White said.
The Intensive Support and Intervention School program provides support for the troubled schools.
White said all seven schools that came off the list were involved in the program and that all 12 schools remaining on the list are in ISIS. The 12 schools haven’t met progress targets for four to five years.
Each school in the ISIS program receives one of four levels of support, from targeted to intensive. The targeted schools receive extended learning opportunities as well as mentors for teachers and administrators, White said last month.
On the intensive side, he said, schools receive additional math and reading coaches, a data analysis and testing coordinator, a pupil personnel worker who assists at-risk students and their families, mentors for teachers and administrators, and learning opportunities outside the normal school day.
“It’s demonstrated its effectiveness with all seven of the schools that exited this year,” White said.
At a glance
Prince George’s high schools leaving the state’s list of struggling schools are:
» Bowie High School
» Frederick Douglass High School
» Gwynn Park High School
» Laurel High School
» Potomac High School
» Suitland High School
» Surrattsville High School
