Boulder City school celebrates high ‘No Child’ scores

By Jean Reid Norman

Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2009 | 1:59 a.m.

Principal Jamey Hood has plenty to be proud of at Garrett Junior High School in Boulder City.

She recently learned that her students last spring had the highest scores in the federal No Child Left Behind testing in three areas.

More of her seventh graders passed the proficiency exams in both math and language arts than at any other middle school in the county.

And her eighth graders had the highest pass rate in the science proficiency exam in the county. In addition, the eighth graders had the top pass rates in a district-wide test of algebra and pre-algebra.

Hood may be proud, but she’s not satisfied.

“These are still not what it should be,” the former math teacher said. “This is still not sufficient.”

Still, she was all smiles Thursday as she showed off the stack of framed certificates and plaques the school was awarded last week.

Garrett’s pass rates were not just the best, said Area Coordinator Pat Skorkowsky, whose responsibilities include Boulder City schools.

“They were extremely high, very significantly high,” he said.

Garrett’s seventh graders showed an 89 percent pass rate in math. To make adequate yearly progress, middle schools needed only 55 percent of their students to pass math. Next year, that will go up to 66 percent.

The seventh graders also topped the district with a 91 percent pass rate in English, compared with a 52 percent level to make adequate progress. That will go up to 64 percent next year.

Eighth graders showed an 86 percent pass rate on the science proficiency test. District-wide, the pass rate was 59 percent.

In addition, the eighth graders had the highest rates of students passing the district’s Algebra 1 test at 81 percent, and they had the highest pass rate in pre-algebra at 51 percent.

Garrett also received a banner that is hanging in the front office for making adequate yearly progress. But Hood notes the school’s scores are much higher this year, with just adequate progress, than when it was considered exemplary in 2004-05, the first year of No Child Left Behind, or high achieving the following year. The pass rates those years were in the 50th percentile, she said.

Hood is quick to credit the staff at Garrett for the high scores.

“This is a hugely dedicated staff that understands the expectations and keeps high expectations for all students,” she said.

Technology such as Prometheus Boards, which allow teachers to make lessons more interactive, and computers also keep students engaged in learning, she said.

In a small school like Garrett, she said, the teachers can get to know the students individually, and they do.

There may be a trade-off at a smaller school, because fewer electives can be offered. Hood doesn’t think that’s a bad thing. Garrett’s electives are art, band, orchestra, choir, broadcasting and student aid. She thinks the heavy emphasis on arts helps.

“Research shows kids involved in fine arts and music do better in test scores,” she said. “I think there’s truth in that.”

The school will continue to work with students who are close to passing proficiency tests and try incorporating some “old school” methods into math, “like taking notes — things we know work,” Hood said.

She also will work with students to come up with incentives that will make it worth their while to do their best on test day. Last year she offered a Battle of the Bands for all students who passed the proficiency test after a couple of students suggested it.

“It made it more their own,” she said. “They took more responsibility for it.”

Of course, she said, the school probably will not have much money, so she expects to be creative, she said.