September 27, 2018
By: Dwayne Page
DeKalb West School had a celebration Thursday for being named a Reward School by the Tennessee Department of Education.
The assembly program took place in the gymnasium. The teachers and students were recognized for this distinction and treated to cupcakes. A total of 480 cupcakes were prepared for the program. Teachers also received certificates for their hard work.
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“I would like to congratulate DeKalb West School teachers and students for being named a 2018 Reward School by the Tennessee Department of Education,” said Principal Sabrina Farler.
“DeKalb West School excelled in our TNREADY or TCAP achievement this past year. Our 3rd through 8th grade students performed in the top 20th percent. That is what earned us a Reward status which is the top distinction a school can earn and I am so proud of you,” she said.
“We have a wonderful student body and a wonderful faculty and staff that work together each day. I would like to say thank you teachers for helping every student excel,” Principal Farler added.
The department released its 2018 School Accountability lists last week, which names schools that are excelling and those that need added support.
The DeKalb County School System received an overall “Advancing” status, the second best of the three designations the state gives for improvement. The best is “Exemplary” and “Satisfactory” comes in below “Advancing”
Reward schools are typically improving in terms of achievement and growth for all students and student groups, according to the department. There’s no cap on the number of reward schools.
A school cannot receive a reward designation if:
- Any student group performs in the bottom five percent in the state for that group
- The school is also designated priority or in need of comprehensive support and improvement, or additional targeted support and improvement.
This is the first year that the DOE has used a new framework to determine the school accountability lists. In past years, reward schools included the top 10 percent of schools based on the highest rates of performance and progress.
Education Commissioner Candice McQueen said Reward and Priority schools are two key designations under Tennessee’s school accountability system..
Reward status is the top distinction a school can earn in Tennessee. Reward schools are those that are improving overall student academic achievement and student growth for all students and for student groups, and they are identified annually. In 2018, 318 schools in 85 school districts – about 20 percent of schools in the state – earned Reward status.
Priority schools are identified at least every three years, and they are the schools most in need of support and improvement. Priority schools fall into the bottom 5 percent of schools in the state test scores over the past three years and have low graduation rates. Following legislation passed this spring, 2017-18 TNReady data was not used to identify Priority schools. The 2018 Priority list includes 82 schools across eight districts, and these schools are now eligible for additional funding and will be supported by the department, in coordination with their districts, in developing a plan to improve.
DeKalb County had no priority schools