Students in New Hanover County Schools scored above the state average on new, more challenging standards and assessments during the 2013-14 school year, according to a summary released Sept. 4.
Superintendent Dr. Tim Markley attributed student success to the dedication of teachers, principals and the New Hanover County Board of Education.
“I am excited about the academic growth in New Hanover County Schools. … Despite the challenges we face, such as budget cuts, overcrowding and numerous other issues, our educators and students have met the challenge and continue to do so everyday,” Markley said in a Sept. 4 statement.
Test scores of New Hanover County students improved from the previous year, with a performance composite for end-of-grade tests and end-of-course assessments of 64.1 percent compared to the statewide 56.3 percent.
Wrightsville Beach School earned a performance composite of 87.8 percent.
The county’s performance also exceeded other urban school districts, said New Hanover County Schools spokesperson Valita Quattlebaum.
The READY Accountability Model, implemented during the 2012-13 school year, established more rigorous expectations and assessments for all subjects, including new benchmarks in English language arts and mathematics established by the Common Core State Standards implemented the same year.
Under the new standards, students are expected to grasp more complex information at an earlier age.
The N.C. Department of Public Instruction released statewide numbers, revealing the highest high school graduation rate in state history. The 2014 graduation rate in North Carolina climbed to 83.8 percent, up 15.5 percent since 2006.
The 2014 graduation rate for New Hanover County Schools is 81.4 percent.
email [email protected]
