Danville Independent School District schools received “low” scores in many categories on their recently released “school report cards” from the Kentucky Department of Education.

But despite the performance on the state scoring system, Superintendent Tammy McDonald said the district is working hard to provide many services to students — and it has a plan for improving academic performance.

Hogsett Primary and Toliver Intermediate schools both received two-star ratings under the state’s new five-star rating system, implemented for the first time this year. Bate Middle School received a three-star rating; Danville High School received a two-star rating.

Bate Middle School outperformed the state average for proficiency in science, writing and social studies. Danville High School had an above-average graduation rate.

“This star rating system is just one measure. The Danville school district provides a wide range of services and education for our students,” McDonald said. “We have strong programs in the visual and performing arts and athletics. We provide our students and families with services through our family resource centers that go above and beyond typical daily services.”

McDonald also noted the district’s move this school year to add in-school medical, behavioral and dental health care services through partnerships with Danville Pediatrics, Danville Pediatric Dentistry, Webster Orthodontics and Ephraim McDowell Health.

The level of in-school health programs now available to Danville students has been promoted as rare if not unique among schools in Kentucky by school officials, and may serve as a model for other districts around the state and nation.

State ratings for each Danville school include the following data points:

• Mary G. Hogsett Primary School (two stars) scored in the “low” range and below the state average for reading and math proficiency; in the “low” range and below the state average for science, writing and social studies proficiency; and in the “medium range” and slightly below the state average for “growth” — a measurement of how much individual students are able to improve year-over-year.
• Edna L. Toliver Intermediate School (two stars) scored in the “low” range and below the state average for reading and math; in the “low” range and below the state average for science, writing and social studies; and in the “medium range” and slightly below the state average for growth.
• Bate Middle School (three stars) scored in the “low” range and below the state average for reading and math; in the “medium” range and above the state average for science, writing and social studies; and in the “low” range and below the state average for growth.
• Danville High School (two stars) scored in the “low” range and below the state average for reading and math; in the “low” range and below the state average for science and writing; in the “medium” range and well above the state average for graduation rate; and in the “low” range and below the state average for “transition readiness.”

The transition readiness indicator attempts to measure how many students are prepared to attend college or start a career when they graduate from high school.

“Although we believe our district is more than one accountability score, academics is still a top priority for us,” McDonald said. “Our district is working hard to improve academic achievement. During the last school year, the Danville Independent School District worked to develop a strategic plan … (with) strategies and goals that address the district’s needs in many areas. This plan has strategies for improvement that are not just short-term quick fixes but have long-term sustainable strategies.

“We are addressing needs that will set a strong foundation for our students. This takes time. It is a marathon, not a sprint. Since the board passed the strategic plan in March of this year, we have started implementation of targeted strategies to focus on and improve academics.

“We believe we have the right leadership and people in place and combined with the implementation of our strategic plan, we will see improvement each year moving forward.”

 

To view the newly released 18-19 accountability and proficiency scores and other data about Kentucky’s schools and school districts, visit kyschoolreportcard.com. To read about Boyle County’s scores, which were published in yesterday’s paper, visit amnews.com.