Dear Reader,

The state of middle schools is concerning. This is the place where students get the final push to be ready for high school.  Teachers who are strong in academics and positive behavior supports are essential for effective schools. Effective school leadership is also essential. Having a strong building principal can make or break a school.  The focus of this post is the 2018 Milestones data for middle schools, and decisions made by Bibb County for middle school leadership.

The Georgia Department of Education published Milestones Data from each Bibb County Public Middle School can be found at: http://www.gadoe.org/Curriculum-Instruction-and-Assessment/Assessment/Pages/Georgia-Milestones-2017-2018-Statewide-Scores.aspx 

Choose the Spring 2018 End of Grade School Summary file.

In order to understand what these scores mean, it is important to understand how the state interprets these scores.  For reading, students are scored at or above grade level, or below grade level based upon their Lexile levels.  Lexile is simply a measure of reading ability and skill based upon vocabulary students understand and how difficult the reading passage is. Lexile.com has more detailed information for those interested. Students are also placed in one of four score bands for language arts skill. Beginning learners and Developing learners are not on grade level. Proficient learners are considered on grade level, and Distinguised learners are considered above grade level.

For mathematics, students are placed in the same four score bands. Beginning learners and Developing learners are not on grade level. Proficient learners are considered on grade level, and Distinguised learners are considered above grade level. The one difference between reading and mathematics is students in 3rd, 5th, and 8th are promoted to the next grade if they score Developing in math.  This is not true for Reading/Language Arts. Students must score on grade level Lexile to be promoted.

Howard Middle School averaged 60% of students reading at grade level, 40% of students reading below grade level. In Math, 22.4% of students scored proficient or above, 43.4% of students scored in the developing learner range. HMS scored the highest in having students reading at grade level, and second highest in mathematics.

Rutland Middle School averaged 55.8% of students reading at grade level, 44.2% of students reading below grade level. In Math, 22.4% of students scored proficient or above, 43.9% of students scored in the developing learner range. RMS scored second highest in the county for students reading on grade level, and highest in the county in mathematics. Math scores improved significantly in the percentage of students scoring proficient, specifically in 6th grade, under the leadership of Mr. Key.

Miller Middle School averaged 55.3% of students reading at grade level, 44.7% of students reading below grade level. In Math, 18.1% of students scored proficient or above, 43.4% of students scored in the developing learner range. MMS scored third highest in the county for students reading on grade level and for mathematics.

It is also important to note that these three schools are relatively close, statistically speaking, in their scores.  It also important to note that growth in scores shows more than just having the highest score.  It is much harder for teachers to help students grow more than a grade level in a year. It is not very difficult to have students stay at the same level.

Weaver Middle School averaged  46% of students reading on grade level, 54% reading below grade level. In Math, 6.9% of students scored proficient or above, 36.8% of students scored in the developing learner range. It is important to note that WMS scores have been improving under the leadership of Dr. Flagg.

Appling Middle School averaged 43.2% of students reading on grade level, 56.8% of students reading below grade level. In Math, 5.5% of students scored proficient or above, 38.5% of students scored in the developing learner range. AMS has continued to be one of the lower scoring schools in the district.

Ballard Hudson Middle School average 28.2% of students reading on grade level, 71.8% of students reading below grade level. In Math, 3.1% of students scored proficient or above, 27.2% of students scored in the developing learner range. BHMS has continued to be one of the lowest scoring schools in the district, if not the lowest scoring school as it is this year. Additionally, in the 8th-grade class where students must pass Reading and Math to be promoted to high school, only FOUR, yes FOUR, 8th graders did so.  There were only FOUR 8th graders who did not have to attend a summer remediation program.

It is interesting to note the leadership of Rutland Middle School and of Weaver Middle School were pushed out by the District leadership, despite high scores and improving scores that were a direct result of the decisions and processes put in place by the two school administrators.  However, the Ballard Hudson Middle School principal remains in place….despite poor student performance.  Additionally, the Ballard Hudson Middle School principal has had the majority of his teachers leave each year due to poor and ineffective leadership. One has to wonder how two effective leaders who can document the positive impact on students through these scores, who were building positive cultures at their schools are no longer with the county, while the Ballard Hudson Middle School principal remains in place.  Well, one wonders only until one learns that the Ballard Hudson Middle School principal is a first cousin to the Bibb County Superintendent. Would poor performance continue to be allowed if there was not a family relationship? What is the real reason the superintendent pushed out the Weaver Middle School and Rutland Middle School principals? What other family/friend relationships of the superintendent are the students and taxpayers of Bibb County paying for? Bibb County should not be paying for friends and family members to have high paying jobs off of the backs of our students. Our students deserve better.

Yours truly,

Catherine B.

 

Thanks for joining me!

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton

Dear Reader,

Please allow me to explain the purpose of this blog. As a veteran Bibb County teacher I have come to understand parents, family members, community members, and voters are unaware of the reality of what happens in Bibb County Schools.  Schools and school systems use complicated and confusing educational policies, practices, and jargon often. Most of the general public is unaware of what is possible and of what is actually occurring.

Our goal as educators is to meet the needs of our students. This is becoming increasingly difficult for many reasons. Teachers and schools need the support of families and the community if we are ever to make real growth and progress as a school district.  In order to be the necessary support, people need to understand what is going on in the district. The teachers and staff that work directly with the students are the ones who know what occurs every day directly with students.  These are the people who can tell you what is needed.  The further removed from the classroom a Bibb employee becomes the less they are aware of what students actually need. Our local schools are being run by individuals who do not live in Bibb County, have never lived in Bibb County, and have no intention of being a true part of our community.

My goal is to explain what is occurring and what is needed through policies, procedures, practices, and educational data from the schools and district in such a way that it can easily be understood.  Teachers need the support of families and the community. Families need information to fight for what their children need.  Taxpayers deserve to know what is being done with their hard earned money. Voters need to be able to make educated decisions.

Yours truly,

Catherine B.