Tyrone N. Butts
APE Reporter
16
Schools' race gap closes a bit
CHAPEL HILL -- The Chapel Hill-Carrboro City school system has made modest progress in closing the gap in test scores and other measures of achievement between white students and black and Hispanic students.
That was the good news in the system's latest annual report designed to track progress on the district's top priority -- raising test scores of minority students.
Among lingering areas of concern, according to the report, are the district's ranking for black students' scores on a key math test; a small number of black principals, compared with assistant principals; and the presence of one Hispanic principal in the system.
"We certainly haven't solved the problem," said Diane Villwock, test
ing director for Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools. "On the other hand, we're s
eeing some nice traction."
According to the report, more blacks and Hispanics are college-bound than ever, and the span between scores of black and white students is narrowing. On average, white third- through eighth- graders scored 17 points higher on state math and reading exams than black students last year, compared with a 24-point gap in 2003.
The district has used the expansive report for three years to measure its progress.
District end-of-grade scores for black and Hispanic elementary and middle school students are often outpacing those in Wake, Durham and Guilford counties. And black students considered "gifted" -- meaning they show abilities two or more years ahead of their peers -- have nearly doubled in the past two years to a high of 5 percent of all gifted students.
"There's evidence that all the hard work is p
aying off," Villwock said. But she also noted shortcomings, including one "smack in the face."
For five years, the state ranking of b
lack Chapel Hill students' scores in high school Algebra I -- a class that must be passed to graduate -- has fallen. While district Asian students claim the state's top score, blacks place 89th.
"Other states are getting better faster, and our ranking is dropping like a stone," she said. Despite the drop in the ranking, black students show a trend of modest increase in scores on the test, according to the report.
Of the report's 50-plus measures, about half are test-driven, with many others focusing on more human aspects of minorities' school life. For example, 5 percent of black students at Chapel Hill's two high schools dropped out last year. But of those that didn't, 90 percent said they're headed to college.
The district also tracks the racial breakdown of its staff, said Villwo
ck, to determine whether or not "kids see people who look like them at all school levels."
Though only two district principals are black, more than 50 percent of assistant principals are black
.
"Of course, I would like to see more black principals than assistant principals," said Assistant Principal Chris Smith at East Chapel Hill High. "I've found that kids are always looking at you, placing value judgments. It's important to show them attainable role models."
About 15 percent of the district's professional staff -- excluding secretaries, bus drivers, and other jobs not related to teaching -- are black, a near perfect reflection of the student body. But whites continue to dominate PTA positions.
In the whole district, there's one Hispanic in a top post: Principal Ibis Nunez of Carrboro Elementary.
"You have no idea the impact it has on kids," said Nunez, adding that ha
ving a school staff that resembles students is essential.
The report can be accessed online at www.chccs.k12.nc.us, by clicking on "school board," then "board meeting agendas," and accessing the Jan. 20 agenda.
****************
The average nigger is FOUR years behind his white peers academically and any nigger that is only TWO years behind i
s considered gifted. That say a lot.
T.N.B.
Schools' race gap closes a bit
CHAPEL HILL -- The Chapel Hill-Carrboro City school system has made modest progress in closing the gap in test scores and other measures of achievement between white students and black and Hispanic students.
That was the good news in the system's latest annual report designed to track progress on the district's top priority -- raising test scores of minority students.
Among lingering areas of concern, according to the report, are the district's ranking for black students' scores on a key math test; a small number of black principals, compared with assistant principals; and the presence of one Hispanic principal in the system.
"We certainly haven't solved the problem," said Diane Villwock, test
ing director for Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools. "On the other hand, we're s
eeing some nice traction."
According to the report, more blacks and Hispanics are college-bound than ever, and the span between scores of black and white students is narrowing. On average, white third- through eighth- graders scored 17 points higher on state math and reading exams than black students last year, compared with a 24-point gap in 2003.
The district has used the expansive report for three years to measure its progress.
District end-of-grade scores for black and Hispanic elementary and middle school students are often outpacing those in Wake, Durham and Guilford counties. And black students considered "gifted" -- meaning they show abilities two or more years ahead of their peers -- have nearly doubled in the past two years to a high of 5 percent of all gifted students.
"There's evidence that all the hard work is p
aying off," Villwock said. But she also noted shortcomings, including one "smack in the face."
For five years, the state ranking of b
lack Chapel Hill students' scores in high school Algebra I -- a class that must be passed to graduate -- has fallen. While district Asian students claim the state's top score, blacks place 89th.
"Other states are getting better faster, and our ranking is dropping like a stone," she said. Despite the drop in the ranking, black students show a trend of modest increase in scores on the test, according to the report.
Of the report's 50-plus measures, about half are test-driven, with many others focusing on more human aspects of minorities' school life. For example, 5 percent of black students at Chapel Hill's two high schools dropped out last year. But of those that didn't, 90 percent said they're headed to college.
The district also tracks the racial breakdown of its staff, said Villwo
ck, to determine whether or not "kids see people who look like them at all school levels."
Though only two district principals are black, more than 50 percent of assistant principals are black
.
"Of course, I would like to see more black principals than assistant principals," said Assistant Principal Chris Smith at East Chapel Hill High. "I've found that kids are always looking at you, placing value judgments. It's important to show them attainable role models."
About 15 percent of the district's professional staff -- excluding secretaries, bus drivers, and other jobs not related to teaching -- are black, a near perfect reflection of the student body. But whites continue to dominate PTA positions.
In the whole district, there's one Hispanic in a top post: Principal Ibis Nunez of Carrboro Elementary.
"You have no idea the impact it has on kids," said Nunez, adding that ha
ving a school staff that resembles students is essential.
The report can be accessed online at www.chccs.k12.nc.us, by clicking on "school board," then "board meeting agendas," and accessing the Jan. 20 agenda.
****************
The average nigger is FOUR years behind his white peers academically and any nigger that is only TWO years behind i
s considered gifted. That say a lot.
T.N.B.