Scores well above statewide data
for 2021-2022 school year

 

PITTSBORO — Students in Chatham County Schools excelled and made strong academic gains in the 2021-2022 school year, according to the accountability data released by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction on Thursday, Sept. 1.

 

“Our students and staff really worked hard last year to provide students the opportunity to rebound academically from the impacts of the pandemic during the prior two school years.  These data are a testament to the work of our students and staff and the partnership with their parents.,” said Superintendent Dr. Anthony Jackson. “Moving forward, we have embedded in our One Chatham Strategic Plan specific goals, strategies and tools to ensure continued academic growth, opportunities and outcomes for our students. We have a lot to celebrate in Chatham.”

 

The 2021-2022 report is the first since the disruptions caused by the pandemic. Highlights of these data for Chatham County Schools included the following:

 

• 100% of K-8 schools met or exceeded growth expectations as determined by EVAAS. Growth is based on students’ previous performance vs. what their actual score was on the 2021-2022 testing.

 

• 89.4% of our schools met or exceeded growth; comparatively, statewide only about 70% of schools met or exceeded growth.

 

• Chatham County Schools outperformed North Carolina on the following assessments/areas:
  • Overall performance composite
  • Reading for Grades 3-8
  • Math for Grades 3-8
  • Science in Grades 5 & 8
  • English II
  • Biology
  • ACT (college readiness assessment)
  • Workkeys (career readiness assessment)
  • Math Course Rigor
  • 5-year graduation rate

 

89.4% of the schools in Chatham County increased their overall performance composite, and 74% of the schools in the district earned a School Performance Grade (SPG) of C or better.   School Performance Grades are based on 80% of a school’s achievement score and 20% of student academic growth.

 

Some schools had decidedly sharp composite increases, with gains ranging from 10 to 20 points.

 

“Generally, a performance composite gain of 3 to 5 points is considered good. When you see gains of 10 and higher, it is substantial,” said Dr. Amanda Moran, assistant superintendent of Academic Services & Instructional Support. “We are extremely proud of how well these schools did, and want to celebrate the work students and staff members put in to achieve this.”

 

Overall, the distribution of School Performance Grades across the district were as follows:

• A — 1 school
• B — 6 schools
• C — 7 schools
• D — 5 schools

 

No schools earned an SPG of F.

 

Across the state, the number of low-performing schools, which received a D or F and did not exceed growth, rose from 488 in 2018-2019 to 864 for the 2021-2022 school year. Four of our schools fell into this category.

 

Additional data for Chatham County Schools include:

 

• Reading EOG - 55.2 (GLP) - GLP increase of 6.5 from 20-21
  
  
• Math EOG - 58.7 (GLP) - GLP increase of 15 from 20-21

 

• Science - 73.1 (GLP) - GLP increase of 10.6 from 20-21

 

• Graduation rate: The 4-Year Rate for CCS is 86% and the 5-Year Rate is 89.9%, Chatham’s rate remains comparable with the overall graduation rates at the state level.
  
  

In addition to the accountability data, 90% of Chatham County Schools’ staff indicated the district as a great place to work in the annual Teacher Working Conditions Survey. The district’s rankings on the survey also outpaced the state in every category.

 

“All of these results point to the fact that Chatham County Schools is an outstanding place to educate children and an excellent place to live and work,” Jackson said. “We have our challenges, we embrace them and have already begun the work of developing support plans to assist schools. We also have amazing opportunities in front of us and while we celebrate the progress, we recognize that our best days are ahead. I am so proud of all of our students and staff, and proud to be a part of the Chatham County Schools family.”

 

Testing data reports will be posted on the accountability section of the district website (www.chatham.k12.nc.us) after the Sept 12 board of education meeting where the district will give a full review of the results.

 

The student achievement data for the 2021-22 school year is based on analysis of all end-of- grade (EOG) and end-of-course (EOC) tests, which are aligned to the North Carolina Standard Course of Study in English Language Arts (Reading) and Mathematics and the Essential Standards in Science for all public schools in North Carolina. The data provide the percentage of students who scored at Level 3 and above (grade level proficiency — GLP), at Level 4 and above (college- and career-readiness — CCR) and at each academic achievement level.