DECATUR – Since emerging from fiscal distress, the Decatur School District continues to grow and prosper largely in part to the dedication by faculty and administrators. Their goal of providing quality education to the students of Decatur makes it a system to be proud of.
When the graduating class of 2013 raised their ACT test scores above state average, it gave the district a sign that the current system of educating Decatur's youth was working. Although that class has moved on in to college and the work force, it continues to bring good fortune to the district.
In the "Best High Schools" article in U.S News and World Report on Feb. 7, Decatur High School was awarded a bronze medal for being a "high-performing school based on state exam performances." Decatur is one of 79 schools in Arkansas to receive either a gold, silver or bronze medal.
U.S. News reviewed 21,035 high schools in 49 states (Nebraska failed to provide significant information and was eliminated) and the District of Columbia. Of that number, only 4,805 received a medal and a ranking (only gold and silver recipients were ranked). The top 500 received gold, 1,790 silver and 2,515 bronze.
A three-step selection process was used to determine the medal status and rankings. According to U.S. News criteria, each high school was judged on "reading and math results for all students on each state's high school proficiency tests."
"The school's least-advantaged students (black, Hispanic and low-income) were performing better than the average for similar students in the state."
College Readiness
Performance
Haas Hall Academy in Fayetteville was the only high school in Arkansas to earn gold and was ranked 115 in the nation. Of the remaining 78 high schools, 33 received silver and 45 received bronze awards. Other high schools in Northwest Arkansas earning awards (rankings) included: No. 2 (in state) Bentonville High -- 759, No. 3 Rogers Heritage -- 938, No. 7 Rogers -- 1304, No. 8 Eureka Springs -- 1363, Prairie Grove -- 1929, Lincoln -- 1955, and Siloam Springs -- 2106.
Gentry was the only other high school in the immediate area to receive a bronze medal.
The ACT results from last year, coupled with this award, indicated that the high school's methods for assisting its students to make better scores on state tests is working, and working very well.
"It was due to the fact that we had a PLC (professional learning community) that was totally dedicated to improving ACT scores and we offered a lot of rewards," Nancy Cotter, high school guidance counselor, explained. "We had a $200 scholarship for any kids that made a 25 or higher on the ACT."
"Bryan Hembrey from the U of A came over and did a workshop with all of our seniors to help prepare them for the ACT test," Cotter stated. "We are trying to reward them, but we are also trying to help them by preparing them more for the test."
The news was first relayed to Deborah Coffer, Decatur High School principal, in an email from school technology coordinator Charles Weber.
"I'm very proud of our students and their performance and our teachers and staff for their dedication in helping students to achieve," Coffer stated.
It is not only the faculty and staff that work to insure that their students do well on the ACT; the parents play a vital role in this success.
"We do have a parent night where the guy from the university, Bryan Hembrey, speaks to them about what they can do to help their child do better on the ACT," Cotter said.
General News on 03/05/2014