DECATUR -- The Decatur School District released its 2015 report to the public at the Oct. 19 board meeting. The report was delivered to the board and public by superintendent Jeff Gravette.
School districts are required to report to the public on district progress prior to Nov. 15 of each year. The report included updates on accreditation, program objectives and plans to correct district deficiencies.
Gravette reported that Decatur has grown to 601 students, the highest number of students the district has enrolled since 1995.
The 2014-2015 annual accreditation report indicated that Northside Elementary School was fully accredited by the Arkansas Department of Education, with one citation for a teacher on an alternative licensing plan. Decatur High School was fully accredited with five citations. The citations were due to the teachers being assigned some classes outside of their licensure area. Three have since completed an alternative licensing plan and are fully licensed. Data for the report was gathered in the spring of 2015.
Decatur Northside Elementary and Decatur High School have been identified as Focus Schools by the Arkansas Department of Education. This designation was made due to a larger than average gap of student performance between economically advanced students compared to economically disadvantaged students, special needs students and language minority students. The district is employing a school improvement specialist to help close this gap.
Test scores for the PARCC exams given in the spring of 2015 were only partially available at press time. Decatur's focus school designation was based on data from the 2011-2014 ACTAAP exams. Gravette plans to update the district on those scores at the December board meeting if all scores have been reported at that time.
Gravette shared the 2011-2014 student averages in literacy and math. Elementary students 61 percent in literacy and 60 percent in math. Decatur High School students averaged 63 percent in literacy and 60 percent in math. The district's free and reduced lunch rate for 2014-2015 was 84 percent.
"We are working hard to eliminate the achievement gap in our district. I appreciate the board's approval of several new positions this year to allow us to serve more students in small groups and through individual instruction," Gravette said. Gravette reported that the district's safe room is open to the public and has been serving students since August.
The district now has a computer for each student in grades 6-12, with DHS students having been recently issued a personal device. Decatur teachers continue to receive more training on teaching students through different online platforms. Jacque Smith, the district's technology facilitator, is leading this training.
General News on 11/18/2015