Document text
45 °F Forecast | Road Cams Saturday, November 13, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend January 29, 2004 Ashland High contests grade By JONEL ALECCIA Mail Tribune ASHLAND — Curious parents won’t find Ashland High School on the Web site for the state Department of Education’s annual report cards, set to be released today. But a blank spot is better than the "low" mark the school received before a dispute over student testing data was ironed out. "There’s not going to be any ‘low’ because that ‘low’ shouldn’t be there," Principal Jeff Schlecht said. "This is not a low-performing school." Until Wednesday afternoon, however, district officials expected to have to explain how the traditionally high-scoring district could post the only "low" overall ranking in Jackson County. At issue was whether enough 10th-graders took state assessment tests last year to meet new standards, said Superintendent Juli Di Chiro. Advertisement Under the Bush administration’s "No Child Left Behind Act" implemented this fall, districts are required to test 95 percent of students. If a school does not test enough students, "low" is the highest rating allowed on state reports. Initial data indicated that Ashland tested only 92 percent of 10th-graders. "It was six kids," Di Chiro said. More careful review of the numbers, including analysis of students who left school and new students who were added, showed that the district did actually test enough students. Steve Slater, an analyst with the state, said the school’s revised report would be posted next week. Ashland’s showing in other areas was good, with "strong" ratings in student performance and behavior and improvement that stayed about the same from the previous year. But it was a close call by any measure, Di Chiro admitted. The test is administered to 10th-graders in math classes. Because some students don’t take math as sophomores, they have to take the test at a different time. "This year, we’re going to go and escort them out of class to where the test is," Di Chiro said. "We’re going to do work with the kids so they understand how important that is." The Ashland district’s other school rankings will be available today on the state Web site. Included will be the district’s only "exceptional" ranking. It is for Briscoe Elementary School, which was forced to close last year. "Those exceptional kids are still in our district," Di Chiro said. On the Web: http://reportcard.ode.state.or.us Reach reporter JoNel Aleccia at 776-4465, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities