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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Homeless feeding questioned Disc golf course coming to Cave Junction park Human remains found in burning trailer Fear of orphaned cubs nixes new spring bear hunt Cecil, Stricker to face off again in mayor's race Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Fallen White City firefighter to be honored at national service Barn fire may have been human-caused Emergency services Inmates to get mental health, addiction treatment Missing Medford man found safe in Sweet Home Politics and Elections Cecil, Stricker to face off again in mayor's race Commissioner candidates Talbert, Roberts duel for endorsements Falls: Jackson County sheriff's race isn't over Former sheriff calls Winters' retirement decision 'very wise' Will 'GMO effect' shape election? Education EP school district launches new app Striving to make the grade Fresh produce goes home with Jackson Elementary families State mandates eye exams for kids 7 and younger Eagle Point School District goes silent on gun issue Environment Fear of orphaned cubs nixes new spring bear hunt Josephine County ballot measure would ban commercial and government pesticide use Low water exposes Emigrant Lake's past Wagner Creek work would restore streambank Deer-killing disease won't taint meat for hunters State news Nation - World Obituaries Calvin Schaefer Norma Mae Prilliman Elizabeth Anne Jones Jesse Jay Gilchrist Lorraine Antcha Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Sports Latest Stories South rebounds with rout of Roseburg Ashland drops MWL boys match to Churchill Hay rallies Pirates past Henley Gadget play gives Grizz win over Comets GP dashes North’s hopes Varsity 541 College Sports Stanford cruises past Washington State High stakes for No. 12 Oregon, No. 18 UCLA Raider men win handily Raiders shut out Eastern Oregon Georgia star Gurley suspended for alleged violation Pro Sports Gordon-led Royals beat Orioles 8-6 in ALCS Donovan hits post in US swan song Birdie binge puts Laird in front at Frys.com Giants-Cards: Here we go again in NLCS Colts hold on for 33-28 win over Texans Community Sports Business Latest Stories Ranchers offer livestock exchange Lithia buys Clovis dealership Blog: When Life Gives You Lemons... Medford airport has busiest September ever County hopes to spur renewable energy Real Estate News Lithia buys Clovis dealership Rental vacancies increase Jackson County real estate sales, prices continue rebound Pallet Wine Co. expands in downtown Medford Medford's Pixel Productions moves to new quarters People In Business Transportation Lithia buys Clovis dealership Agriculture Ranchers offer livestock exchange 1-800-Flowers CEO: Labor shortage an issue for Harry & David Pallet Wine Co. expands in downtown Medford Opinion Latest Election Letters, Oct.11 Another View: Congress must act on firefighting budget Letters to the Editor, Oct. 10 Matthew T. Mangino: Trials, pleas and the burden of proof: A search for justice Our View: Talbert is the right choice for commissioner Editorials Another View: Congress must act on firefighting budget Our View: Talbert is the right choice for commissioner Our View: Cheers and Jeers Our View: Measure 86 would allow a prudent investment Our View: Top-two primary would empower more voters Letters to the Editor Election Letters, Oct.11 Letters to the Editor, Oct. 10 Letters to the Editor, Oct. 9 Letters to the Editor, Oct. 8 Letters to the Editor, Oct. 7 Guest Opinions Mt. Ashland is responding to community concerns Siskiyou Plus Spring Bear Hunt: What lies beneath? Guest Opinion: Who's to blame for 2014 wildfires? Guest Opinion: Measure 91 will snuff out local tax measures Is Ashland taking over Jackson County elections? Lifestyle Latest stories Nibbling away at the Earth Community blog: Listen Like You Mean it! Community blog: Listen Like You Mean it! Name that wolf Community blog: Battered, fried bhaji bring street food to the table Food Community blog: Battered, fried bhaji bring street food to the table Community blog: Kicking it off, a game, a season, or a pint (How about all the above?) Apples and pears make great autumn duo Community blog: Cardamom makes proverbial pairing with pears New owners bring new philosophy at 2Hawk Home and Garden How to create a fashionable painted floor cloth Dear Monty: 7 prepping tips for home showings Harvest your frost-tender tomatoes for storage Fall is a good time to plant certain perennials Start now for a bowl of winter sunshine Health Community blog: Listen Like You Mean it! Community blog: Listen Like You Mean it! Dr. Murray Feingold: Take precautions to prevent home accidents Health Watch: Make TV time workout time Community blog: Do We Need Steps For Health? Hiking Biking Faith Religion Briefs Religion Briefs Religion briefs First Church of Nazarene plans cleanup Religion briefs Milestones and Achievements New Arrivals Still stifling laughter 40 years after 'Young Frankenstein' New Arrivals Wedding New Arrivals Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Agave offers tasty tacos Call for musicians Works in progress A stylish take on baroque Southern Oregon Music Festival returns to downtown Medford Theater Randall Theatre presents 'Blithe Spirit' A tribute to a great lyricist 'Mrs. Mannerly' is a matter of manners There's no accounting for poor manners Friends of Jim Giancarlo remember Ashland theater icon Music Benefit for Nita Day at The Wild Goose Cafe in Ashland Call for musicians A stylish take on baroque Southern Oregon Music Festival returns to downtown Medford Rogue Valley Symphony season debut combines virtuosity, emotion Community Events Works in progress Southern Oregon Pride Festival celebrates diversity Greater Medford Multicultural Fair Volunteers needed for Downtown Art + Sound Medford's Third Fridays Dining Agave offers tasty tacos Asian cuisine for all seasons at Misoya Bistro Spoons 'Get Giddy' at Porters Jacksonville's Thai House is everything good Thai should be Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines & Special Sections NEWS NOW Human remains found in burning trailer ... Fear of orphaned cubs nixes new spring bear hunt ... Fallen White City firefighter to be honored at national service ... Human remains found in burning trailer ... Fear of orphaned cubs nixes new spring bear hunt ... Fallen White City firefighter to be honored at national service ... EDUCATION Striving to make the grade Half of local schools above average By Teresa Thomas Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Teresa Thomas Mail Tribune Posted Oct. 9, 2014 @ 12:01 am By Teresa Thomas Mail Tribune Posted Oct. 9, 2014 @ 12:01 am » RELATED CONTENT • CHART: School report cards » Social News Exactly half of the public schools in Jackson County were described as “above average” when compared to like schools around the state, according to school report cards released by the Oregon Department of Education today. That’s about eight more schools than last year. Of the 60 schools in Jackson County, four — Bellview and Walker elementary schools in Ashland, Jacksonville Elementary School in the Medford School District and Pinehurst Elementary School in the Greensprings — earned the highest grade, Level 5, placing them in the top 10 percent of schools statewide. Bellview and John Muir, also in Ashland, were further distinguished as “model schools” in the top 5 percent of the state’s high-poverty schools. “Model schools are like your bright, shiny stars, the schools people can learn from,” said ODE spokeswoman Crystal Greene. Three of the county’s lowest performing schools during the last school year were Upper Rogue Center for Educational Opportunities in the Eagle Point School District, Central Medford High School in Medford and Armadillo Technical Institute in Phoenix. All three schools, which serve at-risk students, received a Level 1 grade, placing them in the bottom 5 percent of schools statewide. At the elementary and middle school levels, school grades are determined by academic growth among all students, growth among subgroups of students and academic achievement. The high schools are graded on those factors as well as graduation and subgroup graduation, Greene explained. “If a school is not doing well at graduating special education students, ESL (English as a Second Language) students and students of color, then that will bring their rating down,” said Greene. In Medford, Jacksonville and Wilson elementary schools and North Medford High School climbed a grade, while Madrone Trail Public Charter School and Roosevelt Elementary School dropped a grade since last year. Julie Evans, Medford’s director of elementary education, was pleased that all of the district’s elementary schools scored Level 3 or higher, which she feels is a testament to the schools’ Professional Learning Communities, in which teachers collaborate as teams. While about 56 percent of students at Washington to 86 percent at Jacksonville met or exceeded state standards in reading, only 40 percent (Kennedy) to 76 percent (Lone Pine) met or exceeded the state’s math standards. Evans said about 100 teachers in the district are currently participating in Math Studio, which involves conferences, training sessions with a consultant and in-class coaching centered on how to teach math and engage students in math conversations. Evans hopes this mathcentric perspective, as well as increased interventions, will help to improve math scores districtwide. Todd Bloomquist, Medford’s director of secondary education, said Central Medford High School added three positions this year to provide struggling students with additional support in math and reading. “You’re going to see all these resources and interventions start to kick in in the next couple years,” Bloomquist said. In addition to increasing the rigor of Central’s curriculum and programs, Medford Superintendent Brian Shumate said he would like to see North and South Medford high schools become more adaptive to kids with a greater variety of needs so Central doesn’t become a warehouse for at-risk students. “Central is really honing in on its mission to serve high at-risk kids, getting them to graduate and providing rigorous study while they are there,” he said. Like Medford, the Central Point School District plans to pour more attention and resources into helping students succeed in math. But, overall, Central Point administrators seemed pleased with the district’s scores. Nine of the district’s 10 schools received a Level 4 grade. Only Jewett Elementary School received a Level 3. “Eighty percent of our schools are above average, and none of our schools received a below average score,” said Todd Bennett, director of education. “Jewett moved up from ‘below average’ last year to ‘about average’ this year in comparison with like schools,” he added. “And Sams Valley was a model school last year and only missed that mark by about one point this year.” The Phoenix-Talent School District showed lower scores, with one school receiving a Level 1 grade, three schools a Level 3, and two schools a Level 4. “Across the district we continue to struggle with our subgroups and that will continue to be an emphasis for us,” said Superintendent Teresa Sayre. Many of the schools have started measuring students' progress in reading and math throughout the year and providing individualized supports to students who fall short of benchmarks. “I really believe we need more funding for summer school and after-school activities because sometimes when we find these gaps, we don’t have the money to fill them in,” Sayre said. “It’s super important that we not only see that we are struggling with the subgroups but also figure out who these students are and how we can apply interventions.”  Reach education reporter Teresa Thomas at 541-776-4497 or [email protected]. Follow her at www.twitter.com/teresathomas_mt. By Teresa Thomas Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Teresa Thomas Mail Tribune Posted Oct. 9, 2014 @ 12:01 am » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2014 Local Media Group, Inc. 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