- April 19, 2024
-
-
Loading
Loading
A group of Port Orange schools have received improved ratings from last year, according to the latest statistics from the Florida Department of Education.
The 2016-2017 preliminary report indicates Horizon Elementary, Cypress Creek Elementary, Spruce Creek Elementary and Silver Sands Middle School all went up a letter grade. Horizon and Cypress went from a B to an A while Spruce Creek and Silver Sands went from a C to a B.
The grades are based off the rules adopted by the State Board of Education, which assigns grades on the percentage of points earned. This is the second year the district and grades include learning gains using the new calculation method, according to a release from the Volusia County Schools District.
“As you know, this is the second year in which the district and school grades include learning gains using the new calculation method,” Eric Holland, Volusia County Schools Digital Learning and Assessment assistant director wrote in the release. “The new, more rigorous learning gains methodology requires that students make meaningful gains toward grade level performance and beyond.”
“We know what our focus for the year is, it’s not complicated for us, we know where we’re heading.” Horizon Elementary Principal Gary Harms
Atlantic High, Port Orange Elementary, Sweetwater Elementary and Sugar Mill Elementary all maintained their grades from last year. Spruce Creek High went from an A to a B.
Cypress Creek Elementary
For Cypress Creek Elementary Principal Scott Lifvendahl, raising the school’s grade is a result of educators focusing on what standards are set in place. This would include what will be tested on the Florida Standards Assessment and ensuring teachers are planning together to create lesson plans and instructions that meet those standards.
“Those points add up to whatever grade you achieve,” Lifvendahl said. “Much of that is based on learning gains for all students and also the learning gains of your lowest quartile students alone with students showing proficiency.”
Horizon Elementary
Horizon Elementary Principal Gary Harms said he sees the grade improvement as a result of the people at the school, what they’re teaching and focusing on the mental as well as academic goals for all students.
Harms explained the school does not have a high turnover rate, but that he has spent a large portion of his time during the summer interviewing applicants for the positions that are open to ensure they have the best people working at Horizon.
“Some places have special programs or special technology, we really don’t. It’s just good, hard, basic teaching from the right people in the right place,” Harms said. “We know what our focus for the year is, it’s not complicated for us, we know where we’re heading.”
Spruce Creek Elementary
According to Spruce Creek Elementary Principal Andrea Hall, raising the school's grade was a combination of closely following the standards put in place in addition to regular discussion about instruction and assessment. She added they are also staying focused on student data to drive instructional decision in the classroom.
Hall wrote in an email that they have used two beneficial techniques at the school: Learning Walks, which allows teachers to observe and learn from other teachers, and Professional Learning Community time, which provides a window to student data in order that educators can make better instructional decisions.
"Lastly, I think student voice and student ownership of their own learning will become critical components of student achievement moving forward," Hall wrote in an email. "We listen to students. We value their input. We solicit their feedback."
