Preliminary ratings for Oregon public schools meeting federal Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) were released by the Oregon Department of Education today. The federally mandated performance standards reflect an increase to 70 percent of students meeting reading and math standards from 59 percent in math and 60 percent in reading a year ago.

Schools are judged on overall results plus subgroups of students meeting performance standards, including special education, low-income, minority and students with limited proficiency in English.

All Newberg School District elementary schools met AYP. Despite strong academic gains, Newberg secondary schools did not meet achievement targets primarily due to too few students in subgroups meeting higher targets.

Fifty-four percent of Oregon schools met federal AYP standards this year, down from 71 percent the previous year. New targets and newly adopted higher expectations in math contributed to an increase in student performance, but fewer schools meeting AYP according to Susan Castillo, Oregon Superintendent of Public Instruction.

“Math achievement exceeded our expectations,” said district Director of Assessment Don Staples. “Teachers and students faced an increase in math achievement standards that went into effect this past school year. The performance levels students reached reflect the hard work teachers and students put in last year.”

Staples cited outstanding attendance in middle and elementary schools. “Students need to be in class to learn,” said Staples. Newberg students average 95 percent attendance rate; the state target is 92 percent.

Elementary Schools (grades 3-5)

• Antonia Crater: Over 95 percent of students met reading targets and 80% met new math achievement targets.
• Dundee: Reading increased from 82 to 91 percent meeting targets with significant gains in subgroup populations. All subgroups showed double-digit gains in math compared to previous year.
• Edwards: 82 percent (district highest) students met math standards. Attendance jumped by two percentage points to 95 percent.
• Ewing Young: Nearly 96 percent of student met reading standards and all students made gains in math.
• Joan Austin: Students gained 12.5 percentage points in reading. All subgroups posted double-digit gains in math from the previous year.
• Mabel Rush: Over 90 percent of students continue to meet reading targets.

Middle School

• Chehalem Valley: Reading scores increased from 83 to 85 percent with disability subgroup improving 13 percentage points. Limited English Proficiency, Hispanic and Disability subgroups did not meet math targets.
• Mountain View: Overall 86 percent met reading targets but Limited English Proficiency and Disability subgroups did not meet targets. Despite gains in Hispanic subgroup, Limited English Proficiency and Disability subgroups did not meet targets in math.

High School (Grades 9-11; not reported by small school)

• Newberg High School: All students met reading, math and graduation targets except the Disability subgroup, which did not meet the graduation target. Eighty-nine percent, including all subgroups, met AYP targets for reading. Demonstrating reading proficiency is now a graduation requirement established by the State Board of Education in 2010.