Low-Performing High Schools Don't Meet Judge's Standard On Tests

Raleigh, NC -- Seventeen low-performing high schools haven't improved enough this year to meet the expectations of a judge who threatened sanctions against them unless more students passed end-of-course tests. Wake County Superior Court Judge Howard Manning has set a hearing next month to review the state's plans to help the schools. Manning is presiding over a long-running lawsuit challenging the state's financing of public education. Unless the schools exceeded an overall passing rate of 55%, Manning said in March, he would order the schools closed if their principals weren't replaced and specific reforms set in place. The schools didn't meet the passing rate and performance worsened for some, according to the Department of Public Instruction. "I was optimistic that we would see more improvement," said Superintendent of Public Instruction June Atkinson, adding that she would tell Manning at the August 18 hearing that the state is committed to helping the schools. "But it takes more time to turn around a school than just a year." All the schools had been below a 55% passing rate for the four previous years. Gov. Mike Easley said last year he would send "turnaround teams" to 44 high schools, including the 17 lowest-performing. Many of the schools received no state help until this spring. Among 10 Charlotte-Mecklenburg high schools that got state assistance, four of the lowest-achieving schools showed little improvement. In Durham County, Hillside High School's passing rate dropped from 47.3 to 44.5%, while Southern High School's rate fell from 54.1 to 45.6%. Easley unveiled an updated last month for the 44 low-performing high schools that includes required leadership training for administrators and improvement plans. "If every community and every parent and every mentor could express over and over to students how important it is to get a quality education ... it would be easier for these schools to improve," Atkinson said.