Bossier Schools improve their overall state score
Bossier Schools are making the grade when it comes to district and school performance scores.
Bossier Superintendent D.C. Machen announced Monday that scores for the 2011-12 school year showed “tremendous progress” and that no school in the parish dropped a letter grade or is considered a failing school.
The results, released by the Louisiana Department of Education, showed Bossier had an overall increase of 9.5 points and bumped up a letter grade from the previous school year.
Machen said Bossier's District Performance Score is at 111.6, achieving an overall letter score of B. He also revealed that nine schools improved one letter grade and the number of schools receiving an A doubled.
“We are very proud of the growth we have made as a district,” Machen said.
Three schools to receive 'A' letter grades this year include Airline High School, Benton High School and Parkway High School. Legacy Elementary, Stockwell Place Elementary School and W.T. Lewis Elementary School held onto their overall A grade for a second year, giving Bossier a total of six overall A schools.
Rhonda Schnell, principal at Stockwell Place Elementary, said her school set goals after last year's tests and credits hard work for their 130.3 overall score. With changes still coming from the state level, Schnell said they will continue to set goals and stride to meet the higher expectations as they come.
“If you look at where you are and where you want to go, it makes a difference,” Schnell said.
Nine total schools improved one letter grade. Among those were Bossier High School, who improved their 'D' to a 'C' this year.
Principal David Thrash said the news was received well with his faculty, receiving a thunderous applause during a faculty meeting Monday afternoon.
“Hard work pays off,” Thrash said. “We continue to work hard toward higher expectations. Anytime there's growth, words can't express that feeling you get as principal.”
Other schools showing improvement were Benton Middle School – C to B; Haughton High School – C to B; Platt Elementary – C to B; Princeton Elementary – C to B; and T.L. Rodes Elementary – C to B. Machen said the improved scores are proof of a collaborative effort involving all facets of the school system – teachers, administrators, students, parents and district employees.
According to the Louisiana Department of Education website, the number of schools earning an A rose from 98 last year to 163 this year. Statewide, 36 percent of schools earned an A or B, up from 28 percent last year, and D and F schools dropped from 44 percent in 2011 to 36 percent this year.
"Schools across Louisiana continue to make progress, which means more children are gaining the knowledge and skills to succeed in college and careers," State Superintendent of Education John White said in a statement. "While this year’s grades are good news, schools will need to continue to work hard to maintain these good grades as Louisiana raises standards in the coming years."
Test scores may be found on the Louisiana Department of Education website - www.doe.state.la.us
Bossier Schools’ performance scores
High Schools:
Airline - A
Benton - A
Bossier - C
Haughton - B
La New Tech @ Plain Dealing - D
Parkway - A
Middle Schools:
Benton - B
Cope - B
Elm Grove - B
Greenacres - C
Haughton – B
Rusheon - D
Elementary Schools:
Apollo - B
Bellaire - B
Benton - C
Bossier - D
Central Park - D
Curtis - B
R.V. Kerr - D
Meadowview - D
Carrie Martin - D
Plantation Park - D
Platt - B
T.L. Rodes - B
Sun City - B
Waller - D
Stockwell Place - A
Princeton - B
Legacy - A
W.T. Lewis - A
Elm Grove - C
