As is normally the case, test results and value-added analysis was a mixed bag by school and grade. The state’s report card provides achievement scores showing the amount of knowledge students have, and value-added scores showing the gain in test scores, or lack of it.

Value added scores are given for each year and also as a three-year average to take into account the differences that can be made by unusually high or low scores in a given year. The value-added scores are designed to show student growth regardless of achievement level. With a small student population, even a three-year average can be affected by very high or low scores. The value added grades are A, exceptional gains; B, exceeds state growth standard; C, maintains state standard; D, below state growth standard; F, deficient.

For the county K-8 overall, there was improvement in last year’s weakest score. In some cases, there were gains last year, but not enough to overcome losses from previous years

The three-year value-added grade for Math was C, up from F last year. The other three areas remained the same as last year: Reading/Language Arts, C; Social Studies, C, and Science, D. Seventh grade was the only one to remain at F for growth in math; there was a positive gain last year but the three-year average remained a negative. Grade 4 remained at A overall in math; Grade 5 and 6 went from F to D; grade 8 went from F to B in math.

Seventh grade showed the least gain overall, with an F in all subjects except Social Studies, which went from F to C. The best gains were fourth grade math, fourth and eighth grade reading/language arts, and fifth grade science. Last year, the only B was fifth grade social studies. This year, there was a B for 8th grade Math, and 5th and 6th grade Social Studies. Several grades went down overall: 6th grade social studies, from A to B and 8th grade Social Studies, from C to F.

At the high school level, a predicted score is given for each end-of-course test (Algebra 1, biology, English I, English II, physical science and U.S. history) and ACT test. These are compared to the actual score for a value-added analysis. For most tests overall, there was no detectable difference between expected and actual.

Benton Elementary

Benton had 493 students in grades pre-K through 5 last year, with 76.2% qualifying as economically disadvantaged. Attendance was 94.2%; the promotion rate was 96.7%. There were 97.7% of the core courses taught by highly qualified teachers, with one waiver each for science and social studies. There were six student suspensions last year. The principal is Dr. Tracy McAbee.

Achievement scores overall: Math, B (up from C last year); Reading/language arts, B (up from C); Social Studies and Science, C, the same as last year. Writing scores remained at B.

The three-year-average value-added analysis showed gains in several areas: 4th grade math from C to A; 5th grade math from D to B; 4th grade reading/language arts from C to A; 5th grade reading/language arts from D to B. On the other hand, 5th grade science went from B to F. Fourth grade social studies remained at F in gains while 5th grade social studies remained at A. Fourth grade science remained at F.

Chilhowee Middle School

Chilhowee had 447 students in grades 6-8 last year, with 64.9% economically disadvantaged. Attendance was 93.4%; promotion rate was 98.9%. There were 80.4% of core courses taught by highly qualified teachers. There were 17 suspensions and one expulsion. The principal is Connie Dunn.

Achievement scores overall: Math, D (up from F); Reading/language arts, C; Social studies, C; Science, D (down from C). Eighth grade writing remained at A.

The growth scores in 8th grade showed big gains in math, from D to A, and reading/language arts, from C to A. Most other gains remained the same. Math: F in grade 6 and 7, although both had positive gains last year. Social studies: 6th grade, B; 7th grade, D; 8th grade, F. Science: 6th and 7th grade, F; 8th grade, C. In 6th grade, reading/language arts went from D to F, while 7th grade remained at F.

Copper Basin Elementary

Copper Basin Elementary had 416 students in grades pre-K through 6, with 86.8% economically disadvantaged. Attendance last year was 94.8%; promotion rate was 93.7. There were 91.1% of core classes taught by highly qualified teachrs. There was one suspension last. The principal last year was David Bigham; it is currently Pat Smith.

Overall achievement scores: Math, D (up from F last year); Reading/language arts, C; social studies, D; science, C.

There was improvement in test gains in several areas: 4th grade math from B to A; 6th grade math from B to A; 5th grade social studies, from F to D. Gains that were the same as last year: 5th grade math, F; 4th grade social studies, A; 6th grade social studies, A; 4th grade reading/language arts, A; 4th grade science, D; 5th grade science, A, 6th grade science, F. Several got worse: 5th grade reading/language arts, A to C; 6th grade reading /language arts, A to B.

South Polk Elementary

South Polk had 338 students in grades Pre-K through 5, with 86.1% economically disadvantaged. 97.2% of core classes were taught by highly qualified teachers. There was one suspension last year. The principal is Tammy Dunn.

Overall achievement grades: Math, B; Reading/language arts, B (up from C last year); Social Studies, D; Science, C. Writing scores went from B to A.

There was improvement in test gains in several areas: 5th grade social studies, from F to B; 4th grade science, from D to F. Gains remaining the same as last year: 4th grade math, A; 5th grade math, F, although there were gains last year; 4th grade reading/language arts, A; 5th grade reading/languate arts, F; 5th grade science, A. Several gains were less: 4th grade social studies, from A to C; 4th grade science, D to F.

Copper Basin High School 7-8

Copper Basin High School had 341 students in grades 7-12, with 82.4% economically disadvantaged. The attendance rate was 95.1. The graduation rate was 94%. There were 95.1% of core classes taught by highly qualified teachers. The principal is Dr. Jared Bigham.

For grades 7-8, overall achievement grades were: Math, F (down from C last year); Reading/language arts, C (down from B); Social Studies and Science, B, same as last year. 8th grade writing remained at A.

In the value-added analysis of gains in test scores for grades 7-8, there was improvement in several areas: 8th grade math, F to D. Gains that were the same as last year: 7th grade math, F, although last year’s scores showed a gain; 7th grade social studies, B; 7th grade reading/language arts, F; 8th grade reading/language arts, C; 7th grade science, D. The test gain was worse in two areas: 8th grade social studies, from A to C; 8th grade science, from D to F.

On the end-of-course and writing tests, there was no detectable difference between the actual score and the progress of students in the average school in the state. For the ACT test, the composite score and English were below what was predicted.

Polk County High School

Polk County High School had 583 students in grades 9-12, with 59.7% economically disadvantaged. The attendance rate was 94.7%; the graduation rate was 92.6%. There were 20 suspensions. There were 83.3% of core classes taught by highly qualified teachers, with one waiver for Algebra I, two waivers for Algebra II and one for librarian. The principal is Jason Bell.

On the end-of-course tests, there was no detectable difference between the actual score and the progress of students in the average school in the state in Algebra 1, English I, U.S. History, and the ACT test. For Biology and English II, the students made significantly less progress than students in the average school in the state.