Each year, the Department of Public Instruction assigns every public school in North Carolina a "report card", a tool intended to help families and stakeholders understand how the school is growing and succeeding, as well as areas of need. The School Report Card grade ranges from A to F based on a composite score made of of proficiency on standardized testing and student growth from year to year as measured by those same tests. Proficiency makes up 80% of the overall composite score and growth comprises 20%. Like all data, the School Report Card offers one part of a larger picture about a school.
Pioneer Springs has made significant gains in terms of both student growth and proficiency over the years. In 2015-16, the school met growth measures and earned a 58 or C. The following year, 16-17, students exceeded anticipated growth and increased the composite score by 11 points to a 69 (C). Our 17-18 score of 58 (C) gave us good information about gaps to close in math instruction and, for the 2018-19 school year, PSCS jumped 9 points on the composite for a performance score of 67, just shy of B. We saw gains with all subgroups, including an 8 point jump for Children with Disabilities. Both our 3-8th grade math and reading scores increased by a whole letter grade, and math performance improved by 16 points from the previous year. The school not only met but EXCEEDED growth expectations in all areas with a growth number of almost 4 (this is unheard of!) for mathematics and a composite performance that put PSCS in the top 15% of schools statewide for growth. Our teachers' collective focus on improving math proficiency while continuing to grow readers paid off and we've already begun to see the improved performances supported by identified students. You can check out our 2018-19 numbers for yourself at https://ncreportcards.ondemand.sas.com/src/school?school=60Y000&year=2019&lng=en and choose "2019," or contact Dr. Rebecca Friend, Director of Operations and Academics, at beckyf@pioneersprings.org if you have questions.
Read to Achieve: In accordance with General Statute 115C-218.85, following are the results of the 3rd grade Read to Achieve mandate for the 2018-19 school year. Of 45 students, 38 students or 84.5% met the benchmark through standardized or alternate testing (BOG, EOG, MAP, or RTA) and 7 students, or 15.5% were granted Good Cause Exemptions. 100% of students were promoted to 4th grade.
