WADDELL, GENTIAN, AND SPENCER
RECOGNIZED FOR NARROWING ACHIEVEMENT GAP
In November, Standard and Poor’s School Evaluation Services identified 96
Georgia schools that significantly narrowed the achievement gap between
different categories of students. Waddell, Gentian, and Spencer were among
the Georgia schools recognized. During the January Board meeting,
Chief Academic Officer Dr. Peggy Connell presented principals Carolyn
Ambrose of Waddell and Rodney Harrison of Gentian and assistant principal
David Hicks of Spencer, who represented principal Dr. Issac Neal.
Waddell Elementary School was listed among the 19 Georgia schools that
narrowed the achievement gap between black and white students. Gentian
Elementary School and Spencer High School were among the 75 schools that
narrowed the gap between economically disadvantaged students.
To be recognized for significantly narrowing these achievement gaps,
schools had to meet all of the following criteria:
- Test at least 30 students in each student group being analyzed.
- Reduce at least one achievement gap between student groups in
Reading and Math Proficiency (RaMP) rates by more than five percentage
points from one year to the next, and simultaneously raise the RaMP
rates for each student group being compared.
- Reduce at least one achievement gap between student groups in a
grade-level reading test by more than five percentage points from one
year to the next, and simultaneously raise that grade-level reading
proficiency rate for each student group being compared. Schools must
demonstrate similar progress in math, though not necessarily at the same
grade level. For example, an elementary school might reduce the
achievement gap between black students and white students in third-grade
reading by at least five percentage points while raising reading
proficiency rates for both black students and white students, while
doing the same in fifth grade math.
