Graves County Middle School scored 84.5 on proficiency, reflecting major growth from previous school years on that indicator and outdistancing the state score of 72.8. The GCMS separate academic indicator score of 73.4 also is significantly higher than the statewide score of 66.8. Graves Middle's growth indicator score of 10.5 was just below the state score of 12.1.
Graves County High School scored 68 on the proficiency indicator, far surpassing the state score of 59.3 A high school's transition score measures elements formerly known as college and/or career readiness. Graves High's transition score of 77.4 significantly surpasses the statewide score of 60.9. Graves County's graduation indicator score of 95.8 far exceeds the statewide graduation indicator score of 90.8.
KDE designates the bottom 5 percent of Kentucky schools as needing "Comprehensive Support and Improvement" or "CSI." No Graves County school is so designated.
"Targeted Support and Improvement," or "TSI," is another of three possible categories. Kentucky Interim Commissioner of Education Wayne D. Lewis previously has said, "To be clear, a school's designation as TSI does not mean the school is failing or a low-performing school. It does mean that work remains to be done with raising the achievement levels for all groups of students, and it makes reducing the disparities between the performances of student groups a top priority."
KDE calls the performance of the remaining Kentucky schools "Other." That makes "Other" the highest designation a school can receive. All seven Graves County elementary schools earned the designation of "Other."
"Our designation of 'Other' gives us some insight into the new assessment," said Graves County elementary instructional supervisor Amanda Henson. "The fact that all seven Graves County elementary schools earned the highest designation reflects how closely and how well our district team collaborates. It also is a tribute to the efforts of teachers, administrators, parents, and – of course – our students."
This assessment feedback is based on the 2017-18 school year and the measurement of only three indicators is part of the transition from one system to the next. The first results from the entire standardized testing model Gov. Matt Bevin commissioned are expected to be released a year from now. That expanded model will be comprised of seven indicators, each measured on a 5-star rating system. They include achievement, gap, growth, transition readiness, proficiency, separate academic, and graduation rate.
"Every time we receive data measuring student performance, we examine it thoroughly, collaborate on how to improve, and then work hard to ensure student success," said Graves County Schools secondary instructional supervisor Abbie Morris. "Early indications are that TSI will help us to more quickly identify areas targeted for improvement."
"Along with our instructional supervisors, Ms. Morris and Ms. Henson, I am very encouraged," said Superintendent Kim Dublin. "We are very proud of the dedication and hard work of our teachers, students, principals, and parents. Children are our greatest resource and their education is our most important investment."
