Metro schools improve students' academic performance

More than ever, parents and community members have a wide variety of annual assessments to measure the progress of public schools. In 2005-2006, the Metro Nashville Public Schools achieved a number of successes as part of our continuing efforts to improve the academic performance of our students.

The information on this page will explain some of our most prominent accountability measures. In addition, the charts and graphs at the end of the text include specific data on the progress of the district and of individual schools.

Annual achievement tests
All students in grades 3-8 take annual achievement tests in reading, math, science and social studies as part of the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program. Commonly known as the TCAPs, some of these tests are used to help calculate a school's status under the federal No Child Left Behind legislation (NCLB).

In 2005-2006, there were some significant changes in the TCAPs as required by state and federal legislation. Previously, the state used reading and math test scores from grades 3, 5 and 8 to compute a school's overall results. Last year, the reading and math scores of students in each of grades 3-8 were used to compute the results for elementary and middle schools. In addition, English Language Learners were required for the first time to take the reading/language arts test, even if the students were just beginning to learn English. Because MNPS serves 29% of the state’s ELL population, this change had an impact on the results of the reading achievement test.

When the test results were released in August 2006, we were proud to see our students and schools made such overall progress as:
• The number of schools rated in “Good Standing” under No Child Left Behind increased from 81 to 85. Many of the remaining schools missed that status by only one or two of the dozens of individual targets required by NCLB.
•  Elementary and middle school students in all four subject areas show significant increases over a three-year trend period.
•  Fifth-grade students show especially significant gains in all subject areas over three years.
•  If ELL scores had been calculated as they were last year, the district’s reading score would have increased from 84.5% proficient/advanced in 2004-05 to 85.4% in 2006-07. With ELL scores as a factor, the score went from 84.5% to 83.2%. 
•  The district’s math score held steady at 81% proficient/advanced, with the same or higher scores for every subgroup except ELL.
•  The 2005-06 science scores increased for all students. Scores in social studies increased overall by 1.2 percentage points.

Despite the high points, MNPS is committed to even higher student achievement. To improve next year, we will implement a new K-12 Academic Vocabulary Initiative, use our new elementary course outlines, expand our middle school reading initiatives and provide academic interventions for struggling students, among other initiatives.

Gateway results
As part of the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program, Gateway exams are required by the state for high school students to earn a regular diploma. The end-of-course exams in English II and Algebra I are also part of the accountability required by NCLB.

Among the highlights:
•  The percent of proficient/advanced students for both tests increased for all subgroups over a three-year trend period.
•  The Gateway Algebra test showed an increase in the overall pass rate for first-time test takers.
•  The Gateway Reading/Language Arts pass rate increased for all first-time test takers.
 
MNPS is working to improve these scores, including: continued Gateway training and access to math, science and language arts mentors for teachers; Credit Recovery and Gateway Intervention classes for students; a remedial reading program for students to ensure reading fluency and comprehension and the new K-12 Academic Vocabulary program.

Advanced Placement classes
In Metro, we’re encouraging more and more students to test their academic skills with challenging Advanced Placement classes. AP classes are especially valuable for students because a passing score on the final exam, which is graded by the national organization, can translate into college credits. In addition, research shows students who don’t pass the AP exam still have more success in college than students who have not taken AP classes. Metro Schools has increased the number of students tested by 61% over the last five years, and we are continuing to focus on extending that opportunity to more students.

We’re proud of our students’ willingness to increase the rigor of their education, and we continue to hone our program by hosting the Regional College Board Workshop for the last three years, sending five teachers from each subject area to Advanced Placement training each summer, starting an AP Collaborative in MNPS for all AP teachers to meet by subject area to share ideas and materials on planning days and developing new honors course outlines for all honors courses to better prepare students for Advanced Placement classes.

International Baccalaureate Programmes
The Metro Nashville School System is proud to have three of only five high school International Baccalaureate Programmes in the state of Tennessee. This prestigious diploma offers our students exceptional academic rigor and, upon successful completion, recognition from leading universities around the world.

In 2004-2005, our Metro students took 153 IB tests – which are scored by external examiners – with 75 tests passed for a pass rate of 49%.  In 2005-2006, this number increased to 339 tests taken with 171 tests passed at a pass rate of 50%.  While we’re proud of this exceptional rate, we’re working to improve our progress by establishing three middle school IB Programmes to prepare our students for the high school experience.

To view specific accountabilty data 
A variety of accountabilty data is available at the district and individual school level for all Tennessee school systems on the website of the state Department of Education. However, the Evaluation and Assessment Department of Metro Schools has provided individual, collective and longitudinal data at the school and district level that will be helpful in measuring the success of our Metro students and schools. Please choose among the following documents to learn more:

TCAP Scores -- Three-year Comparison for All Students by Subject Areas

TCAP Scores -- Three-year Comparison for Fifth Grade by Subject Areas

Four-year Test Score Comparison by NCLB Subgroups

Ten-year Scores For Writing Assessments

NCLB Status of All Metro Schools 2005-06

School-By-School Test Scores Results -- Elementary

School-By-School Test Score Results -- Middle

School-By-School Test Score Results -- High School

Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate

NCLB Calculation of Graduation Rate

Graduation Rates 2002-2006