Schools

Underperforming Germantown School Misses Testing Benchmark

Neelsville Middle School misses target on state reading test

For yet another year, Neelsville Middle School did not meet its academic goals on the latest round of state tests, according to data the Maryland State Department of Education released last week.

Maryland School Assessments data from 2012 will serve as starting point for revised accountability requirements, replacing the Adequate Yearly Progress system, . 

As part of its academic goal for reading proficiency under the new system, 86 percent of Neelsville’s test takers needed to pass that portion of the Maryland State Assessments, but state data show only 80 percent passed.

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The school failed to meet its academic goal for reading proficiency among the school's hispanic students, those who receive free and reduced meals and special education students, the state data show.

There were also a smaller proportion of students who passed math, The Gazette reported last week. Neelsville Principal Lily “Vicky” Lake-Parcan reportedly told the newspaper that test scores were only one indicator of student progress.

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for the 2011-12 school year after the school failed to meet academic benchmarks for four years in a row, Patch has reported.

In May, the Maryland Board of Education approved restructuring plans for Neelsville that called for replacing nearly half its staff, shifting to an eight-period day and offering the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme by the start of the next school year.

Under the plan, 47 Neelsville staff members would not be back next school year due to restructuring, . The middle school has roughly 97 staff positions, according to MCPS records for 2011-12.

School officials told Patch the hope is that by changing the learning environment — which means bringing in new teachers, offering more training and changing some of the educational programming — administrators would be able to improve the school’s performance.


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