Whitley County School System                                                     “For Immediate Release”

300 Main Street                                                                                                                       Williamsburg, KY 40769                                                                                        
(606)549-7000

Whitley County High School rolls out a plan to help improve

future end of year test scores.

           

            Williamsburg, KY - Whitley County High School department chair members have announced an improvement plan for the 2011-2012 school year geared towards raising the school’s Academic Performance Index. In May 2011 the school’s API was  measured at 86 out of 100 on the Kentucky Core Content Test. The plan’s goal is to raise that number by 4.67 for a total API of 90.67 by May 2012.

            According to history department chair member, Tim Cooper, the plan is mainly to benefit the students. Students used to take the CATS test, which gauged how well each student did in each academic category and ranked schools in the state by how well they did overall. Cooper said, “Before, we as teachers and a school district were held accountable. What it could mean was if you scored bad enough for enough years in a row the state could come in and take over your school.” The state of Kentucky contracted the company that does the ACT to write these new end of course exams. Students' grades are now effected by their scores on these tests because it counts for 20 percent of their grade in each subject. In-class tests and daily discussions are becoming harder to help prepare the student for the degree of difficulty of these exams.

            WCHS plans to better prepare students by utilizing a variety of resources. Changes that are expressed in the plan include:

·       Freshmen scoring beneath the 30^th percentile in math and reading will be placed in remedial classes.

·       All teachers will write on the board the day's lesson objective, key concept, or essential question so students are aware of the content covered for that day.

·       All teachers will develop and implement formative assessments.

·       All teachers will be encouraged to seek out and attend professional development experiences, beyond the required 24 hours, in order to best prepare themselves for helping students reach proficiency.

     Through this process students should become better aware of what is expected of them and be able to meet the goals set for them individually.

About Our District

The Whitley County School District, established in 1818, serves students in preschool through

grade 12. The schools include one primary, one intermediate, five elementary, one middle, one

high and one alternative school. The district continues to grow and prosper bringing the latest

technology, resources and facilities to our community.

About WCHS

The mission of Whitley County High School is to provide instructional programs in which every

student can learn at his/her highest possible level.  Each student will become a life-long and

independent learner and will make a successful transition to post-high school experience.