Gaffney High School files appeal over AYP results

Gaffney High School has appealed its Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) rating after falling one goal short of meeting the requirements of the federal education law.

Gaffney High made 20 of 21 objectives for AYP under No Child Left Behind, which requires schools to break out their test scores into different student subcategories. Schools must meet every goal to make Adequate Yearly Progress.

The school missed AYP because its graduation rates declined from the previous year. Gaffney High saw its graduation rate decrease from 71.4 percent in 2004 to 68.7 this past school year. Six students who completed their graduation requirements in summer school were not included in graduation figures used to determine its AYP rating.

Principal Dr. Quincie Moore said she isn’t sure whether the inclusion of those students would increase the school’s graduation rate enough to meet AYP.

“We filed the appeal because we want to make sure the data for our graduation rates is accurate,” said Moore, adding she was uncertain when the school would receive word about the outcome of its appeal.

Schools sent report cards home to students earlier this month with information about the AYP ratings required by the South Carolina Education Accountability Act and No Child Left Behind.

Only 70 of 201 high schools statewide met AYP. About 74 percent of the state’s 575 schools fell just short by missing 1-5 goals.

Gaffney High is working with 100 ninth grade repeaters this year in a new mentoring program called “Journey to Success,” a mentoring and counseling effort where school administrators and guidance counselors will meet one-on-one with students at least twice each grading period.

“We are focusing a lot of our efforts on ninth grade students this year,” Moore said. “We hope this will help make a difference in our graduation rate.”