Student Achievement at BHS as good as GOLD
By SCOTT POWELL Ledger Staff Writer spowell@gaffneyledger.com

Blacksburg High earned a cash award of nearly $12,000 Wednesday when the state recognized the school for its high level of student achievement and academic improvement.

The school will receive $11,939 as a Palmetto Gold winner. It is the only county school and one of only 26 schools in the Upstate area honored with a state incentive award this year.

"This award is a reflection of our report card rating along with the good job done by our students, teachers and staff," Blacksburg High Principal Jim Touchberry said.

This is the seventh year schools statewide have been recognized through the Palmetto Gold and Palmetto Silver awards program created by the state to reward student achievement under the Education Accountability Act of 1998.

A total of 235 schools in South Carolina received incentive awards this year. Awards are based on report card ratings and went to schools that dramatically improved student performance between 2006 and 2007.

Each winning school receives an award flag, a certificate and a portion of $3 million in state funds budgeted for the program. The financial award is determined by several factors, including the type of award received, student enrollment, student attendance, teacher attendance and dropout rates.

The minimum amount for a Gold award is $1,500. The minimum for a Silver award is $1,000.

The Education Oversight Committee's award criteria is based on the absolute and improvement ratings assigned to each school on the 2007 report cards. For high schools, the ratings are based on Exit Exam results, graduation rates and percentages of students passing end-of-course tests.

"I'm really proud of this accomplishment," Touchberry said. "This award would not be possible without the outstanding job the staffs at the Blacksburg primary, elementary and middle schools do in preparing our students for success in high school."

Blacksburg High received an excellent improvement rating on its most recent report card.

Exit exam scores increased from 72.4 percent in 2006 to 76.6 percent in 2007. Blacksburg High saw 80 percent of last year's senior class graduate on time.

"Our students continue to score well above the state average on the exit exam. Our SAT and ACT scores have also improved," Touchberry said. "Blacksburg High is a reflection of our community. Our challenge remains to build on these achievements."

A new ninth grade addition at BHS is expected to be ready for occupancy in the next couple of weeks once construction workers correct items on a punch list, Touchberry said. Interactive electronic whiteboards in classrooms are among equipment scheduled to be installed in the ninth grade wing.

Touchberry said he plans to meet with the faculty to determine the best use for the incentive award money Blacksburg High will receive from the state.