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Report card rates local schools ‘average’
By Derek Hodges
The report cards are in, and Jackson County schools rank about average.
The N.C. Department of Education recently released its annual School Report Cards. The analysis compares local school district results on state and federal tests to show how the system is performing as compared to the rest of the state.
Overall this year’s data shows Jackson County is performing at the state average in virtually every category.
Fairview third-graders Kaitlyn Karcher, left, and Nathan Wayman, both students in Maureen Sutton’s class, complete an assignment in the school’s computer lab. Technology is one area at which Jackson County Schools excel, according to the school system’s “report card,” which was released last month. – Herald photo by Nick Breedlove
The district was about even with others in the state in results on state-mandated tests. However, the county’s one high school – Smoky Mountain is the only one counted in the results since Blue Ridge also includes elementary and middle grades – missed the mark on federal tests, making the county’s average 0 percent, compared to the state’s 40 percent.
Jackson comes out ahead in technology, though. All local classrooms are connected to the internet, which is better than some places in the state.
The county is home to more National Board Certified teachers than many in the state, and has more principals with advanced degrees than the state average.
Superintendent Sue Nations said she’s happy with the results.
“I do feel pretty good. We do always have room to improve, but I think this shows we’re doing a good job,” Nations said.
While the results were somewhat positive, Nations said they don’t paint an accurate picture of the system, because they don’t take into account all the other “good things” that are going on at the schools.
“You really look at more than tests to rate the performance of schools,” Nations said.
The report cards came out late last month – about the same time as a report from the non-profit Public School Forum of North Carolina that compares funding rates of the state’s school districts.
The report showed that, based on last year’s property revaluations, Jackson County has the second-highest potential property tax base in the state as it relates to the number of students in the schools. That could change, however, as other counties with older property valuations update those values.
The study also showed Jackson County has the third-lowest property tax rate in the state, at 36 cents. That’s well below the state average of nearly 60 cents.
Based on those figures that show what the Forum calls a county’s “Ability to Pay” compared with a county’s “Actual Effort,” the study rated Jackson County 95th out of the state’s 100 counties for the support it gives the schools.
Both county and school officials defended the support the schools receive.
“The Board of Commissioners’ commitment to education has always been substantial,” county Manager Ken Westmoreland said.
“I think our commissioners are very good in the amount of money they give us,” Nations said.
Despite the county’s low tax rate, Nations said she doesn’t think a tax increase would help the schools.
“I would not say that we need to raise taxes. There comes a time when you have to consider the income of all the people in Jackson County,” Nations said. “I don’t think that study illustrates a need for an automatic tax increase.”
Nations does have some ideas about how the local school systems can make their dollars go farther and improve the quality of education their students receive. For instance, federal and state lawmakers could stop enacting requirements they’re not willing to pay for, she said.
“There’s a lot of costs that are passed down from the state and federal levels as unfunded mandates,” Nations said. “I’m not saying those things that are mandated are bad; I think they’re good things. We just need the money to implement them.”
Nations also suggested state-funded pre-kindergarten programs in each county would help improve the education students receive. To support the idea, Nations pointed to research showing early childhood years as some of the most important in a person’s intellectual development.
Because of state mandated changes to the school calendar, local high school students were forced to take end-of-course tests – like the ones used to measure the schools in the report card – after their Christmas break. Some educators have argued that gives the students several weeks to forget the material and could lower scores.
Legislation postponing the school year’s start date forced Jackson County to schedule the exams after Christmas vacation this year. Students previously were able to complete tests before the winter break.
Nations said she feels confident in the teachers’ ability to review the material with the students in the week between their return to school and the administration of the tests. She also said she would be interested to get the results back to see if the break affected the results.
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