Asheville City Schools students’ state test scores improved during the 2021-22 school year

Press release from Asheville City Schools

Asheville City Schools students’ state test scores improved during the 2021-2022 school year! Schools achieved growth in line with pre-pandemic levels, according to the state’s accountability report that has been made public by The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.

“It is important to understand the challenges our families and students have faced during the past few years of COVID,” said Dr. Jim Causby, Interim Superintendent. “We are very proud of all the work our staff and students have done and are committed to continuing the hard work of improving outcomes for all students.”

Due to the pandemic, the 2021-2022 accountability report is the first since the 2018-2019 school year to feature all components of the state’s accountability framework, including the calculation of A-F School Performance Grades and growth designations.

According to the report, 2 of our 10 schools for the 2021-2022 school year exceeded expected growth overall, and 6 of the remaining 8 schools met expected growth overall. Lucy S. Herring Elementary School’s growth score was the 4th highest among elementary schools in the Western Region! Additionally, Lucy S. Herring and Ira B. Jones Elementary School had the 2nd and 5th highest math growth of all elementary schools in the Western region. Black students met growth at every school where data is available.

Since 2020, Asheville City Schools has adopted a strong core curriculum in ELA and Math in grades K-8 with a focus on accelerating learning for all students. Overall, Asheville City Schools experienced significant growth in mathematics. Out of 8 elementary and middle schools, 6 exceeded or met expected growth in mathematics and 6 met expected growth in reading. Based on the state system, elementary and middle schools receive a reading and math growth score, whereas high schools only receive an overall growth score.

Since 2013-14, student performance data have been used to assign letter grades to North Carolina public schools as required by North Carolina General Statute 115C-83.15. The grades are based on each school’s achievement score and each school’s students’ academic growth. The total school performance score is used to determine a school performance grade of A, B, C, D or F.

Asheville City Schools 21-22 School Performance Letter Grades: 

Elementary

Asheville Primary School – D
Claxton Elementary School – C
Hall Fletcher Elementary School – D
Ira B. Jones Elementary School – C
Isaac Dickson Elementary School – C
Lucy S. Herring Elementary School – C

Middle

Asheville Middle School – C
Montford North Star Academy – C

High

Asheville High School – B
School of Inquiry and Life Sciences – B

If you want to read the state’s full accountability report, click here.