Schools & Education
An impressive move to improving the quality of the school district is apparent in the Anchorage School District. Although not a failing school district in the past, Anchorage School District strives to do more. Latching on to the No Child Left Behind Act, the Anchorage School District adopted its own specific goals, an act that leaves them well ahead of the rest. These goals are described in detail at the Anchorage School District website, below are the goals, in brief, and the achievement rate over two years (italics):
1. Students will demonstrate increased academic achievement as indicated by improved performance on State measures of academic performance. Students will meet the State defined Annual Measurable Objective.
There were gains in math and language arts overall. Advance studies achievements dropped by approximately 16%, the school district cites changes in testing as the issue of the drop.
2. A higher percentage of students in each group at each school will master basic skills and strategies to read independently by the end of the third grade.
The targeted goal of 5% was reached overall, with gains ranging from 1. % to over 5%.
3. The percentage of students in accelerated math sequence will increase.
In grades 8 and 10, rates dropped slightly. In the 9th grade, rates raised 6%
4. There will be at least a five-percent decrease in the dropout rate of middle and high school students over a period of two years as compared to the 2002-2003 school year. Dropout rates increased in all categories except the Migrant group. The District cited differences in categorizing "dropouts" versus students who moved or just did not return after summer vacation.
5. There will be at least a five-percent increase in the District's graduation rate in a year to year comparison.
The graduation rate increased, but statistical reports are skewed because of the differences in categorizing dropouts (as described above).
6. There will be at least a 50% percent increase in the percent of high school students who successfully complete AP courses for the 2004-05 school year. "Successfully complete" is defined as passing the AP course with a grade of C or higher.
The goal of 5% increased was met and exceeded. By the 2004-2005 school year, the increase had risen to 6.5%.
Overall, the goal achievement levels are inconclusive because of testing and category changes. However, reports on employee and parental satisfaction show that most parties are extremely pleased with the district. On average, student satisfaction falls in line with a normal bell curve, with the bulk of students neutral toward the school district's policies and procedures. The only area that appears as a source of unease for all is the level of safety that is felt at school and at the bus stops. Act scores of seniors in the 2005, presumably those planning to attend college, are well-above the national average, as noted below.
Anchorage/National
English 22.4/20.4
Math 23.3/20.7
Composite 23.3/20.9