Halls Elementary School has been named a TN Reward School by the State of Tennessee. Halls Junior High, Ripley Elementary, and Ripley Middle have earned the status of Advancing, an above average ranking assigned by the state. Lauderdale County Schools also earned the status of Advancing. This ranking places the district in the top half of Tennessee school districts for academic performance in the 2021-2022 school year.
Each fall, The Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) releases data which compares school district standardized test scores (TCAP) between the previous year’s testing cycle and the previous testing cycle. These accountability measures combine several metrics of performance at the school level which provides a performance score for each school and the district as a whole. Tennessee’s schools and districts are assigned one of four rankings based on the accountability model: In Need of Improvement (F - Well Below Average), Marginal (D - Below Average), Satisfactory (C - Average), Advancing (B - Above Average), and Exemplary (A - Well Above Average).
Below you will find information regarding School and District Accountability Determinations for Lauderdale County Schools.
DISTRICT DATA
For the 2021-2022 academic year, Lauderdale County Schools earned the above average ranking of Advancing. Of the 146 school districts in Tennessee, Lauderdale County Schools is ranked 77th overall and is in the 53rd percentile. This means that more than half of the school districts in Tennessee ranked below our county for total academic improvement in the 2021-2022 school year. This is an outstanding achievement for our district and one that should be celebrated and shared across our community.
SCHOOL DATA
Schools that serve grades 3-12 also receive rankings based on accountability data. Across Lauderdale County, we have several schools that have earned outstanding rankings.
Exemplary School
Halls Elementary School
Halls Elementary School is also recognized as a Tennessee Reward School. Reward Schools are designated based on improving student achievement and growth for all students and student groups that are served.
Advancing Schools
Halls Junior High School (missed being a TN Reward School by 1/10 of a point)
Ripley Elementary School (missed being a TN Reward School by 1/10 of a point)
Ripley Middle School
Satisfactory School
Halls High School
Marginal School
Ripley High School
It is important to note that both high schools saw abnormally high absenteeism rates and a slightly decreased graduation rate, which also factored into their overall accountability determination. In planning for the 2022-2023 school year, administration has identified several key areas of needed improvement in policy/procedures and academics and are working toward those goals.
ACCOUNTABILITY DETERMINATIONS
There are two main metrics that are used to evaluate student learning in Tennessee: value-added growth and achievement.
Achievement (TCAP)
Measures a student's performance at one single point in time
Is highly correlated with a student's age or development (demographics)
Compares student performance to a set of standards
Is critical to a student's post-secondary opportunities
Value – Added Growth (TVAAS)
Measures a student's academic growth across time; i.e., across years
Is not related to a student's age or development (demographics)
Compares student performance to his/her own prior performance
Is critical to ensuring a student's future academic success
Value-added (TVAAS) is a statistical analysis used to measure the impact of districts, schools, and teachers on the academic growth rates of groups of students from year-to-year. The Tennessee Value-Added Assessment System measures student academic growth year over year, regardless of whether students are proficient on the state’s TCAP assessment. In calculating a TVAAS score, a student’s performance is compared relative to the performance of his or her peers who have performed similarly on past assessments. By measuring students' academic achievement AND growth, schools and districts have a more comprehensive picture of their own effectiveness in raising student achievement.
“This is more evidence that we have a great staff of educators. During a global pandemic, they went above and beyond to keep students on track and moving in the right direction. Our schools provided extra help and targeted learning loss in a number of different ways. Our administrators, teachers, and support staff should be commended for their tireless efforts”, said Lauderdale County Superintendent, Shawn Kimble.
“We know we have a lot of work ahead, but you can’t get to where you want to be without making above average progress. These results are living proof of what our educators and students are capable of, and I hope that our community will celebrate and stand behind our hardworking educators and students”, said Kimble.
Lauderdale County Schools is extremely proud of the academic progress being made. These achievements and recognitions are a testament to the hard work and dedication of our students and staff and the continued commitment from our families and community stakeholders to make Lauderdale County a great place to live and learn. We hope that our community will continue partnering with us to grow our students into the productive citizens we aspire for them to be.