Would You Choose These Schools for Your Students?

Parents, citizens and teachers considering solidarity with the teachers’ union in opposing waiver of “Teacher Fair Dismissal” for Little Rock School District D and F schools should ask themselves one question:

If you had a choice, would you send your child to these schools?

SchoolGrade 2017-18 Score 2016-17 Score Gain/Loss State Rank (of 1,034 Arkansas public schools) Minority Percentage 
 Fair High F 47.27 52.04 -4.77 1,034th 95.98%
 Hall High F 47.34 47.39 -0.05 1,033rd 94.56%
 McClellan High F 48.18 48.85 -0.67 1,032nd 97.20%
 Cloverdale Middle F 52.96 58.63 -5.67 1,022nd 97.54%
 Washington Elem. F 54.09 61.90 -7.81 1,014th 97.70%
 Romine Elem. F 55.51 60.06 -4.55 1,001st 96.41%
 Henderson Middle D 55.87 58.71 -2.84 994th 93.64%
 Stephens Elem. F 56.18 57.82 -1.64 989th 97.37%
 Bale Elem. F 57.17 57.74 -0.57 972nd 92.97%
 Dunbar Middle D 58.35 66.99 -8.64 956th 95.14%
 Mabelvale Elem. D 58.6 62.24 -3.64 952nd 94.56%
 Watson Elem. D 58.7 59.70 -1.00 951st 98.53%
 King Elem. D 58.8 65.05 -6.25 950th 97.57%
 Mabelvale Middle D 58.94 61.42 -2.48 946th 93.64%
 Baseline Elem. D 59.61 63.35 -3.74 937th 93.02%
 Meadowcliff Elem. D 61.34 62.22 -0.88 898th 95.30%
 Brady Elem. D 61.34 62.57 -1.23 897th 94.05%
 Chicot Elem. D 62.23 59.92 +2.31 883rd 96.32%
 McDermott Elem. D 62.72 67.52 -4.80 868th  93.42%
 Rockefeller Elem. D 62.89 65.82 -2.93 862nd 95.31%
 Western Hills Elem. D 64.05 64.79 -0.74 821st 94.90%
 Dodd Elem. D 64.57 65.37 -0.80 796th 96.00%


It’s not just one year of aberrant scores. It’s continued decline of 21 of 22 schools. Of all D and F schools, only Chicot Elementary improved between 2016-17 and 2017-18.

Now look at each school’s minority percentage. For over three decades under federal and local control, the most historically significant school district in America – one associated with equal educational opportunity for all – has systemically denied equitable educational opportunity for its most vulnerable students. Even worse, through gerrymandered attendance zones and preferential magnet admissions, it has Balkanized its students between two C high schools – Central and Parkview – and three F high schools – Fair, Hall and McClellan.

The State of Arkansas, which is constitutionally responsible for public education, seeks to finally prioritize the best interests of students over the self interests of adults. But to do that, it must have the flexibility to remove and replace ineffective staff, teachers, principals and central administrators.

For this community and school district to survive and thrive, solidarity must be with long denied students, not with the adults who failed them.

Epilogue

The teachers’ union, its apologists, and lazy media are perpetuating the talking point lie:

“6 Academic Distress Schools at Takeover; 22 Today.”

Here’s the truth. The year of the State’s intervention in the district (2015), there were:

  • 6 Academic Distress Schools (Three-year average of less than 49.5% students proficient)
  • 24 Priority or Focus Schools
    • 8 Priority (Lowest 5% Academic Performing Schools in Arkansas)
    • 16 Focus (Largest In-school Achievement Gaps in Arkansas)
  • 22 D (14) and F (8) Schools

All defined by different statutes.

SchoolGradeScore (of 300)State Rank (of 1,052 Arkansas public schools)Academic Distress (3 Year Avg Proficient)Priority School (Year First Identified)Focus School (Year First Identified; Gap)
Bale Elem.X (2012; 35.84)
Baseline Elem.D197932nd (tie)X (46.21%)X (2012)
Booker Elem.D190970th (tie)
CentralX (2012; 30.18)
Chicot Elem.D188974th (tie)X (2015; 35.70)
Cloverdale MiddleF1571,046th (tie)X (41.36%)X (2012)
Dunbar MiddleD1811,005th (tie)X (2012; 25.51)
Forest Heights MiddleF1571,046th (tie)
Franklin ElemX (2012; 32.37)
Geyer Springs Elem.F1721,031st (tie)X (2012)
Henderson MiddleF1581,044th (tie)X (46.04%)X (2012)
J.A. Fair HighF1731,028th (tie)X (44.42%)X (2012)
King Elem.D183999th (tie)X (2012; 25.13)
Hall HighF1731,025th (tie)X (39.26%)X (2012)
Mabelvale MiddleF1781,012th (tie)X (2015)
Mann MiddleD197932nd (tie)
McDermott Elem.D197932nd (tie)
McClellan High210834th (tie)X (43.70)X (2012)
Meadowcliff Elem.D197932nd (tie)
Pulaski Heights Elem.X (2015; 33.17)
Pulaski Heights MiddleD205888th (tie)X (2012; 35.76)
Rockefeller Elem.D186986th (tie)X (2015; 36.53)
Romine Elem.F1771,014th (tie)X (2012; 37.88)
Stephens ElementaryD200918th (tie)X (2012; 30.62)
Wakefield Elem.X (2012; 25.10)
Washington Elem.D201912th (tie)X (2012; 35.22)
Watson Elem.D188974th (tie)X (2015; 35.70)
Western Hills Elem.D192962nd (tie)X (2015; 32.63)
Wilson Elem.X (2015; 31.42)

2015 Accountability (29 of 42 Schools):

  • 3 of 5 High Schools D or F
  • 6 of 6 Middle Schools D or F
  • 13 of 30 Elementary Schools D or F
  • 8 Priority Schools (Lowest 5% in Arkansas)
  • 16 Focus Schools (Largest In-School Achievement Gaps in Arkansas)

2018 Accountability (22 of 40 Schools):

  • 3 of 5 High Schools D or F
  • 4 of 7 Middle/K-8 Schools D or F
  • 15 of 27 Elementary Schools D or F

The pace of the district’s academic turnaround has been unacceptable, and the Commissioner’s recommended waiver of “Teacher Fair Dismissal” for D and F schools is three years late. But in 2015, 69% of the district’s schools were designated in some form of accountability, including 9 of 11 secondary schools. Today, it’s 55% and 7 of 12 secondary schools – nowhere near acceptable, but better than 2015 by every measure.

And if were going straight apples to apples: 22 D or F schools in 2015; 22 D or F schools in 2018.

Sources:

Previous Post
Best Interests of Students v. Self Interests of John Walker
Next Post
Union Priorities: Self Interests of Adults Over Best Interests of Students
Menu