Area schools made up a full third of the ones recognized as "Exemplary" by the state Dept. of Education. Education Commissioner Kevin Huffman unveiled the list at an event in Sevier Co. Seven of
the 21 schools on the list were in East Tennessee.
"We're excited with the overall results across the state, and we particularly
want to highlight those districts that have excelled in both areas," said
Huffman.
The designation recognizes districts that "significantly improved student performance
and narrowed achievement gaps under Tennessee's new accountability system."
- Click here for district by distict results
"Growing results while closing achievement gaps is incredibly hard work,"
added Huffman.
The top county systems include Blount, Claiborne, Fayette, Henry, Loudon,
Marshall, Rutherford, Sequatchie, Sevier, Smith and Trousdale.
Also earning the designation were city or special school districts in
Fayetteville, Hollow Rock-Bruceton, Franklin, McKenzie, Milan, Newport,
Rogersville, South Carroll, Sweetwater and Union City.
The Dept. of Education's new accountability system replaces the No Child Left
Behind Annual Yearly Progress measures. Instead of holding all districts to the
same benchmarks, the Dept. of Education said its system acknowledges districts
start from different places and rewards growth.
In 2011-2012, all schools exhibited growth, it said, but many of them were
not able to close the achievement gaps or saw them grow. - Local districts that earned Exemplary recognition:
- Blount Co. Schools
Claiborne Co. Schools
Loudon Co. Schools
Newport City Schools
Rogersville City Schools
Sevier Co. Schools
Sweetwater City Schools
"Growing results while closing achievement gaps is incredibly hard work,"
added Huffman.
The top county systems include Blount, Claiborne, Fayette, Henry, Loudon,
Marshall, Rutherford, Sequatchie, Sevier, Smith and Trousdale.
Also earning the designation were city or special school districts in
Fayetteville, Hollow Rock-Bruceton, Franklin, McKenzie, Milan, Newport,
Rogersville, South Carroll, Sweetwater and Union City.
The Dept. of Education's new accountability system replaces the No Child Left
Behind Annual Yearly Progress measures. Instead of holding all districts to the
same benchmarks, the Dept. of Education said its system acknowledges districts
start from different places and rewards growth.
In 2011-2012, all schools exhibited growth, it said, but many of them were
not able to close the achievement gaps or saw them grow.
- Blount Co. Schools
Claiborne Co. Schools
Loudon Co. Schools
Newport City Schools
Rogersville City Schools
Sevier Co. Schools
Sweetwater City Schools
