Seven Carroll County schools and Carrollton High School failed to make Adequate Yearly Progress, according to AYP results for the 2006-07 academic year that were released this week.

AYP is one of the cornerstones of the federal No Child Left Behind Act.

By agreeing to participate in the federal program that provides more than $11 billion to educate low-income students, states are required to reach the goal of No Child Left Behind: 100 percent of students will be proficient in reading/English language arts and mathematics per state assessments by the year 2014. AYP is an annual measurement of student achievement on statewide assessment tests, and annual goals are set by the state for each school system.

Schoolwide scores on the Criterion-Referenced Competency Tests and the Georgia High School Graduation Tests (GHSGT) are factored together to determine AYP. Test participation for both mathematics and reading/English language arts is also a factor.

Carrollton Elementary, Carrollton Junior High and Carrollton Middle made AYP, which is the fourth consecutive year for the schools to accomplish this feat. Carrollton High School, which made the list last year, did not meet the standards necessary to make AYP for the 2006-07 year.

“We’re disappointed that we did not make it, but on the other hand, we’re very proud of the fact that our graduation rate was 82 percent, when the state average is around 60 percent,” said Tom Wilson, superintendent of Carrollton City Schools. “The high school did not make it, but if there were, I think, eight students who would have scored one point higher (on the GHSGT), then we would have made it.”

In order to pass the high school graduation test, the state mandates that a student pass the exam with a score of 500 or more. However, the AYP benchmark requires that the student earn a score of 516 or higher.

“These kids passed the graduation test, but were actually between 500 and 516,” said Wilson. “And so, that was a little disappointing, but that’s how close it gets.”

According to the Georgia Department of Education, 14 of the Carroll County system’s 21 schools - 67 percent - made AYP this year. That number is up from last year, when only nine of the schools, or 43 percent, passed.

GDOE results from 2003-07 show that the county school system has never completely made AYP.

“The Carroll County School System is focused on high academic standards for all students in response to Georgia’s more rigorous curriculum,” said Kathy Rogers, the assistant superintendent of curriculum, instruction and student achievement for the county schools. “Test scores continue to rise at all grade levels and in all content areas. We have more schools making AYP than in the past year. We will continue our focus on high academic standards and raising student achievement so that all schools will make AYP.”

Nine of the county’s 11 elementary schools and three of five middle schools met all the criteria for AYP. Two high schools, Bowdon High and Central High, also met AYP.

“This year, every one of our five high schools made AYP in academic performance, something they did not do last year,” said Rogers. “Basically, we focused on test data and teachers wrote testing plans and looked at how they can make their instruction more rigorous. And I think it paid off.

“And for the graduation rate and Mt. Zion, Temple and Villa Rica high schools, it might just be one subgroup that didn’t make it. It isn’t the entire school.”

Schools that fail to make AYP in the same subject for two consecutive years are placed on the “Needs Improvement” category. Although there are no consequences for the first year a school is labeled as a “Needs Improvement” school, the second year it happens the school must develop an improvement plan and notify students’ parents of its status. Parents then have the option of transferring their child to a school that has meet AYP standards.

In the third year, parents have the opportunity for free tuition and/or supplemental educational services for their child. In the fourth year, the school is identified as a “Corrective Action” school and must make a fundamental change to strengthen student achievement, such as hiring a new staff or lengthening the school day or year.

Eight county schools this year received the label “Needs Improvement,” including Bay Springs Middle, Central High, Central Middle, Jonesville Middle, Temple High, Temple Middle, Villa Rica High and Villa Rica Middle.

“I am extremely proud of the progress our school system is making,” said Superintendent John Zauner in a press release. “The AYP results are certainly a reflection of the hard work of our teachers, administrators and students.

“Of the schools that did not make AYP, those schools came very close, and they too should be commended for their continuous improvements in academics, attendance, and the graduation rate. We will continue our efforts to enhance the educational environment for all students and continue to work toward all students and all schools making AYP. Our focus will be on the core business of teaching and learning.”

Overall, approximately 81 percent of Georgia’s public schools made AYP this year, which is a two-percentage point increase from last year. Of the nearly 2,000 schools, 326 were placed in the “Needs Improvement” list.

“All of our schools are working hard to provide Georgia’s students with a great education,” said state Superintendent of Schools Kathy Cox. “The results of this year’s AYP report demonstrate that the focus and hard work are paying off.”