The State Department of Education released 2009 Report Card ratings for all schools and districts in the state on April 16th.  
    
All four elementary schools and the two middle schools in the Edgefield County School District showed significant improvement results in both the Absolute Rating and Growth Rating categories.
    
Strom Thurmond High School and Fox Creek High School, along with the District, saw performance levels drop due to the bar of higher performance measurers not yet being realigned by the Education Oversight Committee. The realignment of high school and district ratings is scheduled for Education Oversight Committee action in August 2010 with application to the 2010-11 school performance.”
    
Rating calculations did not change for high schools and school districts, and lower 2009 scores on the high school exit exam were both key factors in lower high school and district ratings across the state.
    
The ratings for the district and local schools for 2009 in comparison to 2008 ratings are shown in the chart below:
    
“We are extremely proud of our elementary schools and middle schools performance and improvement”, said Dr. Mary R. Crenshaw, Superintendent.
    
“The calculations of this year’s report card for both Strom Thurmond High School and Fox Creek High School saw lowered ratings stemming from the calculations of HSAP performance, End-Of-Course testing and the high school graduation on time rate at the higher bar of targets set by the EOC,” said Dr. Crenshaw.
    
Strom Thurmond High School’s average in the Absolute Rating has placed them with twenty other schools classified as average in the category of schools “alike”, and only eight schools in the same category scored above average.
    
“Revisions were made by the Education Oversight Committee for the calculations of elementary and middle school categories this past year. The old rating system was no longer accurately representing how schools were performing”, said Dr. Crenshaw and continued, “The high school and district calculations have not been revised to accurately represent how high schools and districts are performing, therefore when those expectations become unrealistic, the report does not reflect the real progress made at the high school and district level. The realignment of high school and district ratings will be made beginning in August 2010.”
    
Each school and district receives an Absolute rating – Excellent, Good, Average and Below Average or At Risk based on student test scores. Report cards also contain Growth ratings that compare student test scores from one year to the next. These ratings are based on mathematical formulas set by the Education Oversight Committee.
    
Dr. Crenshaw said, “Focus will continue on strengthening all curriculums across the board and implementation of best practices to address the identified needs of our children to be successful.”