Forty of NPS’ 45 schools showed improvement from 2013 to 2014 in one or more of the areas that determine state accreditation. Eighteen schools had double-digit increases.

Norfolk’s primary challenge is to close an “achievement gap” between students who are not economically disadvantaged—districtwide they exceed state standards—and students classified as economically disadvantaged. They make up nearly 67 percent of NPS’ student body, and a variety of factors contribute to their learning needs.

NPS remains focused on multiple measures of success, including college and career readiness. Our 2014 grads earned nearly $38 million in scholarships. Striving growing NORFOLK PUBLIC SCHOOLS’ EFFORTS TO IMPROVE

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT ARE DRIVING SIGNIFICANT GAINS,

WHILE THE CHALLENGE OF CLOSING ACHIEVEMENT

GAPS REMAINS. NPS WILL NOT STOP UNTIL EVERY CHILD

EXCEEDS STANDARDS.

In Virginia, all 132 school divisions are traveling toward the same destination: full state accreditation based upon Standards of Learning test pass rates and the Graduation and Completion Index for high schools. But not all school divisions have the same factors to consider when planning and undertaking their journeys. Norfolk, for example, at about 33,000 students, is the largest division in the state with 65 percent or more of its children living in economically disadvantaged households. Nationally and across Virginia, such students tend to have lower performance on tests, due to a variety of factors that influence readiness to learn. This is commonly referred to as an “achievement gap.” NPS is focused on adopting proven, research-based characteristics of high-performing districts that defy the norm for economically disadvantaged students. Over the past several years, the Commonwealth of Virginia also has sought a more attractive destination for all students, in the form of more challenging state standards aimed at ensuring that high school graduates are ready for college and careers. Norfolk and other school divisions are adjusting their roadmaps to meet the new state requirements; the Va.

Department of Education estimates that one third of Virginia schools will fall short of accreditation this year – a massive increase from prior years. Norfolk’s destination is well documented in School Board and division priorities and the NPS five-year Strategic Plan: All students must meet and exceed state standards, and all schools must earn full state accreditation. The journey, though, cannot be made overnight, or summed up in simple terms like “best” or “worst.” NPS is celebrating many milestones this year: significant improvement districtwide on math and English SOL pass rates, according to preliminary data; an overall increase in the high school Graduation and Completion Index; eight schools with 90 percent or higher in one state-required area; double-digit increases in one or more areas at 18 schools; one school—Granby Elementary—earning full accreditation after being warned last year. NPS will continue striving to speed progress. The division is analyzing dips in history scores at most middle and elementary schools; drops in elementary science; and three schools moving from accredited to accredited with warning. The journey toward educational success for all students continues.

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT FACTS AUGUST 2014

“Norfolk Public Schools, like all other divisions, has

multiple areas of success and challenge. We will

continue learning from accomplishments and

setbacks. We will adopt research-based strategies

for closing achievement gaps so that we can raise

the floor and the ceiling simultaneously for

students, while accelerating the rate at which we

raise the floor. We will never lose sight of the fact

that we provide generations of children

unparalleled opportunities for the future.”

- Superintendent Samuel T. King, Ed.D.

High Schools Booker T. Washington and

Lake Taylor improved their

Graduation & Completion

Indices by 7and 5

percentage points

respectively, resulting in a

districtwide increase.

Non-economically

disadvantaged student

performance was well

above state standards and

grew in math.

Economically

disadvantaged students

were above state standards

in English, and their pass

rates grew in math, however

the achievement gap

remains a challenge.

GROWTH AND

CHALLENGES

Districtwide, NPS had

gains in every end-of-

course content area.

Three of five high schools

had pass rate increases in

at least three subjects.

Maury and Lake Taylor

had 90 percent or above

in two areas measured by

the state, while Norview

had the highest pass rates

in history and science.

Three of five high schools

are expected to be fully

accredited, the same as

last year: Granby, Maury

and Norview.

DRIVING CONTINUED GROWTH

NPS mandatory training for high school teachers and

administrators will include such topics as writing

effective plans and tests, Advanced Placement

teaching, and math instruction that has the level of

rigor expected in Virginia.

NPS is bringing in Eric Jensen, a national expert on

how the brain learns. Jensen will train teachers and

administrators on ”Teaching with Poverty in Mind” -

http://www.jensenlearning.com/news/why-teach-

differently-to-those-from-poverty/teaching-with-poverty

-in-mind

NPS continues to emphasize participation in AP

courses. Last year, NPS had a 49 percent increase in

the number of AP exams taken and a 34 percent

increase in the number of qualifying exam scores. AP

participation prepares students for high-level learning.

Middle Schools

NPS is working to raise expectations and expand

high-quality offerings for students by re-purposing

Lafayette-Winona Middle to open in 2015-2016 as

an International Baccalaureate choice school. The

soon-to-be-constructed Campostella K-8 school

will have a focus on science, technology,

engineering and mathematics (STEM).

Mandatory training for middle school teachers and

administrators this summer will include such topics

as collaborative lesson planning and creating

effective lesson plans and tests based upon the

curriculum for specific content areas.

Middle school teachers and administrators also

will participate in sessions with Eric Jensen, a

national expert on how the brain learns. Jensen

will train teachers and administrators on ”Teaching

with Poverty in Mind.”

GROWTH AND CHALLENGES

In math, reading, writing and science—

four of the five core content areas—

middle schools improved districtwide

from 2013-2014.

Non-economically disadvantaged

student performance was above state

standards.

Although performance for economically

disadvantaged students increased, the

growth was not at a rate necessary to

close the achievement gap. NPS is

focused on accelerating improvement.

Azalea Gardens, Lafayette-Winona and

Norview middle schools had double-

digit increases in one content area.

Five of seven middle schools posted

declines in history pass rates.

Northside MS is projected to move from

fully accredited to warned in English,

although the school showed increases

in English, math and science.

DRIVING CONTINUED GROWTH

Elementary Schools More than half of NPS

elementary schools had

double-digit increases in

math pass rates.

Richard Bowling and

Tidewater Park had double-

digit increases in English

and math; Lindenwood

sharply improved in math

and science.

Bay View, Calcott,

Larchmont, Ocean View,

Sewells Point and

Willoughby had 90 percent

or higher pass rates in one

or more content areas.

Granby ES is expected to

move from warned to fully

accredited, while

Crossroads and Larrymore

are expected to be warned.

GROWTH AND

CHALLENGES

Non-economically

disadvantaged student

performance was well

above state standards,

and grew.

Although performance for

economically

disadvantaged students

also grew, the growth was

not at a rate necessary to

close the achievement

gap. NPS is focused on

accelerating improvement.

Science, history declined

at many elementaries.

DRIVING CONTINUED GROWTH

NPS is providing mandatory training in August for all

teachers and instructional staff.

For PreK and elementary teachers, two days of the

training will include such topics as early language

development, deep understanding of elementary

curriculum standards, and writing effective lesson

plans and tests.

NPS teachers and administrators also will participate

in targeted sessions with national expert Eric Jensen

on ”Teaching with Poverty in Mind.”