Sunnyside administrators say high school isn't "low-performing"
SUNNYSIDE, Wash. -- Sunnyside School District administrators say the state's latest evaluation got it wrong.
"We're not a persistently low-achieving school. That may have been true in the past when we struggle academically," said Curtis Campbell, Sunnyside spokesperson.
Campbell admits Sunnyside High School has a history of low test scores and graduation rates. However, it's been improving with help from a Merritt Grant.
Since receiving the grant, Sunnyside indicates its graduation rate climbed from 49% in in 2009 to 71% in 2011.
Administrators think the district gets the underachieving label just because it got the Merritt Grant.
"We know the work we're doing here is good work and the stats as you can see prove that we're making tremendous gains, Campbell said.
Sunnyside High School students say they notice a difference.
"They're getting work done, doing after school stuff to get their grades up," said Brady Clair,a junior at Sunnyside.
The district says its graduation rates for special education also increased from 46% to 92% in two years.
On top of that, it's now meeting all state requirements for English Language Learning students for the first time.
The state disagrees with Sunnyside. Representatives from the State Superintendent's Office tell KIMA these improvements aren't enough.
The state uses a comprehensive "formula" used to rate the schools and Sunnyside High School comes in as a low-performing school on that scale.
"Having a graduation rate that's risen 20 points in just a couple of years makes us think that we wouldn't be perceived to be a low achieving school," Campbell said.
Regardless of the list, Sunnyside administrators are confident that label will be part of the past and not the future.
"We're not a persistently low-achieving school. That may have been true in the past when we struggle academically," said Curtis Campbell, Sunnyside spokesperson.
Campbell admits Sunnyside High School has a history of low test scores and graduation rates. However, it's been improving with help from a Merritt Grant.
Since receiving the grant, Sunnyside indicates its graduation rate climbed from 49% in in 2009 to 71% in 2011.
Administrators think the district gets the underachieving label just because it got the Merritt Grant.
"We know the work we're doing here is good work and the stats as you can see prove that we're making tremendous gains, Campbell said.
Sunnyside High School students say they notice a difference.
"They're getting work done, doing after school stuff to get their grades up," said Brady Clair,a junior at Sunnyside.
The district says its graduation rates for special education also increased from 46% to 92% in two years.
On top of that, it's now meeting all state requirements for English Language Learning students for the first time.
The state disagrees with Sunnyside. Representatives from the State Superintendent's Office tell KIMA these improvements aren't enough.
The state uses a comprehensive "formula" used to rate the schools and Sunnyside High School comes in as a low-performing school on that scale.
"Having a graduation rate that's risen 20 points in just a couple of years makes us think that we wouldn't be perceived to be a low achieving school," Campbell said.
Regardless of the list, Sunnyside administrators are confident that label will be part of the past and not the future.
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