DURHAM -- Principals in the Durham Public Schools now know how much help they will receive, as well as what's expected of them, under a new plan to improve schools.
The district released school classifications under its new Design for Accelerated Progress Structure on Tuesday. The effort will give extra help to the lowest-performing schools, along with a four-year deadline to improve test scores or face sanctions ranging from firings to closure.
Lewis Ferebee, the district's chief of staff, said the plan is the blueprint for moving the school system in the right direction.
"We know we still have much work to do," he said.
The plan was introduced to school board members in April and then presented to the Wake County judge who in 2004 threatened to shut down three Durham schools because of low test scores.
It splits schools into four tiers based on their ABC composite score and growth rating as well as the percentage of adequate yearly progress goals met.
Tier 1: The lowest of the four tiers, Tier 1 schools will receive additional resources and increased monitoring of their academic improvement efforts and will have top priority regarding staffing needs. Tier 1 schools are Glenn and Y.E. Smith elementary schools; Chewning, Lowe's Grove and Neal middle schools; and Southern High School and Lakeview School.
Tier 2: Tier 2 schools foster "a climate of acceleration" and will have required professional development as well as constant self-assessment and district evaluation of school leaders. Tier 2 schools are Eno Valley, Holt, Club Boulevard, E.K. Powe, Merrick-Moore, Eastway, Bethesda, Fayetteville Street, C.C. Spaulding, Burton, W.G. Pearson and Spring Valley elementary schools; Githens Middle School; Hillside and Northern high schools and the Performance Learning Center.
Tier 3: Tier 3 schools "have exhibited higher levels of proficiency and growth." These schools will focus on using data to improve teacher and student performance and implement major initiatives. Tier 3 schools are Little River, Easley, Watts, Forest View, Morehead, Creekside, Oak Grove, Lakewood, R.N. Harris, Parkwood, Hope Valley and Southwest elementary schools; Brogden, Carrington, Rogers-Herr, Shepard and W.G. Pearson middle schools; Hillside New Tech, Jordan and Riverside high schools and the Southern School of Engineering.
Tier 4: Tier 4 are considered the highest performing in the district. These schools are encouraged to try new strategies, including principal peer mentoring and professional learning communities. Tier 4 schools are Mangum, Hillandale and Pearsontown elementary schools; Durham School of the Arts, City of Medicine Academy and Early College High School and Middle College.
"Our ultimate goal is to do what the plan says, which is to celebrate our accomplishments and move the needle to the right," said Minnie Forte-Brown, school board chairwoman. "We have an expectation that resources will be leveraged in the schools with a concentrated focus on responding to teacher needs quickly, and divide responsibility so no one administrator has so much to do. It's a more focused effort."
