By Brian Zanzonico
Five of the six Elmont schools - Alden Terrace, Clara H. Carlson, Covert Avenue, Dutch Broadway and Stewart Manor - earned the distinction by meeting or exceeding state standards in English Language Arts and math for the 2005-06 school year, and by making Adequate Yearly Progress in ELA, math and science for two consecutive years (2004-05 and 2005-06).
Schools and districts that had a minimum of 30 continuously enrolled students in at least three "accountability groups" were eligible for recognition as "high performing/gap closing," according to the state education department Web site. The accountability groups include an "all students group" and five ethnic groups as well as those with low incomes, limited proficiency in English and students with disabilities.
"This is a tremendous accomplishment attributed to a Board of Education that is extremely cooperative and focused on the kids, administrators and teachers that go the extra mile, and community that is supportive of education," said Al Harper, Elmont schools superintendent since 2004.
Principal Hope Kranidis, whose Stewart Avenue School was one of three Long Island schools named a No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon winner in 2006 based on fourth-graders' scores in the English Language Arts and math exams in 2004, said that being a "High Performing/Gap Closing" school is an example to students that hard work pays off.
"When we see results, it spurs teachers to raise expectations and tells the children, 'We worked hard, look how far we've come, look how far we can go,'" Kranidis said, noting that it was the first year that Stewart Manor School had received the "High Performing/Gap Closing" distinction.
Kenneth Rosner, principal of Clara H. Carlson School, said that pinpointing areas that give students the most trouble on the exams and working with them beyond regular school hours is the biggest reason behind the school's - and district's - success. "We see which students are having trouble and work to remediate it through morning tutorials, after-school tutorials and any extra help they need," Rosner said.
Statewide, a total of 1,658 public schools, 14 charter schools, and 288 public school districts were designated "Higher Performing/Gap Closing" schools. In 2006, 791 public schools, 4 charter schools, and 79 districts were recognized in New York state.
"The percentage of schools and districts showing improvement and helping to close the achievement gap has greatly increased since last year," State Education Commissioner Richard Mills said in a statement. "This record number of schools is a positive sign and steels us for the work ahead."
The results of this year's state math test scores were expected to be released after press time.
Commentsabout this story? FSeditor@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 240.
