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Atmore’s Escambia County High Named A ‘Failing School’ Again
January 26, 2018
The Alabama Department of Education released their latest list of “failing schools” on Thursday. There are 75 schools on the list, including Escambia County High School in Atmore for the second year.
Under the Alabama Accountability Act, “Failing Schools” are the bottom 6 perent of public Alabama schools for the 2016-2017 school year based on the state’s standardized assessment (ACT Aspire and Alabama Alternate Assessment) in reading and math.
Students are tested in reading and math in grades 3-8 and 10 with the Aspire Assessment and the Alabama Alternate Assessment.
Students in an Alabama public school designated as a failing school or scheduled to enroll in a failing school will be given school choice options:
- The student may remain or enroll in the assigned school.
- The student may transfer to a comparable school that is not included on the annual list of “failing schools” within the same local school system that has available space and is willing to accept the student.
- If the local system has not made Option 2 available, the student may transfer to a comparable school that is not included on the annual list of “failing schools” within another Alabama local school system that has available space and is willing to accept the student.
- The student may transfer to a qualifying non-public Alabama school that is willing to accept the student.
Parents have until May 1 to give notice of their intent to transfer.
Comments
9 Responses to “Atmore’s Escambia County High Named A ‘Failing School’ Again”
Things r so different from when I was younger . Coming up, I BETTER NOT come home with a bad grade or a note from a teacher! There were consequences to my actions. Of coarse, I had a good foundation at home. I had chores, curfews, and respect for my elders.. or there were consequences!! Today, there r so many kids coming up in broken homes, or displaced and being raised by grandparents who can’t do much in the line of discipline. Get it together at home b4 u go to pointing fingers at underpaid teachers.! Js
My first teaching job was at this school. I enjoyed every minute of it. It is a shame that this reflects so poorly on such great people.
I volunteer at a school a few days a week. I work with elementary students, and I’ve found that lots of the students don’t have parents who CARE or else they WON’T take the time to work with their children. I’m a mother and I CARED more for my children than lots of parents today. How can I say that, I’ve talked with some of the students. Their parents WON’T go over their homework with them to see if the child is doing what he needs to do, WON’T listen to their first and second grader read, which most elementary students NEED! THEY need their parent or parents to LOVE them, HELP them, be there for them. HOW ABOUT IT – PARENTS? are you interested enough to DISCIPLINE and LOVE your child or children like the BIBLE teaches?
As a public educator, I’m going to shed some light on this subject. I have also previously taught in a failing school, that eventually ended up closing. I did this in both Alabama and Florida. Public education is failing the masses, but so many parents are too. A lot of parents think it is the school’s responsibility to ultimately educate, correct and counsel. Are you serious? We have your children for a small time per day. We can only influence and hopefully add to the basis you have already established.
Having said that, public education is trying to act as if everyone needs to go to college, and if you can’t get there, then there is something wrong with you. We have watered down curriculums and even teacher requirements in order to do this. We have very few technical programs, and those we do have are not there for the sake of learning. It is all about money. For instance, yes, take a cooking class, but we don’t teach cooking anymore for the sake of falling in love with flavors and food. We require so much that if a student doesn’t pass certain certifications associated with that course, they are doomed to repeat it. School now is so different from even five years ago, and guess what? The students are sick of it.
Don’t believe it? Go check out the numbers for online programs. Students in both Escambia counties are opting for online programs from home in the hundreds and thousands. We need to go back to offering automotive programs, welding programs, REAL cooking programs, programs that would help students get out into the workforce. This would be a win/win for all students.
Secondly, we need real teachers — not just the ones that can’t find a job after college and opt to take a certification test, and now they’re a teacher! We need teachers who are specialists in their fields, especially at the upper middle and high school levels.
Thirdly, we need parents who are investing in their children’s futures by preparing them at home and not just depending on the schools to do it!
REGARDING:
“Some students and their parents could care less about education. Bad situation for those who try and want to do their best.”
couldn’t
But, yes, it’s rough on those wanting an education having to endure classes with those who don’t want to be there and are acting up to amuse themselves. Teaching time is wasted trying to maintain order while stuck with lovers of disorder.
Pity the good kids.
David for better outcomes
Most parents of children do care about there kids education. And the students do as well or they wouldn’t be in school. They would drop out n not go to school. I think the problem is lack of teachers to help our kids to spend time one on one with them to go over there lessons. We need tutoring programs for students who need extra help. There should be a parent program that shows parents to take time with there kids and study n test and review there lessons. The more parents know n understand about what there kids are learning it’s easier to help our kids. Our school is old and needs updated material and technology.we need more teachers so classes are not so large. We are a great school and I love it n support it 100%. My daughter is a student and is in 10th and is in all honors classes with a 3.5 or higher average. We have some of the smartest kids in our county. I don’t want nobody to think that we have dumb kids that go there because there all smart in there way. I support ECHS
In my experience, it’s a combination of both. All schools have good and bad teachers. All schools have good and bad students. Sometimes, you have more of one than the other.
I teach in a prison. On a daily basis, about 95% of my inmate student population is engaged and involved in learning. They are taking their GED exams and passing. Many of them leave prison with at least a high school diploma. What’s the difference? The have a teacher who is careful to ensure that they understand WHY they need the GED – that it’s something that will open up a whole host of choices to them after the achieve it – whether they ever do anything else with it or not. They now have an opportunity. I also make sure my tutors/helpers know what they are doing and I supervise closely.
All this to say that a failing school can turn around with the proper combination of factors. I’d say what works in prison should work in the school, in terms of student engagement and teacher accountability.
I wonder if it is actually the school that is failing or the students. Some students and their parents could care less about education. Bad situation for those who try and want to do their best. If they don’t care then it is ridiculous to blame the school. Just wondering which is the problem?
I’d like to hear from the teachers why it has failed, in their words. Is it the students don’t care to learn or is it the school doesn’t care to teach?