NEELYVILLE ACES APR: Students, staff celebrate district's score

The entire Neelyville R-IV School District gathered Thursday afternoon in what everyone believed was going to be a motivational speech.

The only “motivational” news staff and students needed to continue their hard work was soon delivered.

The district scored a 100 percent on the 2018 Annual Performance Report (APR) report for Missouri public school districts and charter public schools.

Neelyville Superintendent Brad Hagood (left) told students and staff to line up in front of the score they believed the district received on it’s APR as high school Principal Justin Dobbins holds a 91.4 percent. To the entire schools surprise, all administrators revealed a 100 percent behind their signs proclaiming everyone in the district was a winner. DAR/Denise Kinder

“I am excited for the school district and everyone involved,” Superintendent Brad Hagood said. “I really am thankful for everything all the teachers, employees and students do. This would not be possible without their efforts.”

Before the milestone announcement was made, Hagood explained to the youngest students to seniors and all staff in attendance the district received it’s APR score.

“Every year we are constantly talking about the importance of the tests,” Hagood said. “The APR is a ‘report card’ the district receives from the Department of Education. It takes everyone from Pre-K to seniors doing their job.”

He went on to explain the different areas the state looked at to score school districts, the main area being student academic achievement.

“This is one of the reasons we stress how important tests are and we want you to do your best,” Hagood told students. “It reflects the district as a whole.”

In addition to student academic achievement, also scored is attendance, graduation rate and college and career readiness.

“Not only do students play an important role, but teachers also play an important role in APR scores,” Hagood continued.

Several teachers whose speciality subjects scored higher than the state average in proficient and advanced on the APR were recognized in front of their students and peers during the assembly.

For the last three years, Hagood explained, the district had scored in the 90s, which is great, he added.

Neelyville received a 93.6 percent on last year’s APR, 92. 5 percent in 2016 and 96.1 percent in 2015.

With above-state-average scores in 14 areas, students and teachers were asked to line up in front of what they believed was their 2018 score.

Scores ranging from 91 percent to 98 percent were held by district administrators, the only people who knew the actual score at this time.

With students in their respective lines, administrators dropped the scores to reveal 100 percent in each line followed by a thunderous cheer that everyone in the school was a winner.

“It takes everyone here to have a successful school,” Hagood said.

Due to changes in learning standards, completely new assessments in English language arts and math were administered in 2017-18 tests given in Missouri.

According to the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), the new standards were developed with a goal of setting higher expectations for students, which was reflected in a more challenging, teacher-developed set of state assessments.

With a new test being given, Hagood said everyone was a bit skeptical beforehand and there were a lot of unknowns.

“We were unsure of how we were going to do, but we ended up obviously doing very well,” he said.

A field test was also given during the 2017-18 school year for science, so schools did not receive official MAP scores, nor was science reflected in calculations for the 2017-18 APR scores.

“We didn’t get scores for science, but I’m sure we would have blew them away on that, too,” Hagood told a packed high school gymnasium.

Curriculum Director Heather Black explained it took everyone from preschool on up to accomplish a 100 percent score.

“We are all on a team here, the Neelyville team,” she said.

In addition to the teamwork, Black added teachers teach to the standards and ensure they are mastered in class by students.

After scoring 100 percent, Hagood said there is still room for improvement in certain areas.

“Lets be happy, but not satisfied,” he said. “There were some scores that were in the 70s and 80s, so there is room to improve each year until we have 100 percent proficient and advanced and there is no room to improve.”

With APR scores being released later in the year, Hagood explained the district will look at the data and information to help improve test scores in about three months as well as down the road.

“We have good employees in every position,” Hagood said. “And when you surround yourself with good people, good things happen.”