I think I yelled when I found out,

said Annesa Thompson, MTHS principal.

Then I got on the phone and started to make some calls.

Marked Tree High School has been testing its geometry students since 2002 with its first year of students scoring only 19% proficient or advanced on the test. Scores grew to 32% in 2003 and dipped again to 12% in 2004. Then came 2005, when geometry scores had their first big jump to 58%. And the trend continued with scores climbing to 81% proficient or advanced in 2006 and to 87% in 2007.

This year

s 2008 scores topped the charts across the state with 96% of students scoring proficient or advanced.

I could not be more pleased with our students

efforts,

said Thompson.

They have worked extremely hard throughout the year, along with their teachers, and these scores are the direct result of that work.

Other math scores also improved with seventh grade math scores increasing to 56% proficient or advanced from the 2005 scores of 23%. Eighth grade math scores have seen some of the biggest improvements with only two percent of students scoring proficient or advanced in 2002 to the now 52% in 2008.

Algebra scores have grown from 17% proficient or advanced in 2003 to the now 84% proficient or advanced scores in 2008.

Significance of these benchmark scores

Each schools

scores are used to determine if the school has achieved Adequate Yearly Progress, or AYP. AYP is a result of the federal No Child Left Behind Act which allows the U.S. Department of Education to determine how every public school and school district in the country is performing academically.

The goal of the No Child Left Behind Act is for every student in the nation to become proficient on state assessments by the 2013-14 school year. Schools are given yearly goals designed to gradually increase test scores in order to meet the 2013-14 goal.

In order to meet AYP in math this year MTHS needed a combined (averaged) score of 46.87%. Their score of 72% puts them about three years ahead on the AYP scale.

Literacy scores were also increased this year. Students in 11th grade scored 65% proficient in literacy, which Thompson said was in the top 15% of the state

s scores. Eighth graders scored 61% proficient or advanced while seventh graders reached 56%.

The combined literacy score of 57% more than met this year

s 51.5% AYP goal.

What MTHS is doing to increase scores

I have a progressive faculty which is interested in staying current with educational research,

Thompson said.

That is so important today to meet the needs of all students. I compare it to selecting a doctor

who would select a doctor who doesn

t stay current with the breakthroughs in medicine? Yet, many educators are guilty of never reading another educational book after graduation. I can say that because I was one of those for many years. As a faculty, we conduct book studies, have weekly faculty meetings, share lessons, discuss student work, and determine interventions for struggling students.

Some of those interventions include mandatory tutoring for students making C grades and below in math and literacy, extra teaching time spent with students struggling with concepts and awarding student reward incentives.

I would like to personally thank Mr. Masters and the school board for their support in allowing me to make changes and put interventions in place before knowing what the outcome would be,

Thompson said.

It is a privilege and honor for me to serve in this position and one that I do not take lightly. My first priority is to provide an education for the community

s children which will allow them to be successful when they leave our doors, whether to continue their education or to enter the workforce.

Thompson said a lot of credit also goes to the hardworking teachers at MTHS.

My literacy coach, Bobbie Pharis, and math coach, Lisa Gray, did a fabulous job in providing leadership and direction for both the teachers and the students so they deserve a huge part of the credit,

Thompson said.

In addition, classroom teachers Kristie Lee, Wren Wigginton, Jarmel Bell, and Jim Lindsey are also deserving of much of the credit through providing excellent instruction, using varied instructional strategies, and making all students accountable.

Thompson said her staff works together as a team, and every individual team member is just as important as the next.

I also must give credit to the remaining faculty because of the contributions they make daily to integrate reading comprehension, writing and reasoning within their classes which provide students with the skills necessary to succeed not only on state mandated tests, but also to enter postsecondary education or the workforce,

she said.

So what does Thompson have planned for the upcoming 2008-09 school year

.more of the same.

We are just trying to move kids forward regardless of their situation,

concluded Thompson.

re proud of our students and want to continue to help them to be successful in the future.

Other educators have also noticed MTHS remarkable improvement in testing, and are asking for more information about what the faculty is doing. As a result, Thompson will be sharing some of her strategies at a school improvement conference in Austin, Texas on Aug. 25.