USD # 223 Students Achieving Excellence
By Rick Simoncic
October 20, 2009
Again this year, USD #223 students surpassed the Adequate Yearly
Progress (AYP) targets for proficiency in Reading, Mathematics,
Science, and Writing. Our students have exceeded the AYP standards
every year since the No Child Left Behind Act became law.
The Kansas State Department of Education annually recognizes
schools for outstanding academic achievement with the Standard of
Excellence Awards. When the 2008-09 awards were announced in mid
October, USD #223 was recognized with 34 out of 40 individual class
Standards of Excellences and 14 out of 16 building level Standard
of Excellences.
Standard of Excellence recognition earned by schools and classes as
follows:
| Hanover Schools | Linn Schools |
| Grade 3 Reading | Grade 3 Reading |
| Grade 3 Math | Grade 3 Math |
| Grade 4 Reading | Grade 4 Reading |
| Grade 4 Math | Grade 4 Math |
| Grade 4 Science | Grade 4 Science |
| Grade 5 Reading | Grade 5 Math |
| Grade 5 Math | Grade 5 Writing |
| Grade 5 Writing | Grade 6 Reading |
| Grade 6 Reading | Grade 6 Math |
| Grade 6 Math | Grade 7 Reading |
| Grade 7 Reading | Grade 7 Math |
| Grade 7 Math | Grade 7 Science |
| Grade 8 Reading | Grade 8 Reading |
| Grade 8 Math | Grade 11 Reading |
| Grade 8 Writing | Grade 11 Math |
| Grade 11 Reading | Grade 11 Writing |
| Grade 11 Math | |
| Grade 11 Writing |
Building Level Standard of Excellence recognition earned by buildings as follows:
| Hanover Schools | Linn Schools |
| Grade K-8 Reading | Grade K-8 Reading |
| Grade K-8 Math | Grade K-8 Math |
| Grade K-8 Science | Grade K-8 Science |
| Grade K-8 Writing | Grade K-8 Writing |
| Grade 9-12 Reading | Grade 9-12 Reading |
| Grade 9-12 Math | Grade 9-12 Math |
| Grade 9-12 Writing | Grade 9-12 Writing |
Schools can receive Standards of Excellence (SOE) status by meeting
certain criteria based on student performance on state assessments.
Being named a State Standard of Excellence School is the highest
honor a school can receive from Kansas State Department of
Education. The conditions that must be met are as follows:
• First, the percent of students classified in the advanced
category must be at or above an established minimum value.
• Second, the percent of students classified in the unsatisfactory
category must be at or below a designated maximum value.
• Third, the cumulative percentages across the categories going
from unsatisfactory to advanced must meet or exceed predetermined
values. In other words, a certain percent of students must be
proficient or above, satisfactory or above, and basic or above.
USD #223 is committed to academic excellence through small class
sizes and high qualified faculty. Congratulations to both students
and teachers on their outstanding accomplishments.
