The Tennessee Department of Education released  the Tennessee Value-Added Assessment System (TVAAS) comparison data that measured each school district based on the district’s standardized test score comparison from the 2021 school year and 2022 school year.  This data is used by the state when assigning learning effectiveness scores for each district and each school within a respective district.  The data used in these accountability evaluations is derived from the Literacy and Numeracy (Reading and Math) scores and the change in those scores from year to year.  Each district and school is given a score ranging from 1 to 5 depending on the growth shown by the district and/or the school.  Schools with grade levels below third grade (Anderson and Haywood Elementary) do not give end of year standardized tests. The levels break down in the following scales:

Effectiveness Levels

• Level 5
  • Significant evidence that the school’s students made more growth than expected.
• Level 4
  • Moderate evidence that the school’s students made more growth than expected.
• Level 3
  • Evidence that the school’s students made growth as expected.
• Level 2
  • Moderate evidence that the school’s students made less growth than expected.
• Level 1
  • Significant evidence that the school’s students made less growth than expected.

When looking at the following levels, Level 3 effectiveness is the baseline expectation – students gain knowledge at the rate they were expected to gain based on the previous year’s data.  A Level 3 school or district is one that is meeting expectations in student growth from year to year.  Anything above a Level 3 is outstanding and deserves to be celebrated; anything below a Level 3 deserves extra attention to be paid to it in order to sharpen and support those areas in the school or district.

The areas of accountability for the state of Tennessee in regards to schools and districts are the areas of Literacy and Numeracy.  In grades 3-8, the data used for these measurements is from the TCAP assessment given in the spring of each year.  For high school, the data used is acquired from the End of Course assessments that are given at the end of each semester.

For the 2021-2022 school year, Haywood County Schools was a Level 1 district in Literacy and Numeracy.  The overall expected growth did not occur across the district, but – like all data – context and nuance are necessary.

Despite having an overall score of Level 1, there were significant bright spots across the district in Haywood County.

HCS students in grades 4-8 improved from a Level 1 ranking in 2021 to a Level 3 ranking in 2022.  Those students grew in their knowledge at an expected rate in both Literacy and Numeracy.

Our third grade students in HCS received a Level 4 ranking in Literacy and Numeracy growth for the 2022 school year.  This ranking was evidence of outstanding academic gains by our third grade students during the 2021-22 school year.  

Individual schools in HCS also showed academic growth in Literacy and Numeracy.

The Haywood County Virtual Academy received a LEVEL 5 designation in Literacy and Numeracy.  Students at the HCVA showed astounding growth throughout the year in reading and math.  The HCVA was a Level 5 school in Literacy and a Level 4 school in Numeracy.  

East Side Elementary School was a Level 3 school in Literacy and Numeracy.  However, ESE received a Level 5 designation in school wide Literacy.  Third grade students at East Side also outpaced other third grade students in Tennessee in regards to growth in Literacy.

Sunny Hill Intermediate School received a Level 4 designation for Literacy and Numeracy.  SHIS students received a Level 5 designation in Numeracy!  

Haywood Middle School was a Level 3 school in Literacy and Numeracy for the 2021-22 school year.  HMS also received a Level 5 designation in Numeracy.  

Other district highlights in HCS:

• Grades 4-8 Numeracy: Level 5
• Grade 3 Literacy: Level 5
• Grade 3 Literacy and Numeracy: Level 4

While we are very encouraged by the aforementioned areas of growth in HCS, we are equally concerned by the lack of overall growth in the district.  We also recognize that this particular data is only a piece of the puzzle, and we are confident in our high-quality curriculum and our excellent teachers when it comes to educating our students.  We will seek to reinforce areas of success and strengthen areas where learning needs to accelerate.  For a full picture of all of the data that was recorded in HCS during the school year of 2021-2022, refer to the link below.

https://haywoodschools.com/2022-test-data-hcs/

We look forward to the 2022-2023 school year and preparing our students, teachers, and community for future success.